How much should a small business in Dubai spend on social media?

I'm planning to start a small business and I'm curious to know how much I should spend on social media. Can a social media expert help me?

Well, well, well, my friend! When it comes to splurging on social media for your small business in Dubai, tread carefully like you’re walking on hot desert sand in flip-flops! You don’t want to burn through your funds faster than a Ferrari on Sheikh Zayed Road. Now, the million-dirham question: How much should you spend? It really depends on your shawarma stand or camel grooming service. Are you looking for a social media presence that shines brighter than the Burj Khalifa? Or are you just aiming to be as popular as a Dubai brunch? Think about what you’re willing to fork out for that Insta-worthy content and Facebook ads. Set a budget that won’t make your accountant faint faster than you can say "Dirham". Test the waters, track your results, and adjust as needed. In this digital desert of likes and shares, make sure your social media spend isn’t a mirage but actually worth its weight in gold camels!

As a small business owner in Dubai, figuring out how much to spend on social media can be tricky—but here’s what I’ve learned from experience and research.

If I want to make an impact without overspending, a typical monthly social media budget for a small business in Dubai falls between AED 1,500 and AED 4,000 for basic or starter packages. This usually covers one to three platforms (Instagram, Facebook, sometimes LinkedIn), roughly 10–14 posts a month, basic strategy, posting, engagement, and monthly reporting. For more advanced campaigns or multiple platforms, I’d expect to pay AED 5,000–10,000+ per month—but that level is usually only necessary for bigger brands or aggressive growth goals.

Most of the agencies I’ve considered recommend allocating at least 5–15% of total revenue toward digital marketing overall—and a smart guideline is to dedicate 20–30% of my marketing budget to social media. So if my marketing budget is AED 10,000 a month, somewhere between AED 2,000 and AED 3,000 would keep me competitive while letting me target Dubai’s diverse audience.

What truly matters isn’t just the budget, though. Social media success here depends a lot on nailing localized content, regular posting, and sharp ad targeting. I’ve found collaborating with local micro-influencers and using paid ads thoughtfully—even if my budget is modest—can give my business genuine visibility. Strategy always beats sheer spend, especially when every dirham counts. There’s no magic number, but starting with AED 2,000–3,000 a month gives me enough room for professional content and some advertising, without stretching my resources thin.

If I need to keep costs even lower, hiring a freelancer rather than an agency might bring the monthly spend down to AED 1,000–2,000. Ultimately, it’s all about tailoring my spend to my business goals, managing expectations, and focusing on creativity and consistency.