How to Plan a Winning WhatsApp Campaign for Ramadan

Why Ramadan Is Your Biggest WhatsApp Opportunity

Ramadan isn't just another marketing season — it's the single largest spending window in Saudi Arabia. In March 2025, Saudi consumer spending hit SAR 148 billion ($39.4B), a 17% year-over-year increase. Over 60% of shoppers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE spent more than they originally planned during Ramadan.

On WhatsApp specifically, the numbers are stark: 7 out of 10 consumers message businesses during Ramadan and Eid. WhatsApp messages reach 98% open rates compared to 20% for email.

But opportunity doesn't guarantee results. A Ramadan campaign without proper planning means ignored messages, tanking quality ratings, and potential account restrictions.

This article gives you a step-by-step playbook.

Start Four Weeks Before Ramadan

The biggest mistake businesses make: starting too late. Here's a realistic timeline:

Phase	When	What to do
Planning	4 weeks before	Define goals, prepare offers, segment your audience
Setup	2-3 weeks before	Write templates, submit for approval, prepare visuals
Warm-up	1 week before	Send teaser messages, confirm all templates are approved
Execution	During Ramadan	Send campaigns in batches, monitor performance daily
Eid	Final week + Eid days	Gift campaigns, last-chance offers, Eid greetings

Segment Your Audience First

Blasting your entire contact list is expensive and risky — especially since WhatsApp shifted to per-message pricing in July 2025. Every message now has a direct cost, so make each one count.

Build these practical segments:

• Active customers (purchased in the last 90 days): Send offers first. Give them early access.
• Dormant customers (no purchase in 6+ months): A "we miss you" message with an exclusive Ramadan offer.
• Abandoned carts: A simple reminder with an incentive like free shipping.
• New subscribers (signed up but never purchased): Welcome message + first-order discount.

Tools like Wasla let you build these segments using tags and audience filters before each campaign.

For more on driving sales through WhatsApp, read 5 Ways to Boost Your Sales with WhatsApp in 2026.

Prepare Your Message Templates Early

Every marketing message sent through the WhatsApp API requires a pre-approved template from Meta. Approval can take anywhere from minutes to 48 hours — and templates do get rejected.

Tips for Ramadan templates that get approved fast

• Be specific: Skip vague phrases like "unmissable offer." Instead: "25% off all products until Ramadan Day 15."
• Classify correctly: A marketing template with utility content gets auto-reclassified. Repeat misclassification can restrict your account.
• Include a clear CTA: A "Shop Now" button outperforms generic text every time.
• Don't start or end with variables: Placing {{1}} at the beginning of your message triggers automatic rejection.
• Prepare 5-8 different templates: Offers, reminders, abandoned cart recovery, Eid greetings. Variety protects your quality rating.

Send at the Right Time

Ramadan flips the normal daily schedule. Consumer behavior shifts dramatically:

• After Iftar (7:30–10:00 PM): Peak engagement — 48% of users browse ads and promotions after breaking their fast.
• After Taraweeh (10:00 PM–12:00 AM): 38% shop during this window. Ideal for product offers and flash sales.
• Suhoor (3:00–5:00 AM): 24% engage in the early morning. Good for light content and gentle reminders.
• Avoid completely: Pre-Iftar (4:00–6:30 PM). People are busy preparing and won't engage with marketing messages.

Pro tip: Don't send your entire campaign at once. Stagger delivery (e.g., 500 messages every 15 minutes) to protect your quality rating and avoid restrictions. For a deeper understanding of account safety, read How to Avoid Getting Your WhatsApp Number Banned.

The Four-Week Campaign Plan

Week 1 (Pre-Ramadan)

Teaser message: "Get ready for exclusive Ramadan offers — stay tuned to be the first to know."

Week 2 (Early Ramadan)

Launch main offers with segmented messages based on customer interests and purchase history.

Week 3 (Mid-Ramadan)

Reminder campaigns for expiring offers + abandoned cart recovery messages.

Week 4 + Eid

Eid gift campaigns + express shipping offers + a non-promotional Eid greeting to build the relationship.

Five Mistakes That Kill Ramadan Campaigns

1. Same message to everyone: Without segmentation, expect blocks and low engagement.
2. Late template preparation: A rejected template two days before Ramadan means a missed campaign.
3. Wrong timing: A marketing message at 2 PM during Ramadan won't get read.
4. Ignoring quality ratings: A low rating automatically reduces your sending limits.
5. Forgetting Eid: Many businesses stop at the end of Ramadan. Eid is a massive sales opportunity — don't leave it on the table.

Start Planning Now

Ramadan 2026 begins on the evening of February 17. If you're reading this, you're right on time.

First step: Sign up for Wasla and start segmenting your audience and preparing your templates. If you're not yet using the WhatsApp API, start with Why Your Business Needs a WhatsApp API Platform.

---

Sources: Think with Google – MENA Commerce Insights · Adjust – Ramadan Trends 2025 · Wazzn – Ramadan WhatsApp Marketing · Campaign ME – Ramadan Ad Trends · Arab News – Saudi Consumer Spending