Promoted Places Snapchat is a new advertising solution launched by Snap Inc. that enables brands to feature sponsored locations directly on the Snapchat Map and drive measurable in-store visits. The feature debuted in Saudi Arabia with leading brands including Almarai and Starbucks, which activated campaigns during Ramadan 2026.
More than 400 million Snapchatters use the Snap Map each month, with users in the GCC opening the app more than 45 times per day on average. Promoted Places Snapchat allows advertisers to reach people during high-intent discovery moments, when they are actively exploring where to go and what to experience.
How Promoted Places Works
Retailers, shops, and quick-service restaurants can feature their physical locations as sponsored pins with enhanced visibility on the Snap Map. Optional custom 3D animations are available to increase visual impact. When users tap a promoted location, they access a dedicated Place Profile labeled “Sponsored,” where advertisers showcase a Snap Ad, link their Business Profile so Spotlight and Stories appear in a carousel, include custom Map Effects, and allow users to save the location.
Advertisers receive core performance metrics including Promoted Place Impressions, Place Opens, and aggregated Promoted Place Actions. A new Place Partnerships model expands access by enabling brands without retail footprints to collaborate with partners that operate 200 or more locations.
Early Momentum in Saudi Arabia
Almarai activated Promoted Places during its Ramadan campaign “Harat ALYOUM,” transforming the Snap Map into a gateway to a fictional neighborhood. The brand activated across high-traffic destinations and waterfront locations in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Khobar. In a first global execution, Almarai connected Promoted Places with a dedicated AR Lens, allowing users to transition seamlessly from map-based discovery to an interactive experience featuring a custom 3D neighborhood and episodic content.
Starbucks, operated by Alshaya Group, launched Promoted Places for its Ramadan campaign featuring a limited-edition Ramadan Cup and Cardamom Latte. More than 350 Starbucks locations across Saudi Arabia were activated on the Snap Map with custom 3D rotating cup and coffee bean rainfall effects. Creators amplified the campaign through user-generated content via HaloAI, while a celebratory Ramadan-themed AR Lens featured the new cup design and personalized name stickers.
Location-Based Discovery at Scale
Masar Destination activated Promoted Places for its “Welcome to the Heart of Makkah” campaign, spotlighting the flagship residential and hospitality destination on the Snap Map. The activation made the development discoverable to users exploring nearby areas during high-intent moments. The campaign extended across multiple Snapchat tabs through First Lens, First Snap, and a comprehensive reach and frequency strategy, connecting digital storytelling with real-world destination discovery.
Hussein Freijeh, Vice President of MENA and APAC at Snap Inc., stated that discovery in the GCC is deeply social and translates quickly into real-world action. “Promoted Places allows brands to show up at the moment intent forms, turning digital engagement on the Snap Map into measurable, in-store impact,” Freijeh said.
A New Standard for Location Advertising
Promoted Places Snapchat represents a shift from passive digital awareness to actionable, location-based engagement. For brands prioritizing in-store traffic as a key performance indicator, the solution bridges online discovery and offline conversion by combining Map visibility, immersive creative, Snap Ads, and organic amplification through Public Profiles. All features operate within a platform built around authentic connection.
As brands across MENA seek measurable ways to connect digital engagement with real-world impact, Promoted Places Snapchat introduces a solution built around how people already explore and experience their surroundings. By embedding sponsored destinations within a socially driven Map environment, Snap enables advertisers to move from awareness to action, converting discovery into visits and moments into measurable results.
