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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks 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 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 All industries available 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.
  • Overall level: United Arab Emirates sat well above market on average (about 155% higher than the global baseline across the same months), but its median was in line with global norms, indicating one outsized spike skewed the mean.
  • Volatility: Month-to-month movement was high. The typical monthly swing was about 61% in the selected data vs roughly 53% globally.
  • Seasonality: The selected data showed a sharp Q1–Q2 spike peaking in March, then a pronounced deflation into June–July. Globally, costs lifted into early summer, peaking in June.

Scope and framing

  • Metric: cost per app install (median by month)
  • Industry: All industries available
  • Country: United Arab Emirates (selected_data) vs global (baseline_data)

Monthly highlights in the selected data

  • Average: $27.66 across the 10 reported months
  • Median: $10.96 (shows typical month closer to ~$11 despite the high mean)
  • High/low: High at $170.72 (Mar 2025); low at $1.88 (Jul 2025)
  • Trend from first to last: $8.87 (Sep 2024) to $2.50 (Aug 2025), a 71.8% decrease
  • Volatility: Median month-to-month change ~61%, with a dramatic +616% jump in March and an -81.7% reset in April

Notable months:

  • March 2025: $170.72, a sharp one-month spike (+616% vs Feb)
  • April 2025: $31.30, normalizing from the spike (-81.7% vs Mar)
  • June–July 2025: Lows at $3.53 and $1.88, respectively

Comparison against the global baseline

  • Average: $27.66 (selected) vs $10.83 (baseline) across the same months — selected is about 155% above market
  • Median: $10.96 (selected) vs $10.90 (baseline) — essentially in line with overall trends
  • High/low: $170.72/$1.88 (selected) vs $26.21/$1.98 (baseline) — wider extremes in the United Arab Emirates
  • First-to-last change: -71.8% (selected) vs +658% (baseline from Sep 2024 to Aug 2025)
  • Volatility: ~61% median monthly move (selected) vs ~53% (baseline)

Share of months above or below market:

  • Above market: 6 of 10 months (Sep–Apr)
  • Below market: 4 of 10 months (May–Aug)

Seasonality and volatility signals

  • Selected data: Elevated through Q1 into March, then normalizes sharply in April and drifts to annual lows by June–July before a small uptick in August.
  • Global baseline: A lift into early summer, peaking in June, with costs remaining elevated through August. Earlier months show a November bump and a December dip in the global series.

Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry All industries available 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. Different industries see varying ad costs due to market competition, user demographics, and conversion value. 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.

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