Why Local SEO is the Growth Engine for UAE Businesses And How to Win the Game

Nearly 46% of Google searches have local intent, and about 28% of local searches lead to a purchase within 24 hours, which means it’s imperative for higher conversions. If you have a physical store in Dubai and are not using local SEO, there are chances that you are leaving money on the table.

Whether you want more foot traffic for your store or more sales, in a fast-growing market like the UAE, having more online outreach to bolster your local presence is more critical than you can imagine. For example, when was the last time you Googled something like “best coffee shop near me” or “top gym in Dubai Marina”? Probably recently, right? Well, guess what? Your potential customers are doing the same thing; if your business isn’t showing up in those searches, you are practically invisible. That’s where a local SEO agency in Abu Dhabi comes into the big picture.  

With local SEO, you can get your business in front of the right people at the right time when they are actively searching for what you offer.

Why is Local SEO a Big Deal in the UAE?

Let’s take a fascinating example to see why local SEO is important. For example, imagine you are craving a delicious burger. But you are new to the area. You have two options-

Walk around aimlessly, hoping to find a great burger joint.

Open Google and type “best burger place in Abu Dhabi.”

If you are like most people, you will definitely pick B. And just like that, Google will present a list of burger spots near you. When you see the ones that appear at the top, those will be the stores that have nailed their local SEO.

Here’s why local SEO is so formidable in the UAE:

People search with intent: Around 53% of people who search for things online use Google as a research medium to make a purchase online or offline. So, when you use local SEO, you can actually find people who want to visit a place nearby and are ready to make a purchase.  

Mobile Searches: UAE residents love their smartphones, and a huge chunk of searches happen on the go. So, if your business wants to grab those “near me” searches, it’s time for you to use local SEO as a way to rescue your business from becoming obscure digitally and increase its outreach.  

Voice Search is Growing: With Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant becoming a part of daily life, more and more people are asking things like, “Hey Google, where’s the best sushi restaurant in Dubai?” If your business isn’t optimized for local SEO, there’s no way you can show on SERPs for certain searches that drive conversions.

Fierce Competition: In UAE’s competitive market, every business is fighting for attention. You might not optimize for local SEO in Abu Dhabi, but your competitors do, they will get the customers instead of you.

How to Win at Local SEO in the UAE?

How to Win at Local SEO in the UAE?

Alright, now that you know why local SEO is a must, you need to know how to dominate it. The steps are simple, but they are everything you need to know before you start seeing the real results. These include:

Claim and Optimize your GMB Listing: Google My Business or GMB is your online storefront, and if you haven’t claimed your listing yet, go do it right now. Ensure your business name, address, and phone number are 100% accurate, add real photos of your business, choose the right category, encourage reviews, and keep your hours updated, so customers don’t show up when you are closed. Also, while you are at it, don’t forget to respond to every review (good or bad), because it shows you are active, and you care about your customers.

Use Local Keywords: Let’s say you own a bakery. Would you rather show up when someone searches for “bakery” or when they type “best bakery in Dubai Marina”? Specific, location-based keywords are your best friend, so you need to use them in your website content, blog posts, meta descriptions, image alt text, social media captions, etc. You can also use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to find the best keywords, and they will make your task easy and cost-effective.

Local Directories and Website Features: Google loves consistency. If your business is listed on multiple trusted websites with the same name, address, and phone number (NAP), it boosts your credibility. Sign up for GMB listings, UAE business directories like Bayut, Yellow.ae, or Dubai Local, Industry-specific platforms, and local news websites or blogs to become a trusted name in your industry.

Optimize or Mobile: Did you know that if your website takes more than 3 seconds to load, 53% of users will leave? And in the UAE, where fast internet is the norm, people won’t wait. So, try to create a mobile-friendly design, get an SSL certificate, and reduce load times, so people don’t leave your site when they use it on mobile devices.

Just ensure to find the best local SEO agency in Abu Dhabi, and ranking higher on SERPs for certain local searches will be no Goliath’s task. The professionals will handle everything for you, while you focus on scaling your business and getting those leads down the sales funnel.

Looking for a company for local SEO in UAE? Contact the team at Pentagon Information Technology today!