The Best Apollo Alternatives for the Middle East in 2026 (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar)
If Apollo's credits or regional data aren't working for you in the Gulf, Sendburg is the closest self-serve alternative with a larger free plan and verified-email filters, Lusha is the quickest way to get direct dials, and Cognism suits enterprise teams that want phone-verified EMEA mobiles. Pair any of them with LinkedIn Sales Navigator.
Selling into Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh or Doha is relationship-driven, and many teams start with Apollo because it's familiar. The most common complaints we hear are credits running out, bounced emails at Gulf companies and thin data outside the largest groups. Here are the alternatives worth testing, and when Apollo is still the right call.
Disclosure: Sendburg is our product. We have tried to be fair - where another tool is the better fit, we say so. Prices are from each vendor's public pricing page or widely reported figures as of October 25, 2026; they change often, so check before you buy.
How we compared
- Coverage of the region's companies and decision-makers (we tested searches in the main business cities)
- Email accuracy: is there a verified-email filter, and what happens when an email bounces
- Price for a small team, and whether there is a usable free plan
- Filters that matter for local prospecting (city, industry, title, company size)
- Phone numbers and how much they cost
- Data-protection posture for the region's laws
At a glance
| Tool | Best for | Free plan | Paid from | Phone numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sendburg | Self-serve teams that want more free credits and verified emails | Yes - 10,000 credits/month | $35/month (Growth) | Yes (extra credits) |
| Lusha | Quick direct dials from a browser extension | Yes - 40 credits/month | About $49.90/month (Starter, monthly) | Yes (10 credits each) |
| Cognism | EMEA phone-verified mobiles for enterprise teams | No (demo) | Custom annual contract | Yes (phone-verified) |
| ZoomInfo | Large enterprise teams selling into North America | No (demo / trial on request) | Custom annual contract | Yes |
| Hunter | Finding emails by company domain | Yes - limited monthly searches | Monthly plans | No |
| LinkedIn Sales Navigator | Finding the right people and job-change alerts | Free trial | Monthly subscription | No |
| Apollo.io | An all-in-one database plus sequencing | Yes - limited credits | $49/user/month (annual) | Yes (extra credits) |
1. Sendburg - best for self-serve teams that want more free credits and verified emails
Sendburg covers the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar with city filters (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Riyadh, Doha), a verified-email filter and automatic refunds for bounced emails. The free plan includes 10,000 credits a month, enough to test a real Gulf campaign before paying.
Strengths
- Free plan large enough for real prospecting, not just a trial
- City, industry, title and seniority filters with a verified-email filter
- Credit refunded automatically if an unlocked email bounces
- Month-to-month plans, no annual contract
- City pages for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Riyadh and Doha
Watch out for
- Newer brand with fewer third-party reviews than Apollo or ZoomInfo
- Phone numbers cost more credits than emails
- No built-in email sequencer - lists go to Instantly, Smartlead or your CRM in one click
2. Lusha - best for quick direct dials from a browser extension
Lusha is a common Apollo add-on in the Gulf for mobile numbers, where decision-makers often prefer calls and WhatsApp over email. Use it for lookups on a LinkedIn profile rather than building large lists.
Strengths
- Simple Chrome extension for LinkedIn and company websites
- Known for direct-dial phone numbers
- Easy to start, no sales call needed
Watch out for
- Small credit allowances - phone reveals use 10 credits
- Fewer list-building filters than full databases
- Costs climb fast at volume
3. Cognism - best for emea phone-verified mobiles for enterprise teams
Cognism is built for EMEA and is a strong option for enterprise teams that need phone-verified mobiles and compliance tooling. Ask for a sample of your Gulf target accounts before signing - coverage depth differs by country.
Strengths
- Strong EMEA focus, especially UK and Europe
- Phone-verified mobile numbers
- Compliance tooling (do-not-call screening)
Watch out for
- No public pricing; contracts are commonly reported around $15,000-25,000+ a year for small teams
- Sales-led buying process
- Less depth in some emerging markets - ask for a sample
4. ZoomInfo - best for large enterprise teams selling into north america
ZoomInfo makes sense if the Gulf is one region in a global enterprise motion; its strength is North America. For a Gulf-only team the contract size is hard to justify.
Strengths
- Deep North American coverage and company data
- Intent data, org charts and many integrations
- Mature enterprise admin and compliance
Watch out for
- Annual contracts, commonly reported in the five-figure range per year
- Overkill for small teams
- Coverage is strongest in North America
5. Hunter - best for finding emails by company domain
Hunter helps when you already know the company: domain search shows the email pattern used at a Gulf company, which is useful given how mixed local formats are.
Strengths
- Domain search shows a company's email pattern and known addresses
- Clean email finder and verifier
- Good free tier for occasional lookups
Watch out for
- Email only - no phone numbers
- Not built for filtering by title, industry and location at scale
- Coverage of small local companies varies
6. LinkedIn Sales Navigator - best for finding the right people and job-change alerts
LinkedIn is widely used by Gulf professionals, so Sales Navigator is the best way to map buying committees. Pair it with a database for emails and phones.
Strengths
- The most complete view of who works where
- Lead and account alerts, including job changes
- Strong in every market where LinkedIn is used
Watch out for
- No email addresses or phone numbers - pair it with a contact database
- Exports are restricted
- Per-seat pricing adds up
7. Apollo.io - best for an all-in-one database plus sequencing
Apollo is still a reasonable choice if you need sequences and a dialer in one tool and your targets are large regional groups or multinationals. Test SMEs separately.
Strengths
- Very large global database
- Sequences, dialer and CRM sync in one tool
- Well-known, lots of tutorials and integrations
Watch out for
- Credits are per seat and run out quickly on larger teams
- Mobile numbers use many more credits than emails
- Data quality outside North America and Western Europe varies by market - test a sample first
Gulf-specific tips
- Email formats are mixed. From our study of verified work emails - United Arab Emirates: 44.5% first.last@, 12.5% flast@, 20.8% first-name-only; Saudi Arabia: 28.1% first.last@, 25.4% flast@, 10.7% first-name-only. Don't guess; verify.
- Many SMEs use free webmail or shared addresses - filter to verified work emails to protect your sender reputation.
- Expect longer, relationship-led cycles; multi-thread with several stakeholders per account.
- Plan around the working week (Monday-Friday in the UAE since 2022; Sunday-Thursday is still common in Saudi Arabia) and Ramadan timing.
Data protection
The UAE's Personal Data Protection Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021) and Saudi Arabia's Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) regulate personal data, including business contacts, and Dubai's DIFC and Abu Dhabi's ADGM have their own data-protection rules. Use contact data for legitimate B2B purposes and honour opt-outs.
Which one should you choose?
Apollo's credits keep running out: Sendburg's free plan or Growth plan ($35/month) for list building and emails.
You mostly call or WhatsApp: Lusha for mobile numbers, plus a database for lists.
Enterprise EMEA team: Cognism, after testing a sample of your Gulf accounts.
You need sequences and dialing in one tool: Stay on Apollo and clean your lists with a verifier.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Apollo alternative for the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
For self-serve teams, Sendburg (larger free plan, verified-email filter, bounce refunds). For mobile numbers, Lusha. For enterprise EMEA coverage with phone-verified mobiles, Cognism.
Is there a free B2B database for the Middle East?
Sendburg's free plan includes 10,000 credits a month with no card. Apollo, Lusha and Hunter also offer free tiers with smaller limits.
Why do emails to Gulf companies bounce so often?
Formats are mixed (first name only, first.last, initials), many SMEs use shared or webmail addresses, and people move between employers often. Use verified emails only and verify any guessed address.
Is cold emailing legal in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
B2B outreach is common, but both countries have personal data protection laws. Use data for legitimate business purposes, identify yourself and honour opt-outs.