Unlocking new creative possibilities with Veo 3 on YouTube Shorts in MENA
In the Middle East and North Africa, the creator economy continues to thrive, driven by a community that is deeply engaged and eager to innovate. Today at Brandcast, our flagship advertiser event, we reaffirmed our commitment to this vibrant ecosystem by announcing the arrival of Google’s most advanced AI video generation model to YouTube Shorts, alongside new data highlighting the unique value YouTube offers to both creators and brands in the region.
Here is a look at the key announcements from today’s event:
Empowering creativity with Veo 3 on Shorts
To help creators turn their wildest ideas into reality, we announced that Veo 3, Google’s most powerful AI video generation model, will begin rolling out on YouTube Shorts to select countries in MENA over the coming weeks.
Initially available in English, Veo 3 will allow creators & users to generate stunning, high-definition video backgrounds for their Shorts simply by typing a prompt. This will help make high-quality production more accessible, enabling our creators to tell richer stories without needing a blockbuster budget.
Breaking language barriers
Bringing regional content to a global stage remains a top priority. We are expanding access to our AI-powered Auto Dubbing feature across MENA. This technology is already helping 51,000 Egyptian creators seamlessly translate their content from Egyptian Arabic to English, opening up their channels to new viewers worldwide.
A unique and decisive audience
Beyond new tools, Brandcast highlighted the distinct audience that calls YouTube home. New data from GWI reveals that YouTube Shorts reaches people you may not find elsewhere: 61% of YouTube Shorts users in Saudi Arabia and 54% in the UAE report that they do not use Instagram Reels.
Furthermore, YouTube continues to be the go-to destination for diverse shopping journeys. According to Kantar, viewers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE rank YouTube as the #1 platform for researching and vetting brands, products, or services, outperforming other major platforms.
Moreover, 61% of Gen Z surveyed in MENA agree they are less likely to return purchases if they used YouTube for their initial research (SmithGeiger).
Streamlining brand connections
To help brands tap into this influential creator network, we also announced that the Creator Partnerships Hub and Open Call will launch in MENA in 2026. These tools will streamline the collaboration process, helping brands identify the best creator partners for their campaigns.
MENA is a global force in content creation, and we are excited to see what our community builds next as we continue to invest in the future of streaming, commerce, and entertainment on YouTube.
