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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Media in United Arab Emirates

See how your app install costs compare. Explore mobile acquisition cost benchmarks by industry, region, and platform

Cost Per App Install for Media in United Arab Emirates

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • This analysis looks at cost-per-app-install trends for industry Media and target country United Arab Emirates compared to the global trend. The analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • No monthly observations are available for the selected segment (Media, United Arab Emirates), so positioning versus the market cannot be determined for this period.
  • Globally, cost-per-app-install averaged about 12.67 over the last 12 months, with a median of 11.44 and a wide range from 6.20 (low) to 26.21 (high).
  • The global series shows high volatility: average absolute month-over-month change was roughly 61%, with notable spikes in November and especially June, and sharp corrections in December and July.
  • Seasonality in the global baseline: costs were lowest in Q1 (≈8.20), moderate in Q4 (≈9.67), and highest in Q2 (≈16.05) and Q3 (≈16.78), with a pronounced mid-year peak and a late-Q3 climb.

Scope and data coverage

  • Metric: cost-per-app-install (CPI)
  • Industry: Media
  • Country: United Arab Emirates
  • Timeframe: October 2024 to September 2025
  • Data sets: selected segment (no available monthly medians) and global baseline

Selected segment summary (Media, United Arab Emirates)

  • No monthly median values were available for the selected segment during the observed period. As a result, averages, highs, lows, and volatility for the selected data cannot be computed, and relative positioning (“above market,” “below average,” or “in line with overall trends”) cannot be established.

Global baseline benchmarks for cost-per-app-install

  • Overall average: 12.67; median: 11.44
  • High: 26.21 in June 2025; low: 6.20 in October 2024
  • First-to-last change: from 6.20 (Oct 2024) to 22.99 (Sep 2025), a +271% increase
  • Notable spikes and dips:
  • November 2024: +131% vs October
  • December 2024: −40% vs November
  • June 2025: +151% vs May (series high)
  • July 2025: −53% vs June
  • September 2025: +53% vs August
  • Volatility: average absolute month-over-month change ≈ 61%
  • Seasonal patterns:
  • Q1 2025 average ≈ 8.20 (lowest quarter)
  • Q2 2025 average ≈ 16.05 (strong mid-year lift)
  • Q3 2025 average ≈ 16.78 (late-quarter climb led by September)
  • Q4 2024 average ≈ 9.67 (November elevated, December retreat)

Comparison: selected segment vs global baseline

  • Due to the absence of monthly medians for Media in the United Arab Emirates, a direct comparison to the global baseline is not possible for this period.
  • The global baseline provides a directional reference: CPI typically ranged around 11–13 on average, but with large swings, particularly mid-year and into late Q3.

Understanding cost-per-app-install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Media and United Arab Emirates helps advertisers make more efficient budget and creative choices.

Understanding the Data

Insights & analysis of Facebook advertising costs

Facebook advertising costs vary based on many factors including industry, target audience, ad placement, and campaign objectives. In the Media industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting United Arab Emirates, advertisers should consider local market factors and user behavior. Different campaign objectives lead to varying costs based on how Facebook optimizes for your specific goals. The data shown represents median values across multiple campaigns, and individual results may vary based on ad quality, audience targeting, and campaign optimization.

Why we use median instead of average

We use the median CTR because the underlying distribution of click-through rates is highly skewed, with a small share of campaigns achieving extremely high CTRs. These outliers can inflate a simple average, making it less representative of what most advertisers actually experience. By using the median—which sits at the midpoint of all campaigns—we provide a more rigorous and realistic benchmark that reflects the true underlying data model and helps you set attainable performance expectations.

Key Factors Affecting Facebook Ad Costs

  • Competition within your selected industry and audience demographics
  • Ad quality and relevance score – higher quality ads can lower costs
  • Campaign objective and bid strategy
  • Timing and seasonality – costs often increase during holiday periods
  • Ad placement (News Feed, Instagram, Audience Network, etc.)

Note: This data represents industry median values and benchmarks. Your actual costs may vary based on specific targeting, ad creative quality, and campaign optimization.

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The data behind the benchmarks

All data is sourced from over $3B in Facebook ad spend, collected across thousands of ad accounts that use Superads daily to analyze and improve their campaigns. Every data point is fully anonymized and aggregated—no individual advertiser is ever exposed.

This dataset updates frequently as new ad data flows in. It will only get bigger and better.

United Arab Emirates Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Mar 30–31Eid al-Fitr
Jun 6Arafat Day
Jun 7–9Eid al-Adha
Jul 7Islamic New Year
Sep 15Prophet Muhammad's Birthday
Dec 1Commemoration Day
Dec 2–3UAE National Day

Key Shopping Season

Ramadan + Eid (Mar–Apr), End of November–December (UAE National Day, Christmas, New Year), Dubai Shopping Festival (mid-Dec through Jan)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPMs may rise sharply during Ramadan and Eid, especially in e‑commerce, gifting, F&B, and beauty sectors. UAE National Day campaigns could lead to high local bidding activity in travel, banking, and luxury retail. Dubai Shopping Festival drives elevated CPMs from mid-December to mid-January. Islamic holidays shift each year, affecting year-over-year comparisons.

What's a good CPI for iOS vs Android in 2025?

iOS CPIs often range from $2 to $5 or more. Android is usually cheaper, between $1 and $3. Your CPI will depend on geo, creative, and optimization goal.

Why is my app install cost higher in some countries?

Some regions like the US, UK, and Canada have higher competition and stricter privacy regulations, which drive up costs. Countries with lower purchasing power typically have cheaper CPIs.

What creatives drive the lowest CPI on Facebook?

Short videos showing app benefits, UGC-style content, and localized messaging tend to perform best. Clear CTAs and fast-paced visuals help lower your CPI.

Should I optimize for installs or in-app actions?

Optimizing for installs gets volume, but optimizing for actions like signups or purchases brings higher quality users. It depends on your goals and how much post-install behavior matters.

How do I lower CPI without tanking app retention or quality?

Align your creative with the app experience, avoid misleading ads, and exclude users who already installed. You can also test lookalike audiences based on high-quality users, not just all installers.