YouTube has introduced its Shopping affiliate programme in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, creating additional earning opportunities for eligible creators and offering brands a new way to engage consumers through creator-led content.
Amazon is the programme’s first affiliate partner across the three markets. Participating creators can tag products in their videos, Shorts and livestreams, earning commissions when viewers complete eligible purchases through their recommendations.
The initiative enables brands and retailers to connect product discovery on YouTube with purchases on merchant websites. The platform also plans to onboard additional retail partners as it expands the programme across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
“Launching YouTube Shopping in Saudi Arabia, the UAE & Egypt opens a massive new chapter for the creator economy, giving creators another, practical way to build their businesses, while offering brands a way to connect with highly engaged audiences”, said Javid Aslanov, Head of YouTube in the Middle East & North Africa.
“Our affiliate partnership with Amazon helps connect businesses of all sizes with customers at the exact moment they’re looking for recommendations”, he added.
The launch reflects YouTube’s broader efforts to strengthen its position in online shopping and product discovery. The company reports that users worldwide watch more than 40 billion hours of shopping-related content on the platform annually.
According to YouTube, more than 40 million logged-in users across Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the UAE conducted shopping-related searches on the platform in June 2026.
A Kantar survey referenced in the announcement found that 86 per cent of surveyed viewers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE considered YouTube to have the most trusted creators for product recommendations while shopping. In Saudi Arabia, 84 per cent of respondents also said the platform helped them make more confident purchasing decisions.
Sumit Kapoor, Director of Marketing and Prime, Amazon Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey, said: “This collaboration with YouTube brings together the power of authentic creator recommendations and Amazon’s trusted shopping experience. We’re excited to give creators across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt a new way to connect their audiences with millions of products, while helping customers discover and buy what they need seamlessly.”
Google AI supports the programme by identifying products featured in videos and recommending tags for creators to use. For viewers watching YouTube on television, an on-screen QR code can be scanned with a smartphone to continue the purchasing process.
Creators who meet YouTube Partner Programme eligibility requirements can join the initiative. They may also earn commissions from purchases made by viewers in other markets where YouTube Shopping is available.
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