YouTube Shopping Affiliate Programme Launches in KSA, UAE, Egypt
YouTube is bringing its Shopping affiliate programme to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, with Amazon as the first partner and a 500-subscriber threshold.
YouTube has launched its Shopping affiliate programme in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. Creators can now tag products in videos, Shorts and live streams and earn a commission when viewers buy. Amazon is the first affiliate partner, and the company says more retailers will follow.
Creators in the YouTube Partner Program need just 500 subscribers to qualify, a lower bar meant to let regional creators earn earlier in their careers. They can tag Amazon products and earn commissions on purchases, including those made by viewers outside the region where YouTube Shopping is available.
AI tagging and TV checkout
YouTube uses Google AI to identify products in videos automatically and suggest tags, which the company says saves creators hours of manual work. Viewers watching on a television can scan an on-screen QR code with a phone to finish a purchase right away. Viewers can also go from a video to merchant checkout with a single click.
Why the region matters
According to YouTube, people worldwide watch more than 40 billion hours of shopping-related content on the platform each year. In June 2026 alone, over 40 million logged-in users in Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the UAE made shopping-related searches.
A Kantar survey cited by the company found that viewers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE rate YouTube as the best source of shopping content, including instructional videos (94%), product reviews (85%) and unboxing videos (80%). Some 86% said YouTube has the most trusted creators for product recommendations, and 84% of surveyed viewers in Saudi Arabia said it helps them shop with more confidence.
"Launching YouTube Shopping in Saudi Arabia, the UAE & Egypt opens a massive new chapter for the creator economy," said Javid Aslanov, Head of YouTube in the Middle East & North Africa. Sumit Kapoor of Amazon Middle East, North Africa and Turkey said the tie-up pairs creator recommendations with Amazon's shopping experience.
The company describes the launch as the start of a wider YouTube Shopping rollout across the Middle East and North Africa, with plans to work with more local and international retailers.
