GCC Taps $1T China Outbound Market via Huawei Petal Ads

Dubai, Doha, Riyadh – Huawei Mobile Services’ Petal Ads, in partnership with EternityX, a certified MENA AI-powered marketing platform, has unveiled a new joint report titled “The New Gulf Horizon: Engaging China’s Affluent in the GCC.” The report highlights a USD 1 trillion+ opportunity for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations to attract China’s affluent outbound audiences across tourism, investment, and luxury sectors.

This collaboration seeks to connect the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region with China’s rapidly evolving advertising ecosystem through precision targeting, while simultaneously drawing Chinese travelers and investors to the GCC. Leveraging Huawei’s ecosystem of over 730 million global users and EternityX’s PilotX platform, which analyzes 9.6 trillion behavioral data points, the report provides actionable insights for businesses aiming to unlock growth in this high-potential market.

Petal Ads aims to enable seamless cross-regional engagement, equipping MEA brands with tools and intelligence to target relevant audiences and measure success effectively. At the same time, the platform acts as a strategic gateway for Chinese investors and travelers exploring opportunities aligned with GCC markets.

“Huawei connects more than 90 million users across MEA through AppGallery, Huawei Browser, and Huawei Music,” said William Hu, Managing Director, Huawei Consumer Business Group, Middle East and Africa Eco-Development and Operation. “Partnering with EternityX empowers brands to transform every interaction into measurable business growth.”

China’s Outbound Surge: A GCC Growth Engine

In 2024, Chinese outbound travelers reached 145 million, spending USD 805 billion globally. Yet, the Middle East captured less than 10% of this flow. Outbound Chinese investments totaled USD 192.2 billion, targeting sectors aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and UAE’s economic diversification initiatives.
Data Sources: ITB CHINA, Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

A Data-Driven Roadmap for GCC Brands

The report identifies three key imperatives for GCC enterprises seeking immediate results:

1. Bridge Messaging and Market Access – Align tourism and investment narratives to present a unified market proposition.

2. Localize with Precision – Deliver Simplified Chinese content on trusted local platforms to build credibility.

3. Activate the New Affluent Class – Engage younger, self-made, and increasingly female high-net-worth individuals through mobile-first personalized campaigns.

“This report is a strategic, data-backed roadmap,” said Deric Wong, Chief Business Officer, Global, EternityX. “By decoding China’s most influential digital audiences, GCC brands can move beyond visibility to tangible conversions and capitalize on a decade of sustained growth.”
Data Source: Huawei DMP, as of Aug 2025, ITB CHINA

From Insight to Action: Driving Measurable GCC Success
The report also provides five actionable steps for GCC brands to turn insights into measurable results:

• Segmented Media Mastery – Engage audiences across the full consumer journey.

• Cultural Precision – Build trust with authentic, localized storytelling.

• Integrated Messaging – Combine tourism, lifestyle, and investment narratives.

• Female Empowerment – Target financially independent Chinese women.

• Seamless Experience – Expand integrated payment and service solutions.

“This is the moment for the Middle East to take the lead,” said Iris Guan, General Manager, Middle East, EternityX. “With Huawei’s ecosystem and EternityX’s intelligence, brands can move from awareness to measurable action.”

The initiative leverages Petal Ads’ advanced DSP, Huawei’s proprietary ad inventory, and a robust DMP to deliver precise targeting and performance optimization. By tapping first-party data, the collaboration fosters growth and innovation while bridging MEA and China, enabling brands to achieve impactful, measurable outcomes in the global advertising landscape.