The Out-of-Home (OOH) scene across the UAE remained active in August 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 density, city vibrancy, and strategic billboard placements define how brands engage with audiences on a daily basis. By blending on-ground monitoring with digital tracking, we captured not only where and how often campaigns appeared, but also the impressions they generated. Enriching these findings with mobility and demographic data, and cross-checking for accuracy, allowed us to transform raw activity into a clear picture of brand performance and market trends across the three emirates. Sector Highlights Close behind Real Estate, Fashion Wear secured 8 campaigns, showcasing seasonal collections and lifestyle branding across malls and prime urban billboards. From bold visuals to high-impact mall activations, apparel brands leaned on OOH to sustain visibility during the summer shopping season. In third place, Foodservice accounted for 4 campaigns, while telecommunications secured 6 campaigns . Restaurants and quick-service chains promoted new menu launches and offers, often through digital screens, while telecom providers highlighted data bundles, connectivity solutions, and app-driven services to engage urban audiences. Automotive followed with 4 campaigns, spanning luxury and mainstream models, as brands continued to use OOH’s scale to position new vehicles as aspirational lifestyle choices. Other sectors made smaller yet notable contributions, including Food & Beverages, Education, Entertainment, and Retail Shopping (3 campaigns each). eCommerce, Banking, Furniture & Interiors, and Mobile Apps (2 each) also reinforced their presence. Meanwhile, Cosmetics & Personal Care, Transportation, Hospitality & Tourism, Events & Exhibitions, Mobile Devices, Shopping Malls, Health Care, and Financial Services (1 campaign each) rounded out the mix. Together, these categories enriched the UAE’s OOH market with added diversity and depth. First-Timers on the OOH Stage August introduced a fresh wave of advertisers stepping into the UAE’s OOH landscape for the very first time. Pof Rental, Vision Developments, Amit Care, On Plan made their debuts, signaling the sector’s ongoing appeal to both emerging local players and expanding international brands. From real estate developers strengthening their visibility to lifestyle and personal care names testing the impact of large-scale exposure, these newcomers highlight OOH’s role as a launchpad for building brand awareness and credibility in one of the region’s most competitive media markets. Emirates Snapshot In August, Dubai once again led the UAE’s OOH landscape, recording 66 campaign appearances across its high-traffic arteries and landmark districts. From Sheikh Zayed Road to Downtown and beyond, the city maintained its role as the epicenter of OOH visibility, offering brands unmatched reach and frequency. Sharjah followed with 18 campaigns, reflecting the emirate’s growing influence in the media mix. Its expanding residential and commercial zones continue to attract advertisers looking to engage both local communities and commuters. Meanwhile, Ajman contributed 8 campaigns, underscoring its steady role as a complementary market that extends brand visibility along the northern corridor. Formats in Focus When it comes to formats, Digital Screens led the charge with 35.25% of all placements, underscoring their dominance as the most dynamic medium for flexible messaging and creative sequencing. Hoardings followed with 25.41%, continuing to serve as large-scale canvases for impactful brand storytelling. Other formats contributed in smaller but meaningful ways, including Uni-Pole (10.66%), Pole (10.66%), Lampposts (6.56%), and Bridge Billboards (6.56%). Niche formats such as Mega Com (3.28%), Wall Wrapping (0.82%), and Rooftop Billboards (0.82%) rounded out the mix, highlighting how brands are experimenting with a variety of placements to maximize visibility and engagement. Key Takeaways Real Estate dominated with 15 campaigns, reaffirming its position as the leading OOH investor in the UAE. Fashion Wear and Telecommunications followed closely, each securing 8 campaigns, underlining their strong push in lifestyle-driven and connectivity-led advertising. Foodservice maintained solid visibility with 5 campaigns, proving the sector’s consistent demand in everyday consumer markets. Jewelry stood out with 4 campaigns, highlighting its luxury appeal across prime city locations. Other sectors such as Food & Beverages, Automotive, Educational, Entertainment, and Retail Shopping each delivered 3 campaigns, adding variety to the landscape. Meanwhile, categories including eCommerce, Banking, Furniture & Interiors, and Mobile Apps contributed 2 campaigns each, while niche sectors like Cosmetics & Personal Care, Transportation, Hospitality & Tourism, Events & Exhibitions, and Health Care added single entries, enriching the diversity of August’s OOH scene. Conclusion August 2025 highlighted the UAE’s OOH sector as a dynamic and competitive space where brands continue to balance tradition with innovation. Real Estate held on to its leadership, while Fashion Wear, Foodservice, Telecommunications, and Automotive showcased strong and consistent activity. The presence of first-time advertisers alongside established players reinforced OOH’s role as a platform that delivers reach, visibility, and credibility across diverse industries. With Dubai driving the majority of exposure and Sharjah and Ajman adding meaningful contributions, the market once again proved the enduring strength of out-of-home media in connecting with audiences at scale.
