Tareq Al-Harbi | @6ar8o

Boasting over 10 million followers on Instagram alone, Saudi comedian Tareq Al-Harbi is one of the Kingdom’s most renowned content creators. His relatable brand of humor finds root in childhood when he used to impersonate his school teachers for extra grades. And he hasn’t stopped sparking laughter ever since. Whether through funny skits or catchy songs, the entertainer succeeded in reinventing himself over the years and racked up significant brand deals along the way. Pepsi teamed up with him to host weekly Virtual Suhours as part of its 2020 Ramadan campaign. In 2021, he was asked to commentate Netflix’s first original Arabic reality show The Fastest. A year later, he fronted Ray-Ban’s first ever Middle East exclusive. Al-Harbi has also collaborated with a number of fellow creators throughout the years and continues to delight his audience with light Khaleeji humor on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat.

• Instagram Followers: 10.9M
• Noteworthy Collabs: Pepsi, Amazon, Netflix, Disney+, Ray-Ban, Garnier, Vichy, Pringles, Heinz, Cheetos, Huawei, Call of Duty, KFC

 

 

Aseel Omran | @aseel

Multitalented Saudi actress and musician Aseel Omran built a massive social media following over the years thanks to her inspiring creative journey and boundary-breaking personal style. She has been described by The Business of Fashion as “one of the most bankable stars in the Middle East” upon making The BoF 500 list, a global index of the most influential people in the fashion industry. After rising to fame at a young age following her appearance on talent show Gulf Stars in 2006, she released a string of successful albums, starred in popular Arabic-language series and served as a muse for top-tier luxury brands. In 2019, she was announced as a regional spokesperson for L'Oréal Paris before being named Dior’s first Middle East ambassador in 2022. Having collaborated with UNHCR on major campaigns and field visits since 2018, Omran became a high profile supporter for the UN Refugee Agency in 2020 and was recently appointed as UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.

• Instagram Followers: 6.6M
• Noteworthy Collabs: Dior, L'Oréal Paris, UNHCR, Hilton, Bulgari, OSN+, Vivo, Afia, Bella Contact Lenses, Fauré Le Page

 

 

Mohammed Shamsi | @imeeto

Mohammed “Meeto” Shamsi is one of today’s biggest Saudi social media stars. With over 17 million followers on TikTok and an additional five million on Instagram, he is known for his funny sketches inspired by household dynamics and day-to-day scenarios featuring signature family characters such as Umm Mohammed [a caricature of his mother]. In 2019, he picked up the award for Best Comedy Creator in the Middle East at the inaugural TikTok Hero Awards. Thanks to his relatable humor and prolific posting frequency, the natural-born entertainer boasts countless viral videos with millions of views each. He also managed to capitalize on his online persona to attract a number of high-profile brand partnerships across various industries, from F&B to electronics.

• Instagram Followers: 5.8M
• Noteworthy Collabs: Coca-Cola, Nike, Amazon, Spotify, Samsung, Lenovo, Chevrolet, KitKat, Lipton, McDonald’s, Head & Shoulders, OSN+, Vicks, Shahid

 

 

Hisham Baeshen | @misho_baeshen

Celebrity chef Hisham Baeshen’s popularity extends far beyond the borders of his native Saudi Arabia. Inspired by his love for food and culture, he took up vlogging nine years ago and hasn’t stopped creating mouthwatering recipe videos since, attracting legions of followers on Instagram and TikTok along the way. He appeared on Top Chef Middle East as a guest judge and landed interviews across a number of regional TV channels including Al Arabiya, MBC and CBC. A distinguished ambassador of Khaleeji cuisine, Baeshen served as a representative for the Saudi Ministry of Culture and was handpicked to prepare the menu for the 90th National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His recipes regularly incorporate products from some of the region’s biggest kitchen and food brands.

• Instagram Followers: 4.5M
• Noteworthy Collabs: Maggi, Pepsi, Ferrero Rocher, Philadelphia, Nestlé, TikTok, LG, Downy, Nido, Quaker, Almarai

 

 

Dyler | @dyl3r

Born Abdulaziz Aldulaijan, Saudi music artist and YouTube sensation Dyler shot to fame as a teenager through his catchy rap verses and viral music videos including Madrasa, which racked up 10 million views in the first 10 days after its release. In less than 11 months, his channel had already hit over 220 million views. Today, it boasts 7.6 million subscribers and a variety of videos about everything from sports to pop culture. It did not take long for Dyler’s popularity to transfer to other platforms like Instagram, where he regularly showcases his bustling lifestyle as a young creator. He also gained a following on video game streaming platform Twitch and has collaborated with a number of fashion and lifestyle brands including Fendi, Diesel and Lacoste.

• Instagram Followers: 3.6M
• Noteworthy Collabs: Fendi, Diesel, Nike, Lacoste, The Giving Movement, Centerpoint, Noon, Honor

 

 

Abdulaziz & Abdullah Bakr [@zozobakrtv & @boodyzozo] aka The Saudi Reporters | @saudireporters

Widely popular YouTube duo The Saudi Reporters, which consists of twins Abdulaziz and Abdullah Bakr, has more than 8.6 million subscribers on the platform and a combined following of over nine million on Instagram, split between the channel’s main account and the siblings’ personal accounts. The channel features a variety of videos and challenges that speaks to viewers from the GCC and beyond through its fun approach and high entertainment value. With their distinctive personal style and likeable personalities, the trendy twin creators also create short-form video content for Instagram and regularly partner up with big brands to produce quality collaborative content.

• Instagram Followers: 3.3 M [@zozobakrtv], 3.2M [boodyzozo], 2.6M [@saudireporters]
• Noteworthy Collabs: Lipton, Coca-Cola, Samsung, Vichy, KFC, Disney+, Loewe, New Balance, Crocs, Eti, Ariel, Fairy, Head & Shoulders, Toyota, Netflix, Bershka

 

 

Hala Abdallah | @thehala

If you’re an Arab fashion and luxury enthusiast, then you must’ve come across the account of Hala Abdallah aka The Hala on Instagram. The stylish Saudi influencer and entrepreneur has attracted over a couple million followers on the platform and is sought after by some of the world’s biggest luxury brands including Versace, Tiffany & Co. and Tommy Hilfiger among others. Always in tune with the latest in fashion, her statement pieces and charismatic persona are an inspiration to many. She initially began her creator journey on YouTube before gradually conquering Instagram. Capitalizing on her design background and style influences, she founded her own fine jewelry brand OFA in 2020, creating meticulously crafted designs that evoke a culturally rich heritage and a spirit of celebration.

• Instagram Followers: 2.7M
• Noteworthy Collabs: Tiffany & Co., Versace, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Mugler, Narciso Rodriguez, Ariel, Honor, Kiko Milano, Nivea

 

 

Afnan Alghamdi | @afnan1993

One of the most widely followed Saudi recipe-makers on Instagram, Afnan Alghamdi knows how to keep food lovers coming back for more. The food blogger’s simple yet creative approach to cooking has garnered an audience of 2.9 million on the platform, with many of her recipes racking up thousands of views. While her identity remains a mystery, her culinary creations never cease to tickle taste buds and attract relevant brand collaborations. “Every Ramadan it has turned into a ritual for me to constantly follow her and dig in for some new ideas,” one of her loyal followers told Arab News earlier this year. Besides documenting her step-by-step preparations, she always complements her videos with detailed captions listing the ingredients alongside further instructions.

• Instagram Followers: 2.9M
• Noteworthy Collabs: Lurpak, Cheetos, Barilla, Fairy, Jif, De'Longhi, Braun, Almarai, Nadec, Afia, Tanmiah

 

 

Eleen Suliman | @eleen_su

Saudi influencer and TV personality Eleen Suleiman is best known for her fashion, beauty and lifestyle content, which she shares with over two million followers on Instagram. From magazine spreads to brand collaborations, her feed blends style inspiration and wanderlust. Her online presence also extends to Twitter and Snapchat. She has walked the Cannes red carpet and appeared in editorials for Vogue Arabia and Elle Arabia, besides being named one of the world’s 100 most beautiful faces of 2022. The celebrated creator is also a regular at fashion events around the region and has worked with the likes of Dior, Mastercard and Samsung to name a few.

• Instagram Followers: 2M
• Noteworthy Collabs: Samsung, Mastercard, Netflix, L'Oréal Paris, Dior, Stradivarius, Nivea, Ariel, Gilette Venus, Braun

 

 

Yara Alnamlah | @yaraalnamlah

With her characterful face and impeccable style, Saudi beauty influencer and multi-hyphenate entrepreneur Yara Alnamlah has taken both Instagram and the fashion world by storm. Her impressive roster includes collaborations with top-tier luxury brands including Chaumet, Cartier, Bulgari and Hermès. After opening her matcha and coffee specialty store So Matcha in Riyadh last year, she recently went on to launch her skincare brand and beauty salon under the name Treat, offering everything from nail art to hair care. Besides earning a surefire spot among the most inspiring KSA digital creators, she knew how to channel her online presence and industry aspirations into successful business ventures.

• Instagram Followers: 1.4M
• Noteworthy Collabs: Prada, Chaumet, Dior, Hermès, Cartier, Bulgari, Loewe, Fendi, Jo Malone, Kérastase

---

This article was published in ArabAd print edition dated December 2023