How to run adult content in MENA countries

Arab countries in the affiliate world represent a concentration of the solvent audience. However, finding a successful approach to attract the target audience is not that simple. Arabs differ in worldview, philosophy, but, more importantly, in religion. It’s Islam that determines the course of life in Muslim countries and largely directs the vector of interests. But, does this mean that people in Muslim countries don't go on dates? Women don't want to remain forever young, and gambling is beyond their interests? Of course not.

In this new material, we delve into the question of whether it's possible to run adult content in MENA countries and other Muslim nations in 2023, and we also explore the most controversial vertical in this niche – adult. Enjoy your reading!

Peculiarities of the worldview in Muslim countries

MENA countries – Middle East and North Africa – are Arab nations predominantly following Islam. However, countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan are also typically included in the MENA list, but they are not generally classified as such in affiliate marketing. Israel falls into the exception category, as it differs in religion, language, and way of life. The same goes for Iran, as it’s a Muslim country with Persian, not Arab, inhabitants. Lebanon is a Christian nation amid its Muslim neighbors. These distinctions should be taken into account, as the discussion below will focus on the Arab component of MENA.

MENA regions on the map

Let's go back to Islam. Religion determines a set of everyday rules, and is firmly integrated into daily life. For instance, promoting products in the USA and Europe typically involves using photos of women in mini-skirts or lingerie. However, this approach would fail in MENA countries — people wouldn’t respond to such advertising, and those who launched it could be legally punished.

In such countries, traditionally, premarital sex, adultery, viewing 18+ websites, and adult dating are forbidden. Traditional methods of marriage (arranged by parents, where the young may not even know each other until the wedding day), chess games in coffee shops, and religious obedience are welcomed. Does this mean that Muslims are closed off from the trends of the 21st century and unanimously agree with established laws? No. Like in other countries, in Muslim nations, there are underground casinos, escort and adult advertising, VPNs, and controversial offers for affiliates.

Often, the traditional family unit consists of an engaged in business or employed man and a housewife. What does this mean for a webmaster? The audience's interests are quite clear. When it comes to men, the working triggers become evident: “are you earning too little?” “there's an easy way to make extra money”, “surprise your wife with a gift”, “provide for your family”. When it comes to women, the triggers involve encouraging them to stay beautiful and youthful for their husbands, show off to other women, and live luxuriously.

Here are classic examples of adapted advertising in Saudi Arabia compared to its Western counterpart:

Adaptation of a magazine poster

Dating in Muslim countries

As we've learned, people in Muslim countries tend to adhere to traditions, and they adapt advertisements to fit local ideals of beauty and decency. In the dating niche, adhering to strict Islamic norms can be extremely challenging. Let's delve into this in more detail!

When it comes to 18+ dating, the target audience consists exclusively of men over the age of 25. Regular women don't even use dating apps—  if a woman is noticed in a premarital relationship or a one-night date, it’d lead to severe societal condemnation. This also extends to the risk of getting pregnant without being married. For instance, in the UAE, a woman who gives birth out of wedlock can be deported from the country or even imprisoned.

If a man wants to meet someone for a one-night stand, it's always about escort services and underground prostitution, not real dates. They understand this. However, this doesn't negate the fact that Arab men also seek simple conversation and pleasant company from such meetings. Hence, when it comes to creatives, there's no need to include semi-nude beauties into the visual. A charming Arab-looking girl who seductively invites a potential client to join her for an evening of tea and pleasant conversation is sufficient.

When it comes to porn websites, it's important to understand that they are banned in many MENA countries. Even visiting the main page of a hypothetical site like Pornhub could lead to criminal charges. However, cases of arrest due to watching porn are extremely rare, if they even exist in reality. Nevertheless, Arabs are more likely to use a VPN. This is the only scenario where being bold in your creatives is appropriate.

If you're getting traffic from adult push ads, for example, on a porn site, then your visual should be appropriate. However, in all other sources, it won't work.

Due to various complexities associated with running traditional adult 18+ in MENA countries, “adult offers” typically involve directing traffic to three types of dating sub-verticals.

Halal dating. It's the same mainstream dating, only in an Islamic manner. The more developed the city, the less influence parents have on their children's lives. In the age of the internet and information overload, it's simply impossible. Hence, the desire of young people to find a partner at their own discretion.

Usually, parents don't interfere in this process but may give or withhold their consent to the chosen candidate at the initial stages of dating. Whether this influences the final decision of an individual depends solely on that person. However, prior to this, the search for a potential life partner leads young people to use dating apps among Muslims.

These are traditional dates where both the guy and the girl, from the very beginning, try to assess whether the person is suitable for life. Typically, this involves going to restaurants, movies, walks in the park – all within the framework of traditions. This is a highly sought-after way of dating because finding a suitable partner in the age of technology becomes increasingly challenging.

Webmasters set up classic ad visuals. For example, an attractive, modest girl or guy invites you to join some portal where almost everyone finds their soulmate. Landing pages are visually calm and minimalistic. They often feature smiling people or a loving couple. The pre-landing page is up to the webmaster's discretion. However, it's important to remember that, unlike traffic campaigns in Western countries, a pre-landing page in the format “Are you already 18?” may be off-putting. A Muslim from MENA countries may get the impression that they are being led to an adult 18+ offer.

A classic landing page for a dating service.

Adult goods. This is one of the simplest sub-verticals in dating. Adult product promotion is not prohibited; it just needs to be disguised as medicinal products, and there is demand among both male and female target audiences.

Let's start with men. Due to overwork and stress, men often face potency problems. In this case, creatives with calls like “Can't satisfy your wife?” or “Make your young wife happy!” work best. In other words, the focus is on family values and the opportunity to improve the life of their partner. It's essential to choose beautiful Arab women for these creatives because blue-eyed blondes convert worse as they are perceived as foreigners. Foreign women, in turn, may seem excessively liberal and sometimes vulgar to traditional Muslims.

Another essential aspect is the disguise. Firstly, not all sources allow advertising where algorithms will clearly understand that an enlarged penis is being promoted. Secondly, the target audience from MENA countries won't appreciate such explicit content. It's better to replace penises with phallic symbols. Typically, webmasters use bananas, cucumbers, jellyfish tentacles bursting from the flies, and other timeless classics.

Adult product ad with an Arab woman

Now about women. Here, you can talk about two types of offers: visual body improvement (breast lift, products for intimate firmness) and sex toys. In the first category, women of Arab appearance work excellently, who “know for sure” that “this specific bottle” helped restore tone to intimate muscles or lift the breasts. Openness is also not encouraged. An authoritative trigger or advice “from a friend” is sufficient. Before/after results work well.

Before/after creative for women TA

As for sex toys, you can find your audience here as well. In most cases, women get married once in their youth. This means they have one sexual partner for life. But not in all cases is this a happy sexual life. That's why among women aged 24-42, such products will be in demand. In the creative, it's important to convey that the potential customer “hasn't experienced this before” – in other words, emphasize the previously unattainable part of life with a call to finally explore it.

Adult online, webcam. Perhaps, this is the most profitable sub-vertical in dating for MENA countries. In this case, the web offers customers to move to private chats or private video sessions.

Creative from an 18+ website. It features an Arab-looking girl inviting you to join a private online chat.

For such campaigns, explicitness is crucial. Similar creatives can almost always be found only within adult websites. There, young Arab women invite visitors to spend 10, 15, 30 or more minutes with them. For a resident of a Muslim country, this is cheap, fast, and brings the pleasure he seeks. There is no threat of being ridiculed by society, as if he were engaging in one-night stands. In this case, one doesn't need to spend a lot of money and essentially “take” it from the family budget. It's quite quick and accessible anywhere. Plus, the visual aspect is often sufficient for complete satisfaction. So, if you plan to run adult campaigns in MENA countries, pay attention to webcam offers.

Conclusion

To earn a lot and quickly, it's better to enter mainstream niches, adult goods or 18+ online entertainment. If you have a budget to spare and want to explore a challenging niche to obtain a rare case, it's worth trying adult dating in MENA countries. Take religious principles into account when creating creatives and avoid using inappropriate language. Then, promoting any offer, even an “adult” one, in Muslim countries will bring you the desired profit!