The creator economy in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has experienced rapid growth over the past two years, expanding by 75% to encompass approximately 263,000 influencers across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, according to a new report by influencer marketing intelligence platform Qoruz.

The surge reflects a major shift in the region’s digital landscape, with creators increasingly influencing cultural trends, brand engagement, and consumer behavior.

In 2023, the GCC was home to about 150,000 monetized creators, a number that has risen sharply as social platforms, brands, and audiences converge around lifestyle-driven and locally resonant content.

While lifestyle, travel, fashion, and beauty continue to dominate, emerging categories such as finance, health, and the arts are steadily gaining ground.

According to Qoruz, fashion and beauty content grew by 89%, lifestyle and travel by 87%, and arts and entertainment by 85% over the past two years—showcasing a shift toward creators who blend aspirational storytelling with cultural authenticity.

The report also notes a rise in ethnicity-led marketing, with brands collaborating with creators who connect with specific communities—for instance, Indian-origin influencers in the UAE and Arab creators in Saudi Arabia—to better reflect local culture and values.

“In the GCC, creators are not just entertainers; they have become cultural narrators,” said Priya Vivek, Co-Founder and Head of Partnerships at Qoruz. “Collaborations are no longer just about reach or aesthetics; they’re about cultural context, authenticity, and even ethnicity. Creators who understand their audiences and foster a sense of belonging are the ones driving real impact.”

Aditya Gurwara, Co-Founder of Qoruz, added that the region’s creator economy has evolved into one that is “both strategic and expressive,” noting that parenting and lifestyle creators in particular have helped make everyday topics more relatable and engaging.

As the market matures, Qoruz expects brands to transition from one-off collaborations to long-term partnerships that focus on authenticity, mobile-first formats, and locally relevant storytelling. The report concludes that the GCC’s creator economy is entering a new phase defined by sustained, identity-driven influence.