Rolling out the Blue carpet for Meta Verified across the Middle East

Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram) has finally brought their Meta Verified subscription service to the Middle East region as July. While other publications have stated the rollout for UAE and Saudi Arabia, it’s also now available in Qatar and likely across the wider Middle East region.

Though the service launched in late February in certain markets and slowly expanded to more, Meta following in the footsteps of Twitter (X Blue, given the recent brand change), Snapchat+, and YouTube Premium.

Signing up for the Meta Verified perks

The program itself is open to individuals (i.e. people), hence businesses can’t sign up to it. Another good thing is that the current verification process on Instagram looks to be staying around for businesses, celebrities, and noted public figures. Eligibility requirements for individuals are the following for both Facebook and Instagram.

• 18 years of age or higher
• Public/Private profile assocaited with your full name and has a profiel picture including our face
• Have two-factor authentication enabled
• Meet minimum activity requirements
• Have a government-issued ID that matches the name and profile picture of your account
• Adhere to the Terms of Service and Community Standards

Depending on which platform you subscribe to Meta Verified, the perks that come along include the following. Note that the benefits are subject to change over time. The most coveted aspect of the Meta Verified subscription is the iconic ‘blue checkmark’ (the one on many of the other Verified accounts on celebrities and noted influencers)

• Verified badge (the very thing every possible individual would want)
• Increased account protection with proactive monitoring to avoid impersonation
• Access to priority account support
• Unique stickers for Storeis and Reels available only to subscribers

Subscription catches

One big distinction is that the sign up to Meta Verified varies by device, which also influences the monthly price. The mobile pricing is higher due to the in-app purchase policies for iOS and Android.

• Facebook users can sign up either via web browser ($11.99 or equivalent to local currency) or directly via Facebook mobile app ($14.99 or equivalent to local currency)
• Instagram users can only sign up via Instagram mobile app ($14.99 or equivalent to local currency).

So if you’re looking to sign up, head over to the Accounts Center either via the web or native mobile app. Then tap on Meta Verified and follow the instructions. There is no annual upfront deal (which would defintiely save you money), hence you’ll be seeing it as a monthly charge.

Note that there is no bundle option yet covering both Meta platforms. You’ll be paying separately for both Facebook and Instagram should you choose to do so.