Snap Inc. on Tuesday launched Promoted Places, a new advertising product that allows brands to feature sponsored locations on the Snapchat Map, aiming to turn digital discovery into measurable in-store visits.
The company said the offering enables advertisers to highlight physical locations as sponsored pins within Snap Map, which is used by more than 400 million people monthly. Users in the Gulf region open Snapchat more than 45 times per day on average, Snap said, positioning the product to capture high-intent discovery moments.
Promoted Places allows retailers, restaurants and other businesses to showcase locations with enhanced visibility, including optional 3D animations. Tapping a sponsored pin directs users to a labeled Place Profile featuring ads, business content, and options to save the location.
Advertisers will receive performance metrics including impressions, place opens and aggregated actions, providing insights into user engagement and intent. Snap also introduced a partnerships model enabling brands without physical storefronts to collaborate with operators that run large location networks.
“Promoted Places allows brands to show up at the moment intent forms, turning digital engagement on the Snap Map into measurable, in-store impact,” said Hussein Freijeh, Vice President of MENA & APAC at Snap Inc.
The product debuted in Saudi Arabia during Ramadan campaigns with brands including Almarai and Starbucks, as well as the Masar Makkah development, Snap said.
Almarai: Pioneering Promoted Places and AR with Harat ALYOUM
Almarai redefined how brands show up during cultural moments with its Ramadan campaign “Harat ALYOUM,” transforming Snap Map into a gateway to a fictional neighborhood rooted in togetherness, generosity, and belonging. By activating Promoted Places across high-traffic destinations and key waterfront destinations in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Khobar, the brand bridged physical environments with digital discovery in a way that felt both culturally authentic and deeply immersive.
In a first-of-its-kind global execution, Almarai became among the first brands to connect Promoted Places with a dedicated AR Lens, seamlessly transitioning Snapchatters from map-based discovery into an interactive Harat ALYOUM experience.
Through a custom 3D neighborhood presence, immersive AR storytelling, and a weekly episodic content series, the campaign demonstrated how location, creativity, and platform-native behavior can come together to create a unified, culturally resonant experience on Snap Map.
Starbucks: A multi-layered activation
In Saudi Arabia, Starbucks, operated by Alshaya Group, launched Promoted Places as part of its Ramadan campaign, spotlighting its limited-edition Ramadan Cup and Cardamom Latte, Snap said.
More than 350 Starbucks locations across the Kingdom were activated on the Snap Map, helping drive awareness and consideration by making nearby stores instantly discoverable to users. Snapchatters exploring nearby areas were greeted with a custom 3D rotating cup and coffee bean rainfall effect, designed to capture attention and drive store discovery.
The activation extended beyond the Map. Creators amplified the experience through HaloAI’s user-generated content, guiding audiences on how to locate their nearest store using the Map. A celebratory Ramadan-themed AR Lens further deepened engagement, featuring the new cup design and personalized name stickers.
Masar Makkah: Driving discovery around a landmark destination
In Saudi Arabia, Masar Destination activated Promoted Places as part of its “Welcome to the Heart of Makkah” campaign, spotlighting the flagship residential and hospitality destination on the Snap Map.
The activation made Masar discoverable to Snapchatters exploring nearby areas, allowing the brand to surface prominently during high-intent discovery moments on the Map and drive awareness of the development among visitors and residents alike.
Snap said the new format is designed to help brands connect online engagement with offline activity, as advertisers seek more measurable ways to link digital campaigns to real-world outcomes.
