Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks for Marketplaces 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 Marketplaces in United Arab Emirates

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Marketplaces in the United Arab Emirates shows cost per purchase far above the global benchmark: average 701.03 vs 49.38, or roughly 14x higher over the same months.
  • The series is highly volatile, with an average absolute month‑to‑month change of about 106% (global: ~6%). Large spikes appear in early 2025, peaking in May.
  • Q4 2024 sits relatively low and stable for AE (average ~134), before surging in Q1–Q2 2025 and dropping sharply by July.
  • From the first to last observed month (Oct 2024 to Jul 2025), AE declines 36.8%, while the global benchmark edges down 1.0%.

This analysis looks at cost per purchase trends for industry Marketplaces 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.

Selected series overview (Marketplaces, United Arab Emirates)

  • Coverage: Oct 2024, Nov 2024, Dec 2024, Jan 2025, Mar 2025, Apr 2025, May 2025, Jul 2025.
  • Average: 701.03
  • High: 2,791.06 (May 2025)
  • Low: 82.84 (Jul 2025)
  • First-to-last change: −36.8% (Oct 2024 → Jul 2025)

Volatility and notable movements:

  • Q4 2024: relatively contained (Oct 131.06, Nov 114.46, Dec 156.41), averaging ~133.98.
  • Large Q1–Q2 2025 escalation: Jan +139.6% vs Dec; Mar +198.5% vs Jan; Apr −24.9% vs Mar; May +232.5% vs Apr to the series high.
  • Sharp relief into Q3: Jul −97.0% vs May to the series low.
  • Average absolute MoM change across observed transitions: ~106%, indicating pronounced swings.

Global baseline (all industries/countries)

  • Average over the same months: 49.38
  • High: 52.61 (Mar 2025)
  • Low: 43.19 (Nov 2024)
  • First-to-last change: −1.0% (Oct 2024 → Jul 2025)

Global pattern is steady: modest lift from Nov into Dec–Mar (51–53 range), then a gradual easing into Jul (46.21). Month-to-month moves are mild (average absolute change ~5.9%).

How AE Marketplaces compares to the global trend

  • Level: The United Arab Emirates series is consistently above market, averaging roughly 14x the global benchmark across the same months.
  • Range: AE spans from 82.84 to 2,791.06; the global range is tight (43.19–52.61). This places AE far above average and much more variable.
  • Seasonality: Both series show some year-end/early-year firmness. AE rises from Q4 into early 2025 and accelerates sharply through May before a steep reset in July. The global benchmark also edges up in Dec–Mar but remains stable overall.

What this means for benchmarking

For Marketplaces in the United Arab Emirates, cost per purchase ran well above global norms and displayed exceptional volatility, with dramatic spikes in early-to-mid 2025 and a significant mid-year pullback. Against a steady global baseline, AE’s pattern stands out as elevated and highly variable across months.

Understanding cost-per-purchase benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Marketplaces 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 Marketplaces 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.

Optimize Smarter with Superads

Improve your Facebook ad performance

Instant performance insights – See which ads, audiences, and creatives drive results.

Data-driven creative decisions – Spot patterns to improve ROAS.

Effortless reporting – No spreadsheets, just clear insights.

Get Started for free →

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.