Plan a clear Arabic advertising disclosure, check licensing and review the published version on each platform in Saudi Arabia.
A creator may receive a product and film a demonstration without receiving cash. The practical questions are not limited to payment: does the material promote a product or service, what is the relationship, and which rules apply? The Ministry of Commerce's disclosure guide says that where the purpose is advertising within its scope, the material must be identified as advertising whether or not compensation is paid.
Design the disclosure before filming
The guide calls for clear Arabic disclosure and gives examples including «إعلان» (advertisement), «مادة إعلانية» and «شراكة مدفوعة». Do not rely only on abbreviations such as AD or SP, a later comment, or small text that blends into the background. Place a legible notice in the content itself and check the final version after editing and adding platform elements.
For sequences of stories, the guide recommends checking that the disclosure appears in each segment, with a distinction for continuous advertising uninterrupted by different content. For audio, it recommends disclosure at the beginning. Read the full guide and current rules for the campaign; do not assume one template works for every format.
Check the advertiser and product
The General Authority for Media Regulation's Mawthooq service describes licensing individuals to provide advertising content on social media, including requirements such as being at least 18 and describing and proving ownership of accounts. It also identifies additional requirements for residents or foreign investors and possible approvals from other authorities. Do not assume identical conditions apply to every activity; verify your circumstances with the relevant authorities.
Pre-publication checklist
- Record the relationship, benefit or product, and the advertiser.
- Check the applicable licences and approvals for the account and product.
- Verify a clear Arabic notice in the initial material and reposted versions.
- Compare price, features and claims with evidence that can substantiate them.
- Retain the agreement, approved content, claim evidence and publication link.
On YouTube, also review the paid promotion declaration. A platform tool does not remove the need to check local requirements separately.
Is a notice only in the video description enough? The Ministry's guide recommends placing it within the content itself rather than relying only on the description or comments. Check what the viewer actually sees.