Facebook-Freej tie up to launch Ramadan stickers

Gearing up for the holy month of Ramadan, Facebook has announced collaboration with the Arab characters of Freej, bringing to Messenger a sticker pack of the Emirati animation characters.

Freej is a  home-produced animated television series for children in the Arab region. Adding to the dozens of themed sticker packs at Facebook’s Sticker Store, the 'Celebrate with the fun old ladies and Abood from Freej'  themed stickers campaign is Facebook’s first initiative to launch a feature originally produced in the UAE.

“Partnering with Freej to launch the sticker pack during this time of the year is significant to us at Facebook, as we aim to connect the world, and make the Facebook experience for users more enhanced and personalised,” said Jonathan Labin, Head of Facebook, Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan.

“During Ramadan, people have maximum engagements online with their friends, families, and even their favourite brands. With 191 million monthly active people in the Middle East and Africa (Mea) and 167 million monthly active people on mobile in the same region, and over 600 million users of Messenger globally, the launch of the Freej stickers will make the Facebook experience a memorable one for all age groups and nationalities,” he added.

While the stickers can be shared globally, the newly launched pack will be available to people in the Mea region only, using both desktop and mobile. 

In a media statement, Facebook said launching the stickers in Ramadan is only the beginning, as this will be a permanent feature on the platform. The stickers will include existing characters of Freej, with special characters created for the Facebook Messenger.

“While we are proud to have completed 10 successful years at Lammtara, Freej is celebrating the spirit of Ramadan this year, through characters that have resonated with people we know and admire,” said Mohammed Saeed Harib, the creator and producer of Freej.

Facebook recently introduced a new targeting feature in the Middle East to help businesses connect with people interested in Ramadan. Combined with targeting capabilities like geography and demographics, businesses can reach people who are most engaged with Ramadan content on Facebook and ensure a more personalised experience for consumers.