Remember back in 2022 when Snap announced they were setting up an official presence in Qatar? It was about few months before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. For three years, they had a temporary setup in partnership with GCO Qatar. Now, they have inaugurated their official office in Doha at Msheireb Downtown.
GCO Qatar’s Director Sheikh Jassim and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel headlined the attendance, marking a significant milestone in the partnership. Hussein Freijeh, Vice President of Snap Inc. in MENA, was also in attendance; he’s based in their main regional office in Dubai, U.A.E.
This milestone further cements the additional MoU signed at Web Summit Qatar 2025 – establishing the first Augmented Reality (AR) Academy in the MENA region. They had also partnered up with VCU Qatar to kick-start the effort with students. We may even see the release of their new Spectacles and SpectaclesOS officially joining the UAE and Saudi Arabia markets.
Learning about “Snapchatters in Qatar”
On another note, Snap also recently shared some behaviour/demographic insights on Snapchat’s usage in Qatar alongside the GCC region. Why not add some additional context to their office opening?
Snap Inc. and GWI (Global Web Index) did a research study that yielded one outcome. Qataris are among the most digitally engaged and forward-thinking audiences in the Middle East. Findings from their “Getting to know Snapchatters in Qatar” report highlight that more than 50% create content or interact with branded posts monthly. This makes them 33% more likely to click on sponsored content. They are also 47% more likely to swipe up on Stories compared to the regional average.
Cultural relevance is crucial for brand engagement and relevance. Understanding audience impact is equally important as these users are setting new trends influencing content, commerce, and community. Distinct usage habits among Snapchatters in Qatar highlight the individuality of this audience:
- Snapchatters are 25% more likely to belong to high-income groups compared to users in other GCC markets, representing an affluent audience for premium brands.
- In comparison to non-Snapchatters, they are 70% more likely to donate to charity each month.
- They are also 14% more likely to gift electronics, and 2.1x as likely to gift hampers – reflecting a community that values connection and generosity both on and off the platform.
- Nearly 70% engage with health, fitness, and beauty content, and they are 80% more likely to describe themselves as fashion-conscious.
- Over 40% also express enthusiasm for exploring local cultural experiences, including touring museums, enjoying traditional cuisine or and visiting heritage sites – blending cultural curiosity and personal expression.
- Snapchatters are 316% more likely to be Qatari nationals, making the platform a key channel to reach young, affluent, and local audiences.
- They are also 38% more likely than non-users to be Gen Z, and in Qatar, are 16% more likely than users in GCC to be millennials.
Hopefully, these insightful tidbits have piqued your curiosity and even encouraged to start/resume ‘Snapping’. If you need a little visual recap of the office event, I luckily managed to screen record their coverage with their CEO also enjoying his time in Doha.
Image Credit: GCO Qatar (Header), Snap
