Your bio is the first thing a new visitor reads, usually a few seconds after they land on your profile from a Reel, a search or a friend's story. In 150 characters it has to say what you do, where you are and what to do next. This guide gives you a structure that works for Saudi businesses, real examples and the mistakes we fix most often.
What Instagram gives you to work with
- Name. Up to 30 characters, shown in bold above the bio. It does not have to be only your brand name: "Nakhla Coffee | Jeddah" tells people what you are before they read anything else.
- Username. Your @handle, up to 30 characters of letters, numbers, full stops and underscores. Keep it short, and the same on every platform if you can.
- Bio. 150 characters, spaces and line breaks included. @mentions and #hashtags inside it can be tapped.
- Links. Instagram lets you add up to five links. The first one shows on the profile, so put your most important page there.
- Business details. Business and creator accounts can show a category and contact buttons, such as call, email or directions.
A three line structure that works
Most good business bios follow the same order, because it matches the questions a visitor has in mind.
- Line one: what you are and where. "Specialty coffee | Jeddah" or "Dental clinic in Riyadh". A visitor who cannot tell what you do in two seconds leaves.
- Line two: why you. One concrete reason, such as "Roasted in house every week" or "Evening appointments until 11 PM". Concrete beats clever.
- Line three: one next step. "Order from the link", "Book from the link" or "Message us on WhatsApp". One step, matched to the first link.
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, has explained that search matches what people type with usernames, names, bios, captions, hashtags and places. That is one more reason to name what you do and your city plainly in the name and the bio.
Examples for Saudi businesses
- Café: "☕ Specialty coffee | Jeddah
Roasted in house every week
Order from the link" - Clinic: "Your health deserves our time 🩺
Flexible times and a team that listens
📍 Riyadh
Book from the link" - Online store: "Picked with care.
Handpicked products, delivered across Saudi.
Dammam. Order now."
Want three versions for your own business in ten seconds? Try our Instagram bio writer. Pick your business, your city and your next step, then copy the one you like.
Arabic, English or both?
Write in the language your customers search and talk in. For most local Saudi businesses that means Arabic first, in a clear Saudi tone that is friendly and avoids words only one region uses. If you also serve expats or tourists, a short English line can sit under the Arabic one, but two full bios in 150 characters usually read as clutter. Pick one main language and keep it across your posts and captions.
Mistakes we fix most often
- A slogan with no information. "Live your best moments" says nothing about what you sell. Keep the slogan for your posts.
- Five different actions. Call, WhatsApp, visit, order and follow at once split attention. Choose the one that matters most this month.
- No city. Local customers search by city. If you deliver across the Kingdom, say so.
- Old details. Old opening hours, a closed branch or last season's offer make people doubt everything else.
- Claims that need approval. Health businesses should keep treatment promises out of the bio, real estate advertisers should show their FAL licence number, and a sale announced in the bio still needs a discount licence from the Ministry of Commerce.
When to get help
Your bio is one small part of a profile that sells. Our social media management service sets up the whole profile, plans the month and writes every caption in Arabic and English. You can also check your Instagram and get a score out of 100.
Frequently asked questions
How many characters can an Instagram bio have?
150 characters, including spaces, emojis and line breaks. The name above the bio has its own limit of 30 characters.
Does my bio help people find me on Instagram?
Yes. Instagram has said its search matches what people type with usernames, names and bios, as well as captions, hashtags and places. Name what you do and your city plainly.
How many links can I add to my Instagram bio?
Up to five. The first link shows on your profile, so make it the page you most want people to open.
Should my bio be in Arabic or English?
In the language your customers use. For most local Saudi businesses that is Arabic first, with one short English line only if you serve visitors or expats.
Want a profile that turns visitors into customers? Book a free call.