Artificial intelligence is reshaping advertising in the world, enabling brands to craft campaigns that are personalized, innovative, and efficient. 

AI-driven personalization and targeting

Personalization lies at the core of AI’s transformative impact. The MENA region’s cultural diversity and varied consumer preferences demand highly tailored campaigns, and AI is meeting that challenge head-on.

A remarkable example is Coca-Cola Arabia’s 2022 campaign during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. To boost reach and sales among Saudi Gen Z audiences, Coca-Cola collaborated with Google and EssenceMediacom to conduct affinity-based audience research. This led to the creation of over 30 personalized video ads using Google’s AI-powered Ads Creative Studio. These ads dynamically tailored visuals and messages in real-time to resonate with specific interests like gaming, soccer, and fashion.

The results were extraordinary: a video view-through rate of 46 percent (exceeding the planned 30 percent), a 42 percent cost-per-view saving, a 10 percent market share growth in Saudi Arabia, and a 22 percent increase in sales volume during the promotional period. These outcomes highlight how AI-powered targeting can achieve measurable business success.

Creative innovation with AI

AI is also transforming content creation, automating repetitive tasks and enabling brands to generate dynamic, high-quality visuals and videos. Tools like Runway ML have become integral in the region’s creative workflows.

In a project for a regional beauty brand, we used AI to generate visuals aligned with local beauty standards and cultural symbolism. The combination of AI and cultural understanding resulted in content that deeply resonated with audiences. Similarly, Anghami, MENA’s leading music streaming platform, uses AI to deliver personalized audio ads tailored to listener preferences, improving ad recall and brand affinity.

Building trust in advertising

As AI becomes integral to advertising, ethical considerations such as transparency and cultural sensitivity are paramount. In my work with a financial services provider, consumer resistance to AI-powered decision-making around data privacy required a proactive approach. By adopting IBM Watson OpenScale for transparency in AI models, we bridged the trust gap effectively.

Another notable example is TikTok’s use of AI-powered moderation tools that filter content in alignment with regional cultural norms. By combining AI with human oversight, TikTok ensures transparency while adhering to local regulations, fostering trust among users.

Future trends in AI-powered advertising

AI is driving several trends that will shape the future of advertising in MENA:

1.Predictive analytics for enhanced targeting

AI uses historical data to predict consumer behavior, allowing brands to tailor campaigns for maximum ROI.

2.Hyper-personalization of content

Real-time, highly personalized messages based on user behavior and demographics are significantly boosting engagement rates.

3.AI-generated creative content

Dynamic tools like DALL·E enable brands to quickly create visually engaging content, maintaining a fresh and consistent presence.

4.AI-optimized programmatic advertising

Machine learning ensures precise ad targeting and efficient use of budgets, revolutionizing ad buying.

5.Ethical AI and transparency

As regulatory scrutiny grows, brands are adopting explainable AI systems to build consumer trust.

While these trends highlight AI’s potential, challenges remain. Infrastructure inconsistencies across the region mean some markets are thriving with AI solutions, while others struggle with basic digital integration. Bridging this gap requires investment in digital education and partnerships with tech providers.

Strategies for marketers in MENA

In my experience, marketers in MENA must ACE their approach: Adapt, Conceptualize, and Engage. AI-driven advertising offers opportunities to stay competitive and deliver impactful campaigns. Key strategies include:

• Leverage advanced tools (Adapt): Use platforms like Meta Advantage+ and Google Ads Creative Studio to craft tailored campaigns. Creative automation tools like Smartly.io can ensure content freshness.
• Build data ecosystems (Conceptualize): Implement AI-powered customer data platforms like Tealium or Segment for deeper insights and strategy alignment.
• Focus on creative AI (Engage): Tools like Runway ML and Synthesia enhance storytelling by creating culturally relevant, visually consistent content.
• Adopt ethical practices: Build trust through transparent campaigns with tools like IBM Watson OpenScale to monitor AI fairness.
• Stay agile: Monitor and adjust campaigns using predictive analytics tools like Google Analytics 4 (GA4) or Datorama by Salesforce for real-time optimizations.

Conclusion

AI is revolutionizing advertising in MENA, unlocking new opportunities for personalization, creativity, and efficiency. While challenges like digital readiness and ethical concerns persist, the potential for AI to redefine advertising is immense.

Elon Musk once remarked, “AI is far more dangerous than nukes.” While this highlights AI’s power, I believe it can be a force for good — provided it is used with professionalism, transparency, and positive intent.

The future of advertising in MENA will be defined by a fusion of technological innovation and cultural sensitivity, paving the way for impactful and authentic brand storytelling.

• The writer is Safwan Kanj, managing director at EssenceMediacom — Saudi Arabia.