Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks for E-commerce in United Arab Emirates

See how your purchase costs compare. Explore ecommerce conversion cost benchmarks by industry, region, and campaign type

Cost Per Purchase for E-commerce in United Arab Emirates

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Based on $3B of advertising data, cost-per-purchase in E-commerce for the United Arab Emirates ran below the global benchmark overall, with a lower average and median and higher month-to-month volatility.
  • The selected series averaged 42.1 versus the global baseline’s 49.2 (about 15% lower) over Oct 2024–Aug 2025, and was below market in 8 of 11 months.
  • Seasonality diverged from the global pattern: instead of a Q4 rise, the United Arab Emirates trended down through late 2024 and early 2025, hit a mid-year trough in June–July, then rebounded sharply in August.

Scope and context

This analysis looks at cost-per-purchase trends for industry E-commerce 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.

Trend overview for the selected series

  • Average and median: average 42.1; median 41.9.
  • Highs and lows: highest level was 58.67 in Oct 2024; lowest was 21.86 in Jul 2025 (range of 36.81).
  • Directional change: from Oct 2024 (58.67) to Aug 2025 (38.97), cost-per-purchase fell 33.6%.
  • Volatility: average absolute month-over-month change was about 23.3%, indicating pronounced swings.
  • Notable moves:
  • Nov→Dec 2024: -19.5%
  • Apr 2025: +39.3% month-over-month spike
  • May→Jun 2025: -40.5% sharp drop; Jul 2025: -21.3% further dip to the series low
  • Aug 2025: +78.3% rebound off the low

Seasonality: Costs dipped through late Q4 and Q1, troughed in early Q3 (June–July), then recovered in August.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Level comparison (Oct 2024–Aug 2025):
  • Average: selected 42.1 vs baseline 49.2 (≈15% lower).
  • Median: selected 41.9 vs baseline 51.0 (≈18% lower).
  • Above/below market: selected was above baseline in Oct (+25.7%), Nov (+24.8%) and Apr (+3.4%), and below in the remaining 8 months (notably Jun -40.8% and Jul -52.7% vs baseline).
  • Baseline dynamics:
  • Average absolute month-over-month change ≈4.7% (far steadier than the selected series).
  • Over the same Oct–Aug window, the baseline slipped modestly (-2.1%). Including Sep 2025, the baseline low was 32.29, with a cycle high of 53.89 in Feb 2025.
  • Seasonal patterns:
  • Global data shows the typical Q4/early Q1 lift (e.g., Nov→Dec +19.3%, sustained into Jan–Feb).
  • The United Arab Emirates diverged, trending down across Nov–Jan and posting a mid-year trough before an August rebound.

Bottom line

E-commerce cost-per-purchase in the United Arab Emirates was below average versus the global benchmark across most months, with larger intra-year swings and a mid-year low before rebounding late in the period. Understanding cost-per-purchase benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry E-commerce 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 E-commerce industry, Facebook ad costs can be varied, with peaks during holiday seasons and competitive product categories. 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 healthy cost per purchase for ecommerce brands?

It depends on your product price and margins. Most brands aim for $10 to $50. For higher-ticket products, a higher CPA may be acceptable as long as you're maintaining a strong return on ad spend.

How does product price impact CPA benchmarks?

Higher-priced products typically have a higher CPA because people take longer to convert. That's not necessarily a problem if your margin can support it. You should measure CPA in context with AOV and LTV.

Why are my purchase costs going up despite stable ROAS?

Your AOV may be increasing, which helps maintain ROAS even if CPA rises. You could also be facing higher CPMs, lower conversion rates, or creative fatigue.

Should I use manual bidding to control CPA more effectively?

Manual bidding can help if you're struggling to stay within target CPA. It's best used by experienced advertisers who can monitor performance and adjust regularly. It gives more control, but also requires more effort.

How do I scale spend without letting CPA skyrocket?

Increase budget gradually, rotate creative often, and avoid overlapping audiences. Scaling too quickly can lead to audience saturation and rising CPAs.