AI Video Ad Brief: A 15-Point Checklist for Gulf Brands

A first version that misses the mark is rarely a production problem. It is usually a brief problem: the studio guessed at something the brand knew all along.

The research backs this up. In a survey of 508 UK marketers and agency staff by the IPA and BetterBriefs, marketers estimated that 26% of their marketing budget is wasted on poor briefs and misdirected work, and 73% of UK agencies said the briefs they receive are not good enough.

This AI video ad brief template is the brand side of the job: what to send an AI video studio so the first cut is close to right.

Why the Brief Matters More With AI

An AI studio builds every scene from what you give it. If the bottle shape, the dialect or the offer is vague, the model fills the gap with a guess. A clear brief replaces guesses with your facts.

The platforms also set rules your brief should anticipate. TikTok's creative guidance asks for vertical 9:16 video, at least 720P resolution, sound or music, and the content proposition in the first 3 seconds. Snapchat notes that many users watch with the sound off, so the message must land through captions and strong visuals too.

The AI Video Ad Brief Checklist

Copy this list into a document and fill in every line.

Objective & platform. One goal (awareness, sales, leads or WhatsApp messages) and where the ad will run: TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram Reels or YouTube.
Audience & market. Who buys, and where: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar or the wider Gulf. Age, gender and occasion if they matter.
Language & dialect. Saudi, Emirati or Qatari dialect, Modern Standard Arabic, English, or a mix. Name one, do not leave it open.
Product facts. Name, size, variants, key ingredients or materials, and what makes it different.
Real product photos & packshots. Clear shots from the front, back and sides on a plain background, plus close-ups of the label. This is how the AI keeps your bottle, box or fabric accurate.
Brand assets. Logo files, colour codes, fonts and any tagline you always use.
The one message. A single sentence the viewer should remember. If you have three messages, you have three ads.
The offer. Discount, bundle, free delivery or launch date, with exact wording and end date.
Ad style. UGC testimonial, unboxing, ASMR sensory, cinematic product hero or street interview. Pick one per ad.
Length & formats. Duration and every ratio you need, such as 9:16 for TikTok and Snapchat, plus 1:1 or 4:5 for feeds.
References. Two or three ads you like, with a note on what you like in each: the pace, the light, the voice.
Must-avoids. Colours, words, music, settings or competitor cues that are off limits for your brand or market.
Claims you can prove. Only claims you can support, like longevity tests or materials. Skincare stays non-medical.
Approval contact. One person who signs off, and how they want to receive versions.
AI disclosure. Written agreement that the ad is labelled as made with AI wherever the platform or law requires it.

Common Gaps That Cost a Round

No product photos. A logo alone cannot show the AI how your packaging really looks.
Two dialects in one line. Pick one voice per version and make a second version for the other market.
An offer without an end date. The studio cannot write the urgency line without it.
Many decision makers. Comments from five people pull the edit five ways.

What Happens After You Send It

A good studio reads the brief back to you, asks about anything unclear, then moves to scripts and first frames. At Sawa Films a director oversees every version, and we always disclose that the ad is made with AI.

Send the checklist once, keep it for your next ad, and update only what changed.

Request your ad

FAQ

What should an AI video ad brief include?

The objective and platform, audience and market, dialect, product facts and real photos, brand assets, one message, the offer, the ad style, length and formats, references, must-avoids, provable claims, an approval contact and AI disclosure.