TikTok Opens Dating App Ads in Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, UAE, Algeria and Bangladesh
TikTok removed six markets, including Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan, from its dating app ad ban in August 2026. Ads there now follow TikTok's standard dating app requirements.
In August 2026, TikTok removed Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates from the list of markets where dating app ads are not allowed. Dating app ads in those markets now fall under TikTok's standard rules: 18+ audiences only, work with a TikTok Sales Representative, and a Google Play, Apple App Store or website landing page. Dating app ads remain banned in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
What Changed
In August 2026, TikTok narrowed the list of markets where dating app ads are banned. Six markets were removed from the ban: Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The change was detected by the AuditSocials Policy Tracker on August 22, 2026, on TikTok's Adult Content ads policy page, which is marked "Last updated: August 2026".
This is a loosening. Dating app advertisers can now run campaigns in these six markets, provided they meet the same requirements TikTok applies in every other market where dating app ads are allowed.
| Market | Before (August 20, 2026) | After (August 22, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Dating app ads not allowed | Allowed with requirements |
| Egypt | Dating app ads not allowed | Allowed with requirements |
| Pakistan | Dating app ads not allowed | Allowed with requirements |
| United Arab Emirates | Dating app ads not allowed | Allowed with requirements |
| Algeria | Dating app ads not allowed | Allowed with requirements |
| Bangladesh | Dating app ads not allowed | Allowed with requirements |
| Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia | Not allowed | Still not allowed |
"*Dating app ads are not allowed in the following markets: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
— TikTok Ads Policy: Adult Content, last updated August 2026"
Requirements That Now Apply
Advertisers entering the six markets follow TikTok's general dating app rules. The policy states that in markets where dating app ads are allowed, three requirements must be met:
| Requirement | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| "Ads must be restricted to audiences aged 18 years and older" | Set the campaign age targeting to 18+ in every one of the six markets. |
| "You must work with a TikTok Sales Representative" | Dating app campaigns are not self-serve; eligibility goes through TikTok's sales team. |
| "The landing page must be a Google Play, Apple App Store, or a website landing page" | Send traffic to an app store listing or a website, not to other destinations. |
The policy also says that ads or landing pages promoting dating apps "purely designed for casual sex are not allowed" in any market. For TikTok's wider rules, see our TikTok policy guide.
What Is Still Not Allowed
Opening the markets did not change TikTok's creative restrictions. The policy lists these examples of what is not allowed in dating app ads:
- Portraying single life as a negative lifestyle
- Models that appear to be 21 years of age or younger
- References to adult or sexual services or products
- Sexually explicit or sexually suggestive text, audio or content
- Explicit exposure of breasts, buttocks or genitalia, provocative body language, or excessive skin exposure
- Infidelity
- International brides or mail-order brides
- Exchange in terms of income or compensation, including sugar dating
Screen ad copy against these terms with the Keyword Risk Checker before launching in a new market.
What We Know and What We Don't
| Known (from TikTok's policy page) | Not known |
|---|---|
| The six markets were removed from the ban list between our August 20 and August 22, 2026 snapshots; the page is marked "Last updated: August 2026"; the requirements and creative restrictions quoted above. | Why TikTok made the change; the exact effective day; whether local laws in each market add requirements beyond TikTok's policy. |
TikTok's policy covers what the platform accepts. It does not replace local advertising or consumer protection law in each market, so advertisers remain responsible for checking local rules.
Checklist for Dating App Advertisers
- Contact your TikTok Sales Representative before launching in Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, the UAE, Algeria or Bangladesh.
- Restrict every campaign in these markets to users aged 18 and older.
- Point ads to a Google Play, Apple App Store or website landing page.
- Remove casual-sex positioning, sexualized creative and models who appear 21 or younger.
- Keep Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia out of targeting.
- Follow further changes on the Policy Tracker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run dating app ads on TikTok in Turkey?
Which markets still ban dating app ads on TikTok?
Can dating app ads on TikTok be self-serve?
What creative is not allowed in TikTok dating app ads?
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