Saudi Arabia is home to 36M people with 92% smartphone penetration and an app market worth $4B. With Arabic as the primary language and +11.5% YoY year-over-year growth, it represents a significant opportunity for app developers. AppDrift provides full Arabic localization support to help you capture this market.
Market Overview
Population
36M
Smartphone Penetration
92%
App Market Revenue
$4B
Market Growth
+11.5% YoY
Internet Users
35M
Dominant Store
Both roughly equal
AppDrift supports Saudi Arabia with full Arabic localization
Language & Locale
Primary Language
Arabic
Locale Code
ar-SA
Keyword Language
Arabic
Additional Languages
To reach Saudi Arabia's users effectively, your app metadata should be professionally localized in Arabic. AppDrift's AI-powered translation and cultural adaptation tools ensure your titles, descriptions, and keywords resonate with local users while maintaining ASO best practices.
Top Categories
1
Social Media
2
Entertainment
3
Games
4
Shopping
5
Finance
Understanding which categories dominate in Saudi Arabia helps you position your app effectively. Use AppDrift's AI metadata generation to create keyword-optimized listings tailored to Saudi Arabia's most competitive categories.
ASO Tips
RTL (right-to-left) layout optimization is mandatory — screenshots and UI must feel native to Arabic readers
Content must comply with local regulations — avoid imagery or language that conflicts with Islamic values
Ramadan is peak app usage season — optimize metadata and run campaigns during this period
Cultural Insights
Saudi Arabia has one of the highest smartphone penetration rates globally with very high per-user spending. Vision 2030 is driving rapid digital transformation. Users are young (70% under 35) and highly engaged with mobile entertainment.
Adapting your app's visuals is just as important as localizing text. AppDrift's screenshot generator lets you create culturally relevant app store screenshots with localized text overlays for Saudi Arabia's audience.
Competition
Saudi Arabia has a moderately competitive app market. While there is meaningful competition in popular categories, well-optimized listings with proper localization can still achieve strong visibility. Strategic keyword targeting and consistent metadata optimization will give you an edge over competitors who neglect ASO.
Get a competitive advantage in Saudi Arabia with AppDrift's full ASO platform — from AI-powered metadata to automated store publishing, everything you need to outrank competitors.
How AppDrift Helps
RTL Arabic screenshots require specialized layout — mirrored designs with Arabic typography are essential for conversions in Saudi Arabia.
Create localized screenshots for Saudi Arabia with Arabic text overlays.
Translate your app metadata to Arabic with AI-powered cultural adaptation.
Generate ASO-optimized metadata for Saudi Arabia's market in Arabic.
Deploy to Saudi Arabia with one click via Both roughly equal.
Track keyword rankings in Saudi Arabia with daily updates.
FAQ
The primary language for ASO in Saudi Arabia is Arabic (locale: ar-SA). You should also consider localizing for English to reach broader audiences. Keywords should be researched in Arabic to match local search behavior. AppDrift's AI translation tools can help you localize metadata across all relevant languages.
In Saudi Arabia, both the App Store and Google Play have significant market share. You should optimize your listings for both platforms to maximize reach. AppDrift supports metadata optimization and publishing for both stores.
The five most popular app categories in Saudi Arabia are Social Media, Entertainment, Games, Shopping, Finance. Understanding category trends helps you position your app metadata and screenshots to appeal to local user preferences. AppDrift's metadata generation uses local market data to optimize your listings for these high-demand categories.
Saudi Arabia has a medium level of competition in the app stores. With the right ASO strategy and proper localization, there are strong opportunities to gain visibility and grow your user base.
AppDrift provides a complete ASO toolkit for Saudi Arabia: AI-powered metadata translation to Arabic with cultural adaptation, automated metadata generation optimized for local keywords, a free screenshot generator for creating localized visuals, and one-click store publishing to deploy across Saudi Arabia's app stores. Start with a free account to access the screenshot generator and basic features.
Join thousands of apps reaching Saudi Arabia's 36M smartphone users.