Market Trends of Middle East And North Africa DOOH Industry
Transit to be Fastest Growing Application
- Transit advertising, often known as "advertising on transportation," is the placement of commercials on or within any form of transportation, including buses, taxis, trains, trams, etc.
- The region mostly finds its transit applications across public transportation vehicles (such as taxis, buses, and underground trains), airports, bus stops, train stations, and bus stops. The citizens' growing utilization of public transit drives the market players to incorporate DooH transit along the transit areas identified as essential installation sites.
- For instance, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) reported that in Dubai, ridership of public transportation, shared mobility, and taxis recorded around 621.4 million in 2022, a 35% rise year-on-year. The average daily ridership of public transportation, shared mobility, and taxis was 1.7 million in 2022, up from 1.3 million in 2021. Such considerable growth in utilization and ridership in public transit may significantly benefit transit DOOH firms installing digital advertising screens across various public transit modes, thereby gaining potential market growth.
- Moreover, various firms recognize the significant benefits of transit DOOH solutions, substantially driving market growth. For instance, there is a chance to profit from portable digital advertisements displayed on the top of cars, where users, including drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, can read the content. Override, a KSA-based digital billboard business, is taking the plunge into this possibility by offering an even more important feature: data and hyper-targeted geofenced ads.
- Moreover, various government initiatives are significantly supporting the installation of digital billboards on public transport, thereby considerably contributing to market growth. For instance, in October 2022, Dubai cabs were expected to be digitalized as the RTA introduced new features. According to Dubai Taxi Corporation in RTA, the recent rollout would be part of keeping up with the latest technology and tackling the issues of the taxi sector's introduction of package initiatives. Taxi advertisements will be a step forward. Traditional automobile stickers will be replaced with digital advertisements. A digital billboard will likely be mounted on the vehicle's back windshield, which will be visible to commuters on the road.
- Overall, the market had considerable adoption rates during the year, with firms invested in digital displays significantly generating profitable earnings. Further, vehicles with traditional displays are anticipated to be replaced by digital displays to enhance brand promotion.
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Saudi Arabia to Hold Significant Market Share
- Despite the existence of alternative media, such as TV, the Internet, etc., the outdoor advertising sector in Saudi Arabia is one of the most significant and primary sectors for advertising firms and organizations looking to advertise their products. When commercials cannot be made on other channels or videos, outdoor advertisements remain the most significant medium. Moreover, outdoor advertising is the ideal and first choice in the market, as it delivers a full-fledged set of interactive digital solutions to the public, ensuring access to a vast number of viewers in a much shorter period compared to other advertising mediums. A significant shift has occurred everywhere due to Vision 2030, and Saudi Arabia, which is booming economically and socially, has made significant changes.
- According to a report by the World Bank, in 2022, 30.36 million people were expected to live in urban areas. Most urban settlers settled in prominent Saudi Arabian cities like Riyadh, Dammam, Mecca, and Jeddah. According to the UNDP and UN DESA, by 2030, the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah are expected to be populated by 7.9 million and 5 million people, respectively.
- Further, in 2022, Saudi Arabia recorded a per capita income of USD 27,941, which was USD 23,186 in 2021. With the rise in urban population and GDP per capita, shopping complexes and malls across the country are also rising steadily, as urban people prefer to shop and spend leisure time in business zones, entertainment centers, cinemas, and international dining experiences. This factor creates opportunities for advertising agencies to market their products and services on digital billboards and street furniture. Further, due to organizations like Saudi Signs Media (SSM), one of the leading OOH providers in Saudi Arabia, the OOH media market in the country is currently in a strong position as it continues to develop.
- With the introduction of new companies and increased competition, Saudi Arabia's robust economy has paved the way for the rise of the private sector. The nation has also seen an active forward movement in communication from official agencies. The increase in outdoor spending compared to prior years has also been attributed to increased awareness of and promotion of new and exciting social activities, regional events, and destination tourism, among other factors.
- The digitalization of formats and their advantages have been crucial in terms of hardware. They are difficult to ignore because of their dimensions, positioning, network distribution, and line-of-sight exposure to audiences. They also leave a lasting, actionable impression that is in high demand.
- The Saudi Arabian OOH industry and the numerous formats are quite advantageous for advertisers. For instance, companies like pure online players (both local and foreign) heavily invest in the media since they have seen its advantages for their businesses. There is no shortage of interest and repeat queries, highlighting that OOH continues to be crucial for raising awareness and boosting sales.
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