The GCC influencer landscape has seen considerable development. A new report from Qoruz reveals a 75% rise in the creator economy over the last two years, bringing the total number of influencers in the region to more than 263,000.
As of 2023, there were about 150,000 monetised content creators in the GCC. The increase is aligned with heightened engagement among social platforms, brands and audiences who are coalescing around lifestyle-led content and regional stories.
Lifestyle, travel, fashion and beauty continue to dominate, but there’s increased interest in verticals such as finance, health and arts. Financial influencers, for instance, are demystifying complex topics related to money and investment.
The fastest-growing categories identified by Qoruz during the reviewed period are fashion and beauty, which climbed by 89%, followed closely by lifestyle and travel at 87%, and arts and entertainment at 85%. This trend highlights a shift towards creators who balance aspirational content with genuine, culturally relevant storytelling.
Qoruz’s Co-Founder and Head of Partnerships, Priya Vivek, remarked that creators in the GCC have transitioned into roles as cultural narrators. These collaborations extend beyond reach and aesthetics by fostering connections.
There has also been a trend in the region for influencers to transition to investors, where creators are trading brand deals for equity, ownership and deeper roles in the startup and financial ecosystem.
