BusinessNov 4, 2026, 11:01 AM UTC·2 min read

YouTube Shopping affiliate programme launches in UAE, KSA, 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 for creators.

A creator films a product review at a desk while a smartphone and TV show a YouTube shopping tag and QR code. — Image: wamda.com

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YouTube has launched its Shopping affiliate programme in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, letting creators tag products in their content and earn a commission on resulting purchases. Amazon is the first affiliate partner, and the company says more retailers will follow.

Creators in the YouTube Partner Program with more than 500 subscribers are eligible. They can tag products in videos, Shorts and live streams. Commissions apply when viewers buy, including viewers outside the region where YouTube Shopping is available. The relatively low subscriber threshold is meant to let regional creators start earning earlier in their careers.

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 their phone to complete a purchase right away. From any screen, a viewer can move from a video to the merchant's checkout with a click.

Why shopping on YouTube

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 having the best shopping content, including instructional videos (94%), product reviews (85%) and unboxing videos (80%). Some 86% said the platform 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. Creator Ayatee, who has almost 11 million subscribers, said her audience can now click and check out while she uses a product on camera.

The launch is the start of YouTube Shopping's expansion across the Middle East and North Africa, with plans to work with more local and international retailers.