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

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Cost Per App Install for Retail 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 Retail 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.
  • The selected series shows extreme dispersion: a spike in late 2024 (up to 886.93 AED) followed by a reset to low single digits in 2025 (1.73–2.38 AED). From the first to the last observed month, costs fell 99.4%.
  • Compared with the global baseline for the same months, the selected average is about 22× higher overall (driven by Q4 2024), but 2025 levels are 83–86% below the baseline, signaling a sharp realignment.
  • Seasonality in the baseline points to elevated costs in November and pronounced spikes mid-year (June) and early fall (September). The selected series diverges in 2024 (massively above market) and then tracks well below average in mid-2025.

Overview of the selected time series

  • Observed months: 2024-10, 2024-11, 2025-05, 2025-07, 2025-08.
  • Average across observed months: 261.84 AED.
  • High/low:
  • High: 886.93 AED in November 2024.
  • Low: 1.73 AED in July 2025.
  • First-to-last change: 416.04 AED (Oct 2024) to 2.38 AED (Aug 2025), a −99.4% decline.
  • Notable swings:
  • Oct → Nov 2024: +113% (416.04 → 886.93 AED).
  • Nov 2024 → May 2025: −99.8% (886.93 → 2.13 AED).
  • May → Jul 2025: −18.9% (2.13 → 1.73 AED).
  • Jul → Aug 2025: +37.5% (1.73 → 2.38 AED).
  • 2025 stabilization: Average across May–Aug 2025 is 2.08 AED, with a narrow band (1.73–2.38 AED), indicating much lower and steadier acquisition costs than late 2024.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Apples-to-apples baseline average (Oct 2024, Nov 2024, May 2025, Jul 2025, Aug 2025): 11.65 AED.
  • Relative position overall: selected is ~22× higher on average, but this is skewed by Q4 2024.
  • Month-by-month comparison:
  • Oct 2024: 416.04 vs 6.20 AED (≈67× above market).
  • Nov 2024: 886.93 vs 14.28 AED (≈62× above market).
  • May 2025: 2.13 vs 10.43 AED (−79.6% below market).
  • Jul 2025: 1.73 vs 12.35 AED (−86.0% below market).
  • Aug 2025: 2.38 vs 15.00 AED (−84.1% below market).
  • Baseline seasonality and volatility:
  • Elevated in November (14.28 AED) versus October (6.20 AED), then softer December–January.
  • Pronounced spikes mid-year (June 2025 at 26.21 AED) and early fall (September 2025 at 22.99 AED).
  • From October 2024 to August 2025, the baseline increased by +142%.

Seasonality and volatility insights

  • The selected series for Retail in the United Arab Emirates diverged sharply from baseline during Q4 2024 (well above market) and then shifted to well below market in mid-2025.
  • In 2025, selected costs remain stable at 1.73–2.38 AED while the baseline climbs from 10.43 to 15.00 AED (May–Aug), consistent with global seasonal firming into late summer.
  • Overall, the selected series exhibits extremely high volatility across the full window, with a >500× range between its high and low.

Understanding COST_PER_APP_INSTALL benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Retail 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 Retail 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.