INSITE OOH Media Platform

The Out-of-Home (OOH) scene across the UAE remained active in Sep 2025, with industries competing for audience attention through both traditional and digital formats. According to recent tracking, real estate once again emerged as the leading sector, driving 15 campaigns across billboards, digital screens, and combined-format sites. This reaffirms the sector’s long-standing dominance, as developers continue to rely on OOH to showcase new projects, strengthen visibility, and sustain competitive momentum.

Our insights into this dynamic landscape are built on close observation of Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman—where traffic flow, city energy, and strategic billboard placements shape how brands connect with audiences every day. By combining on-ground monitoring with digital tracking, we captured not only where and how often campaigns appear but also the impact they create. Enriching these findings with mobility and demographic data, then cross-checking for accuracy, allowed us to transform raw observations into a clear picture of brand activity and market trends across these three thriving emirates.

Sector Highlights

Leading the scene, Real Estate dominated the OOH landscape with 15 campaigns, reaffirming its strong and steady presence in the UAE’s advertising market. Close behind, fashion wear activated 8 campaigns, maintaining its momentum as one of the most active sectors on outdoor media.

In third place, Foodservice delivered 4 campaigns, matched equally by Automotive with 4 campaigns, reflecting parallel demand for high-visibility placements. Adding even more depth to the mix, Jewelry showcased 4 campaigns, while Mobile Apps featured in 5 campaigns, highlighting the rising significance of digital-driven brands in the OOH ecosystem.

Other contributors helped round out the landscape, including cosmetics & personal care (2), mobile devices (2), banking (2), financial services (2), and foodservice (3). Smaller yet notable additions came from fashion wear (1) and food & beverages (1). Together, these categories paint a clear picture of a dynamic, diverse, and highly active OOH market.

First-Timers on the OOH Stage

September welcomed another wave of brands making their first appearance on the UAE’s OOH scene. Whoop, Holm Developments, iHerb, ATFX MENA, and Holo stepped into the spotlight, each marking a strategic move to tap into the power of high-visibility outdoor media.

From global wellness and e-commerce names exploring new consumer touchpoints to real estate and fintech players expanding their regional footprint, these newcomers reflect the continued draw of OOH as a trusted platform for building presence in a competitive market. Their entries also signal a growing confidence in the medium’s ability to deliver impact, awareness, and strong first impressions.

Whether it’s establishing credibility, announcing market entry, or testing audience engagement at scale, these brands show how OOH remains a go-to channel for companies aiming to make a bold debut in the UAE.

Emirates Snapshot

In September, Dubai once again led the UAE’s OOH landscape, recording 85 campaign appearances across its high-traffic arteries and landmark districts. From Sheikh Zayed Road to Downtown and beyond, the city maintained its position as the epicenter of outdoor visibility, giving brands unmatched reach and frequency.

Sharjah followed with 24 campaigns, highlighting the emirate’s growing weight in the media mix. With its expanding residential and commercial zones, Sharjah continues to attract advertisers aiming to connect with both community audiences and daily commuters.

Meanwhile, Ajman contributed 6 campaigns, reinforcing its steady presence as a complementary market that extends brand visibility along the northern corridor.

Formats in Focus

When it comes to formats, Digital Screens (45 placements / 50%) and Hoardings (45 placements / 50%) led the mix, reaffirming their position as the most dominant platforms for large-scale visibility and dynamic brand expression across the UAE’s OOH scene.

Uni-poles followed with 23 placements (25.56%), maintaining their role as a core format for wide-reach exposure along major highways. lampposts recorded 14 placements (15.56%), while bridge billboards contributed 13 placements (14.44%), both serving as essential complementary touchpoints for commuter engagement.

Rounding out the landscape, mega-com delivered 3 placements (3.33%), standing as a niche yet impactful format that brands continue to leverage for standout presence. Together, these figures highlight how advertisers are strategically balancing dominant formats with supporting ones to maximize coverage and audience impact across the market.

Key Takeaways

Real Estate continued to dominate the OOH scene with 15 campaigns, reaffirming its role as the most active investor in the UAE’s outdoor advertising landscape.

Fashion Wear remained a strong contender with 8 campaigns, reflecting the sector’s lifestyle-driven marketing focus. Let alone he back-to-school season.

Telecommunications and cosmetics & personal care each contributed 6 campaigns, underlining their strategic push in connectivity-led and consumer-focused advertising.

Automotive and foodservice maintained solid visibility with 4 campaigns apiece, highlighting steady engagement in everyday mobility and dining experiences.

Jewelry followed closely with 3 campaigns, showcasing its appeal in premium city locations, while food & beverages also delivered 3 campaigns, emphasizing consistent consumer demand.

Other sectors, such as banking and furniture & interiors, contributed 2 campaigns each, demonstrating targeted outreach in financial services and home lifestyle markets.

Meanwhile, niche categories including mobile devices, courier activities, events & exhibitions, transportation, and hospitality & tourism added single campaigns, enriching the overall diversity of the UAE’s OOH landscape this period.

Conclusion

September’s OOH activity across Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman paints a vivid picture of a market that continues to evolve, diversify, and attract new players. With Real Estate maintaining its leadership, emerging sectors strengthening their presence, and first-time advertisers stepping confidently into the spotlight, the month reflected a healthy mix of consistency and renewed momentum. The Back-to-School season also played a key role, fueling additional activity across categories that tapped into timely consumer needs and heightened footfall.

The dominance of Digital Screens and Hoardings further reinforces how brands are prioritizing high-impact formats capable of delivering both scale and storytelling power during peak moments such as Back-to-School. As advertisers navigate an increasingly competitive landscape, the UAE’s OOH ecosystem remains a vital channel for influence — one shaped by strategic placement, creative flexibility, and a growing appetite for visibility across multiple emirates.

With data-driven insights guiding decision-making, seasonality driving bursts of activity, and new brands continually entering the scene, the region’s OOH market stands poised for even greater dynamism in the months ahead.