An AI video ad in the Gulf or Egypt in 2026 usually starts at around $2,000 for a set of AI stills and runs from about $5,000 to $20,000 for a 30 second AI ad. Longer, fully AI-produced commercials with Arabic and English versions cost more. The final number depends on length, how many versions you need and how much the AI has to match real products, places or people.
iklipse is an AI production agency for advertising, working across the GCC, Egypt and Cyprus. The figures below are starting points drawn from the AI commercials, AI video ads and AI product visuals we make for brands and agencies in the region.
These are typical starting prices for AI video ads in 2026.
| What you commission | Typical starting point (USD) |
|---|---|
| A set of AI stills or 2 to 4 AI product shots | From about $2,000 |
| A 30 second AI ad of around five shots | About $5,000 to $20,000 |
| A 30 to 60 second AI commercial in Arabic and English, vertical and horizontal | From about $15,000 |
| AI worlds built around live-action footage | From about $10,000, plus the shoot |
| A fully AI campaign film or trailer, 60 to 120 seconds | From about $25,000 |
These are guides, not a price list. Every project is quoted on its own, and the final number can move a long way from these figures depending on the brand, the timeline, the number of versions, the approvals involved and how closely the AI has to match real products, places or people. Prices exclude media spend, VAT and licensed music. In the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt we quote in AED, SAR, EGP or USD.
Smaller businesses and early-stage brands can ask about iklipse LITE, our initiative with lower rates for smaller projects.
Five things move the price of an AI ad more than anything else.
Length and shot count drive most of the work.
Every AI shot is generated many times, chosen, fixed and finished by hand. A 30 second ad with 12 shots costs far less than a 60 second film with 40. Ask for a shot list with the quote so you can see where the money goes.
Matching real things is the hardest part.
A fantasy world is easier than your exact product, your real building or a face that must stay the same in every scene. For ORA Developers Iraq we built every scene from the developer's own renders so each facade and finish stayed true to the real villas. That accuracy takes time, and it is worth paying for.
Versions multiply the edit, not the idea.
Most campaigns here run in Arabic and English and in vertical and horizontal frames. Bank of Muscat ran one fully AI-produced campaign in both languages and both shapes. Building versions into the plan from day one is far cheaper than adding them later.
Live action plus AI costs more than either alone.
If you film talent and add AI worlds around them, you pay for a shoot and for AI. For Que Gardens, Lobster Films shot the talent on blue screen and we generated every environment around him. It gives the most control, at the highest cost.
Approvals add rounds.
Brand, legal and regulator approvals in Saudi Arabia and the UAE can add review rounds. A clear brief and one decision maker keep the budget where it was quoted.
This is where AI really saves money compared with a shoot.
The savings come from what you no longer book: locations, travel, sets, large crews and reshoot days. Speed is the other saving. For Hardee's, we delivered AI food shots the same day they were asked for, so the ad went out without waiting for a studio day.
AI does not remove the cost of thinking. Script, direction, edit, grade and sound still need people, and those are the parts that make an ad work.
These are the costs brands forget to budget for.
- Music licensing, or an original track.
- Voiceover in Arabic and English, especially if you want a known voice.
- Extra cutdowns for new platforms after launch.
- Consent and rights work if the ad uses a real person's likeness.
Frequently asked questions
Is an AI ad always cheaper than a traditional shoot?
Usually, for the same on-screen ambition. A simple talking-head ad with one location can cost about the same either way. AI saves most when the idea needs places, scale or effects that are expensive to film.
How long does an AI video ad take?
It depends on the brief and on approvals. A short social ad can take days, and a full AI commercial usually takes a few weeks.
Is there an option for small businesses?
Yes. iklipse LITE offers lower rates for smaller brands and simpler projects.
What does iklipse make?
AI commercials, AI video ads and AI product visuals for brands and agencies. See our AI production page.
Sources: iklipse case studies on iklipseworld.com/works.
