White Friday Localization: Your Guide to the Big Shopping Season in the Middle East

White Friday (the Middle Eastern version of Black Friday) is a big moment for retailers of all sizes. Especially those that have a presence in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

Over the course of just four days, brands have the opportunity to reach more customers than they do all year, leading to a significant boost in sales.

But to truly capture the attention of Middle Eastern consumers, you must tailor your approach to stand out during White Friday. Needless to say, localization is essential.?

This guide will walk you through the essential localization strategies to help you thrive during the shopping season.

A Brief Background

In Middle Eastern countries, Black Friday is White for cultural and religious reasons.?

Friday is a sacred day in Islam, and in Arabic culture, the color black often carries negative connotations. As such, calling a Friday "Black" wouldn’t resonate well with the local audience.?

And that’s how White Friday was born—offering brands a culturally respectful way to participate in this shopping event.

A study by Ipsos revealed that consumers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are among the most eager to check out Black Friday deals—ranking higher than Brazil, the UK, and the US.

So, let’s get into how to win the White Friday season in the Middle East.

4 Localization Tactics for White Friday Success

1. Localize your copy in local dialects

Dialects can make all the difference when it comes to creating campaigns that feel personalized.?

In the Middle East, local dialects resonate far better than standard Arabic, especially in marketing messages. It makes target customers feel like you’re speaking directly to them.?

If your brand is running ad campaigns in more than one Arabic-speaking country, we recommend you adapt the message in the local dialect of each market to build stronger connections with your audience.

2. Use locally relevant search keywords

SEO is just as important during White Friday as any other shopping season. To get discovered by your target audience, you’ll need to optimize your website and ads with locally relevant keywords.

Do your research and figure out how local consumers search for your product and which keywords they use. Keep in mind that search queries in Saudi Arabia, for example, will be entirely different from those in Egypt.

This is why incorporating local search habits into your strategy (SEO localization) will improve your visibility in search results and drive more traffic to your website.

3. Localize payment methods

Payment preferences vary significantly across the Middle East.?

While payment methods like Apple Pay and PayPal are popular in the UAE and growing in Saudi Arabia, they aren't accessible in Egypt, where cash on delivery (COD) and standard credit card payments are still the go-to methods for consumers.

So, don’t overlook the localization of payment options to remove roadblocks that could cost you sales.

4. Invest in video localization

Video content is among the most engaging formats today, and Ipsos found that consumers increasingly rely on videos not just for inspiration but to make purchase decisions.

For White Friday, a localized video ad can capture attention quickly and drive conversions. From voiceovers to subtitles, make sure your videos are tailored to the specific audience you're targeting.

Also, we recommend you take advantage of local user-generated content and partner up with popular social media figures that are based locally.

Conclusion

White Friday is your chance to connect with millions of eager Middle Eastern shoppers in a way that feels personal, relevant, and authentic.?

To stand out in this highly competitive market, you need more than just great deals—you need to speak the language of your audience, understand their culture, and anticipate their needs.

At bayantech, we help businesses connect, engage, and convert with professional localization services customized to the Middle Eastern market.

To learn more about what makes us different, visit: https://bayan-tech.com/?