Influencer Marketing Hub sets itself apart from conventional review platforms through the involvement of Influencer Marketing experts such as Werner Geyser, Djanan Kasumovic, Camille Kennedy, Dave Eagle, and other notable industry figures. This expert team brings a profound understanding of the Influencer Marketing landscape, assessing tools and platforms with an insider’s perspective on capabilities, experience, and industry acumen. Unlike user-generated review platforms, Influencer Marketing Hub’s evaluations are rooted in extensive firsthand experience and direct interactions with the tools and platforms in question. This ensures that the reviews are not only trustworthy but also deeply informed. High-caliber brands like The Influencer Marketing Factory, Sociata, and Ykone undergo rigorous monthly evaluations, highlighting the platform’s commitment to identifying and showcasing top-tier solutions in Influencer Marketing and beyond.
Influencer Marketing Hub has consistently been recognized by leading media outlets for our authoritative data, findings, and insights within the Influencer Marketing landscape. Our platform is frequently cited as a trusted source of information, demonstrating the value and impact of our work in shaping industry standards and practices.
Influencer Marketing Hub employs an expert-driven methodology to evaluate Influencer Marketing agencies, ensuring that our recommendations are both reliable and comprehensive. This approach is designed to help businesses and individuals find the best agencies to meet their specific Influencer Marketing needs. Here’s how we assess the various agencies like The Influencer Marketing Factory, Sociata, and Ykone:
Oftentimes, trends emerge but lose their momentum soon after. However, one trend has been steadily growing and evolving — influencer marketing. According to our Influencer Marketing Benchmark Report, 45% of marketers expect influencer marketing budget increases of more than 30%.
Among all other parts of the world, the UAE is a market that has seen immense growth in influencer marketing, especially in its capital city, Abu Dhabi.
A YouGov survey found that 75% of UAE residents follow social media influencers, making the region ideal for influencer marketing. However, to reach these influencers and manage your campaigns with them, you need to work with influencer marketing agencies in Abu Dhabi.
These influencer marketing agencies are equipped with the personnel and expertise to help you reach your target audience through well-planned and executed campaigns. In this article, we have listed some of the best influencer marketing agencies in Abu Dhabi to help you choose the right partner for your business.
The Influencer Marketing Factory is another global influencer marketing agency that also operates in Abu Dhabi. According to the agency, it caters ‘‘to Abu Dhabi’s unique landscape” and manages all aspects of your campaigns, from choosing the most suitable influencers to tracking the performance of their content in real-time. The Influencer Marketing Factory Some of the renowned names that have benefitted from The Influencer Marketing Factory’s services are Best Buy, Canon, Google, Neutrogena, and TikTok. With such an impressive roster, it’s easy to believe in the agency’s expertise and success in the industry. The Influencer Marketing Factory collaborates with the top content creators and influencers in Abu Dhabi across platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Instagram. Since the agency has an in-house proprietary algorithm, you can expect that the influencer selected for your campaign is as per your target audience and goals. Key services Besides optimal influencer selection, The Influencer Marketing Factory also offers its market expertise. The agency leverages its knowledge of the influencer space and potential in Abu Dhabi to assist clients in creating effective campaigns that deliver measurable results. More importantly, the agency assists in platform adaptation. As your campaign grows, you need to incorporate new channels and strategies, a feat that The Influencer Marketing Factory handles with ease. The agency is also on top of new trends at major social media platforms and incorporates them into your campaigns. The video below is an example of the agency’s foresight into upcoming trends. Statista reported that 71.8% of business executives in the UAE say they use influencer marketing to boost brand affinity and trust, followed by 69.2% who use it for telling brand stories. That’s exactly what The Influencer Marketing Factory helps you achieve with your campaigns by helping you through influencer selection, contract negotiation, campaign execution, and reporting. Since the agency is up to date on its creator economy and influencer forecasts, you can expect to be ahead of your competition at all times. The agency also hosts a podcast called The Influence Factor, where it invites influencers and industry experts to discuss the latest influencer marketing trends and tips. Businesses in Abu Dhabi can learn a lot from these episodes, such as the one where content creator Jesse Katches shares strategies for impactful content creation. The Influencer Marketing Factory claims that it is the best influencer marketing agency in Abu Dhabi because it has collaborated with more than 34,000 influencers globally. Plus, the agency has achieved over $150 million in ROI for its clients and has led 1,000+ successful campaigns. Besides such extensive experience, The Influencer Marketing Factory also excels in contract assurance. The agency oversees all legal aspects of influencer partnerships, ensuring that everything is documented and executed smoothly. Its team also provides hands-on oversight. Each client gets a team member who oversees their campaign from start to finish, aligning the campaign steps with the client’s requirements. Just because The Influencer Marketing Factory is global doesn’t mean you’ll be forced to work with expensive macro influencers. In a campaign for ALG, a leading resort brand management group, the agency engaged micro, macro, and mid-sized influencers to reach all audience segments. The resort brand wanted to promote its offerings to travelers in the US through influencer marketing. Strategic Approach: To start, The Influencer Marketing Factory ensured that it covered all bases by finding 81 influencers across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Since the agency wanted to maximize engagement, it partnered with a blend of micro, medium-sized, and macro influencers. Further, it instructed each influencer to create content specifically tailored for their audience while introducing the client’s offering. The Influencer Marketing Factory also provided key talking points to the creators and worked with them to ensure authentic brand representation. The content was distributed across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram for maximum ROI. That’s exactly what happened, with the campaign getting 1.8+ million TikTok views and 570k Instagram views. The Influencer Marketing Factory is a global full-service influencer marketing agency that helps brands engage with Gen Z and Millennials audiences on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. 10 - 50 New York, Miami Best for: Enterprises and Large brands The Influencer Marketing Factory is a global full-service influencer marketing agency that helps brands engage with Gen Z and Millennials audiences on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Sociata, with its strong foundation in Dubai, is a rebranded influencer marketing agency that has the expertise and adaptability to serve clients in Abu Dhabi. Formerly known as Vinelab, Sociata’s transformation reflects its commitment to advancing industry standards and leveraging technology to create lasting societal impact. Sociata stands out for its focus on fairness, equity, and collaboration. It views influencer marketing as more than just a tool for business growth—it is a means to empower individuals, create income opportunities, and foster reciprocal relationships between brands, platforms, and audiences. Sociata treats consumers as active participants in creativity rather than passive recipients of ads, a perspective that resonates well with Abu Dhabi’s diverse and progressive market. The agency’s track record includes high-profile campaigns such as the “One Million Arab Coders” initiative and facilitating Uber’s entry into Saudi Arabia. These projects demonstrate Sociata’s ability to navigate complex cultural landscapes and deliver impactful, data-driven results. The One Million Arab Coders (OMAC) initiative, launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, aimed to empower one million Arabs with free coding skills, democratizing access to the digital economy. Sociata partnered with OMAC to craft a comprehensive influencer marketing strategy that would inspire widespread participation and meet the ambitious goal of one million enrollments. The agency was tasked with positioning coding as both aspirational and attainable for Arab communities. Sociata implemented a “coders as rock stars” narrative, leveraging over 100 carefully selected influencers, including cultural icons, entrepreneurs, and success-story individuals, to inspire and engage audiences. Influencer selection was data-driven, utilizing iScore metrics to ensure efficiency and ROI. A strategic budget allocation maximized impact, with 55% devoted to influencers for organic enrollments and the remainder used for amplifying influencer content and targeted retargeting campaigns. Using in-house technology, Sociata retargeted users who interacted with influencer content, transforming interest into actionable sign-ups. This approach significantly reduced the Cost per Enrollment by 49.47% compared to direct targeting alone. Influencers were not only amplifiers but integral to creating a community of motivated learners who could see themselves reflected in the initiative’s success stories. Ykone is among the most popular influencer marketing agencies in Abu Dhabi. Some would go as far as saying that it put Abu Dhabi on the map of the influencer marketing world. Ykone’s team consists of experts specializing in different aspects of influencer marketing, including social media campaigns, content creation, and event organization. The agency provides influencer marketing services to brands in a wide range of industries and verticals, including luxury, lifestyle, food, fashion, travel, and beauty. Ykone influencer marketing platform Founded in 2008, Ykone is a global influencer marketing agency with a presence in major cities around the world, including Abu Dhabi. It has 16 officers around the world to ensure that its influencer campaigns are rooted in local cultures. Ykone’s influencer marketing services begin with influencer identification and go on to experiential events and more. The agency has worked for names like Chopard and Gucci, making it a reliable option for brands that can’t afford a mishap. In 2024, the agency also took to the Festival de Cannes to celebrate a collaboration between its client, Experience Abu Dhabi, and Vilebrequin, a swimwear brand. With its proprietary influencer marketing platform, Ykone can quickly identify niche and authentic influencers for your brand across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Further, the agency’s team negotiates the best deals and manages influencer payments on your behalf, making the process hassle-free for you. Ykone’s awards In case there’s a new trend or algorithm change during the course of your campaign, Ykone’s team will immediately tweak your strategy to ensure that you get maximum reach. Since Ykone has an office in Abu Dhabi, you can meet the team physically and discuss your influencer marketing needs. The agency also organizes events and partnerships in different cities to bring influencers and brands together for a more intimate connection. For example, Ykone collaborated with a Japanese influencer to promote the Michelin Star restaurants she ate at during her visit. The main reason for selecting Ykone is the agency’s ultimate dedication to a campaign. You can always expect them to go the extra mile to make your campaign a success. Possibly the best example of this in the UAE space is Ykone’s campaign for NBA x Visit Abu Dhabi to promote tourism in Abu Dhabi. Strategic Approach: The agency used NBA players as influencers to cater to NBA fans, urging them to come to Abu Dhabi for tourism. Ykone created a series of AI-rendered scenarios that are similar to Abu Dhabi’s landscapes and backgrounds. These images were used as backgrounds for pictures of NBA players, creating a visual connection between the city and the players. By using NBA players, the agency created content that resonated with the US audience and drove interest in visiting Abu Dhabi. This strategic approach effectively blended the brand message with the interests of the target audience, resulting in a successful campaign. In a similar campaign for the city of Qatar, Ykone partnered with 14 European influencers and created personalized itineraries for them to include all the must-visit tourist spots, restaurants, and activities. The influencers then posted their content from the trip on Instagram and TikTok, elevating Qatar’s positive image among their followers. Strategic Approach: The agency created a personalized travel plan for each influencer so that they could bring attention to different attractions of the city, catering to a diverse audience. Ykone’s strategy not only highlighted Qatar’s tourist attractions but also showcased its cultural diversity and culinary offerings. In doing so, the agency ensured that the content appealed to a wide range of people and generated interest in visiting Qatar. In both these campaigns, Ykone’s creativity and attention to detail were evident. The end results had the level of sleekness and sophistication one can only expect from an agency that has been in the industry for over a decade. Qatar tourism campaign World leader in Marketing Influence for Fashion, Luxury, and Beauty brands, Ykone has been accompanying brands in imagining, developing, and measuring their digital influencer strategies since 2008. 50+ Paris, Dubai, New York, London, Berlin, Copenhague, Bangalore Best for: Travel, Beauty and Luxury Brands World leader in Marketing Influence for Fashion, Luxury, and Beauty brands, Ykone has been accompanying brands in imagining, developing, and measuring their digital influencer strategies since 2008. Imfluence is a UAE-based influencer marketing and social media agency that uses a visionary approach and data-driven strategies to help its clients in their brand-building and digital marketing endeavors. The agency prides itself on its ability to leverage the latest trends and technologies in influencer marketing while pushing boundaries and inspiring change. Imfluence’s influencer marketing offerings include influencer identification and selection in Abu Dhabi. That’s where it all begins. For brands in the region or international brands planning to expand their reach, Imfluence acts as a local bridge to the influencer community in Abu Dhabi. The agency’s team has strong relationships with top influencers in the city and can help brands connect with the right influencers to achieve their desired results. Imfluence also provides campaign management services, from conceptualization to execution. Imfluence services A good example of this is the campaign Imfluence ran for Dubai Media. Although well-known in the western world, Shark Tank isn’t as popular in the Middle East. So, when Dubai Media wanted to bring it to the UAE, they worked with Imfluence to create hype around the show so that viewers would give it a warm welcome when it aired. Strategic Approach: Imfluence worked with two local influencers to reach an audience of 96k. The agency used local influencers as touchpoints so that the content would be more relatable to the target audience. These influencers also used Arabic in their posts and captions to create a sense of cultural connection. The agency also instructed the influencers to raise awareness about the economic opportunities that Shark Tank could bring to the region. This way, the audience could see the show not just as entertainment but also as a potential business opportunity. With an engagement rate of 2.15% and 90k views, the campaign was quite a success. Shark Tank’s viewership in the UAE increased significantly during this course, too. Shark Tank Launch campaign results For clients that need a little more, Imfluence also provides content creation services. For example, you can get in touch with the agency to create video, photography, and other content materials for your influencer campaign. If you want to take a DIY approach, you can do that with the agency’s helpful tips, too. What we found to be most notable about Imfluence is that the agency has close ties with local influencers. In fact, you’d notice how the agency often uses the same influencers in their campaigns because of how successful their collaborations are. Another highlight of Imfluence is the agency’s use of a few suitable influencers rather than a large number of random ones, hoping to hit the target. For example, when creating a campaign for Aldar to engage retail investors, Imfluence only worked with one influencer. Strategic Approach: Imfluence did not want to overwhelm the audience with multiple influencers promoting Aldar. Instead, they strategically chose one influencer who would have a strong impact on the target demographic and create a meaningful connection with the brand. Since there was only one influencer, the diversity had to come from the content. For that, Imfluence focused on dynamic video content that was visually appealing and showed the brand’s unique selling points. Aldar case study results Using dynamic videos and well-exposed brand messaging, Imfluence was able to reach 869k people with just a single creator. The campaign got 812k views and had an engagement rate of 2.95%. Grynow is a leading influencer marketing agency in Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE. It has a strong presence in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and connects brands in these areas with verified mega, macro, micro, and nano influencers. With clients like Gillette, Puma, Casio, and Meta, there’s no doubt that Grynow has made a name for itself in the influencer marketing industry. At Grynow, the agency’s first step is to identify your marketing goal. Whether you’re a company based in Abu Dhabi or you want to engage the local audience for your global brand, Grynow will first understand what you want to achieve with influencer content. The agency will then go on to select influencers for you in the GCC or MENA region, depending on the expanse you want to cover. Influencer selection is followed by the creation of an influencer marketing strategy. Grynow’s influencer selection During this step, the agency will create a custom approach for each influencer to ensure they align with your brand voice and messaging. After all, the goal is not just to reach a large audience but also to maintain authenticity. For example, when Pampers wanted to promote their new premium care diaper in the UAE, they reached out to Grynow. Strategic Approach: Grynow did not simply work with the most popular creators. Instead, the agency hand-picked 10 macro mom influencers since the product was targeted towards mothers. In the western part of the world, the focus may have been on both parents, but in the GCC region, child-rearing and household duties are primarily handled by women. Grynow also created a hashtag (# SoftAsMother’sTouch) for the campaign to make it more relatable for mothers. All influencers were directed to conduct a leakage test in their content since that’s what the company wanted to highlight. With such precision, the campaign had to be a success, reaching 7.8 million views with just 20 videos. Pampers campaign results Besides campaign implementation, Grynow also provides reporting and analytics. You’ll always be in the loop, thanks to weekly reports and insights that measure campaign performance and provide valuable information for future decisions. We’ve already touched on quite a few reasons why Grynow is a top choice for influencer marketing in the GCC and MENA regions, but let’s break it down further. First, Grynow has extensive local expertise, keeping the local cultures and values in mind when crafting campaigns. More importantly, the agency keeps up with new features introduced in social media platforms so that it can use them in your campaigns. KitKat influencer content Strategic Approach: Grynow directed the influencers to create challenge videos for their friends and family, asking them to guess the flavor. However, each influencer was free to choose the way they presented the challenge, be it through humor or creativity. By doing so, the agency was able to make the content come across as something the influencer would naturally share with their followers, rather than a forced advertisement. With just one video per influencer, the one-month campaign garnered 2.5 million views for KitKat. KitKat campaign results Digital Farm is a two-in-one influencer marketing agency in Abu Dhabi, acting as an influencer marketplace for brands and a platform where influencers can get in touch with businesses for collaborations. Digital Farm The agency drives conversions, enhances engagement, dives into storytelling, and increases brand awareness for its clients through social media influencers. With a focus on the UAE and the broader MENA region, Digital Farm pairs brands with the most suitable influencers. At the same time, it shares content creation tips on social media to inspire both influencers and brands. Digital Farm’s influencer marketing services are not very different from those of other agencies. From influencer identification and outreach to content creation, campaign management, and reporting, the agency does it all. However, what sets Digital Farm apart is its unique approach to influencer marketing. Instead of just focusing on followers and likes, the agency looks for influencers who have a genuine connection with their audience and can authentically promote a brand’s message. Digital Farm influencer marketing benefits Digital Farm also offers additional services such as influencer event management and influencer PR. Since Abu Dhabi is the hub of many major events, it makes sense for brands to use influencer event management services in their campaigns. A good example is the event coverage of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2024 by the agency. Digital Farm’s event management services help brands in both aspects by creating buzz around an event and managing the influencer community at the same time. For example, the agency covered the Make-A-Wish Run at Yas Bay Waterfront in UAE. Besides raising awareness about the event, the agency also created content for the client. One of the main reasons for working with Digital Farm is a high-touch account service, which features detailed reporting of your campaign. You can also visualize your KPI achievements in this dashboard. Furthermore, the agency offers bilingual account management. While Arabic is the official language in the UAE, English is widely spoken and understood. With bilingual account management, brands can reach out to both Arabic and English-speaking audiences through influencers. Even better, Digital Farm hosts a Media Camp every year in which the agency’s experts guide new creators on techniques and trends to incorporate in their content. So, it’s likely that the influencers you work with through Digital Farm will be mentored by the best in the industry, ensuring top-quality content for your campaigns. Another aspect that sets Digital Farm apart is that no campaign is too big for the agency. Among Digital Farm’s feats is the success of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2022, one of the biggest events in the UAE. YaSalam, a post-race concert organizer, reached out to Digital Farm to promote its concerts following the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Strategic Approach: The agency collaborated with an influencer to skyrocket the event’s hype and reach by targeting concert-goers and race enthusiasts. Their idea was that since these people are already interested in outdoor events, they would be interested in buying tickets for the Grand Prix and the accompanying concert. Also, the selected influencer was someone who already used to post about Formula One, which helped the content come across as more authentic and genuine rather than salesy. Due to this strategic influencer identification, the campaign saw an increase of 158% in impressions and 117% in engagement. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix results1. The Influencer Marketing Factory
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Why Choose The Influencer Marketing Factory
The Influencer Marketing Factory
The Influencer Marketing Factory
2. Sociata
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3. Ykone
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Why Choose Ykone
Ykone
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4. Imfluence
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Why Choose Imfluence
5. Grynow
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Why Choose Grynow
6. Digital Farm
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Why Choose Digital Farm
Why Should You Work With Influencer Marketing Agencies in Abu Dhabi?
In the past few years, the UAE has transformed its previously oil-reliant economy into a hub for entrepreneurship and innovation. The country's rapid development has also led to a rise in social media usage, with 10.73 million people in the region using social media.
Moreover, the country has seen massive economic growth in recent years. The spike has come in the wake of an expanding business landscape supported by governmental policies, a favorable business climate, and a diverse population.
According to the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, the number of active business licenses increased by 11% between 2022 and 2023. The expansion resulted in 8.6% non-oil growth in the country.
As evident, Abu Dhabi seems to be the hub for businesses. But with more businesses comes fiercer competition, making it challenging to reach your target audience and stand out from the crowd.
Influencer marketing can be the medium through which you can create a place for yourself in Abu Dhabi. In fact, in a survey, almost 77% of business executives in UAE said that they consider influencer marketing a top priority for their brand. Since all your competitors are on the bandwagon, you should be aboard, too.
Fortunately, a plethora of influencer marketing agencies have emerged in Abu Dhabi, making your job easier. Besides brand exposure, you can work with influencer marketing agencies in Abu Dhabi to:
- Expand Your Reach: If you're currently operating in the UAE market, you can expand your reach to Abu Dhabi with influencer marketing agencies. Similarly, brands in other countries can also tap into the Abu Dhabi market by collaborating with local influencers through these agencies.
- Introduce New Products: Businesses can use influencer marketing agencies in Abu Dhabi to launch new products or services. The influencers help generate interest in the product, resulting in higher sales.
- Popularize Events: Abu Dhabi has a year-round calendar of events, including concerts, festivals, religious events, and exhibitions. Brands who want to show their products at conferences and similar events in Abu Dhabi can use influencer marketing agencies to promote their participation.
An excellent example of influencer use in the UAE is Imfluence's campaign for the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival. The agency partnered with a local influencer, Ahmed AlMarzooqi, to moderate the session with H.E. Mohamed Al Abbar, one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world.
SEF campaign results
Since the campaign was social-first rather than event-first and was popularized by AlMarzooqi, the session went viral. In just three days, the two content pieces around it got 18,500,000 views. The engagement rate of 4.02% was also quite impressive for an event video.
How to Choose an Influencer Marketing Agency in Abu Dhabi?
We've made a list of the top factors you should consider when selecting an influencer marketing agency in Abu Dhabi:
- Service Selection: Influencer marketing itself is an exclusive service. But you may need a little more, like UGC creation, social media handling, event activation, or even content creation. Make sure the agency has all the services you need. Digital Farm is one such agency, offering social media marketing, SEO, creative and branding, content production, website development, and influencer management.
Digital Farm services
- Expertise: Of course, you want to work with an agency that knows influencer marketing inside and out. It's even better if the agency has worked with brands in Abu Dhabi or the UAE.
- Location: Does the agency have an office in Abu Dhabi, or does it operate only remotely? Working with a locally present agency might be better for brands that value physical presence and face-to-face meetings.
- Industry Experience: Go for an agency that has expertise in your industry — bonus points if you can find case studies or campaigns they have done for other brands in your industry.
- Pricing: Since the pricing is dependent on the campaign scope and objectives, it's always best to get a few quotes from different agencies to compare.
- Influencer Network: If you're a company from outside of Abu Dhabi wanting to tap into the local market, you won't be familiar with many local influencers. So, you'll have to ensure your partner agency has a decent network to cater to your needs.
- Reporting: We recommend opting for an agency that provides regular reporting. If you get a separate client portal, that's even better.
Conclusion
Abu Dhabi is brimming with business opportunities now that the UAE is positioning itself as a tourism and business hub of the region. With influencer marketing gaining traction in the country, partnering with a local agency can give your brand the boost it needs to stand out in this competitive market.
The agencies we've discussed above are experts in the industry and have prominent success stories to prove their claims. We've mentioned some of these case studies so that you can have an idea of what they're capable of.
Finally, we've discussed some factors for you to keep in mind when scouring for an influencer agency in Abu Dhabi. Sometimes, even the best agency in the country isn't the right one for you. So, it's imperative that you keep your requirements and audience in mind when basing your decisions on these factors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do influencer marketing agencies charge in Abu Dhabi?
Just like any other country, the charges differ based on various factors, like the duration and scope of the campaign. The number of services you need and the number of influencers you want to work with will also affect prices. On average, you can expect to pay between AED 5,000 to AED 15,000 per month. It's best to get a package customized according to your needs.
Do influencer marketing agencies in Abu Dhabi provide bilingual services?
Most agencies in Abu Dhabi cater to both English and Arabic-speaking clients. Some also offer services in other languages, depending on their expertise and team composition.
Why is Abu Dhabi a favored destination for influencer marketing?
Abu Dhabi offers a unique blend of modern and traditional culture. So, influencers from various niches can thrive in the country. Plus, the presence of high-end events, luxury brands, booming business scenes, and affluent lifestyles make it a prime location for influencer collaborations.
Is it possible to work remotely with an Abu Dhabi influencer marketing agency?
Many agencies in Abu Dhabi offer remote services, especially for international clients. If you plan to go this route, ask the agency about their communication schedule and process to ensure you're comfortable with how they operate.
