Watch It, Love It, Buy It: YouTube Shopping Arrives in the Middle East
Every day, millions of people across the Middle East turn to YouTube not just for entertainment, but for trusted advice on what to buy next. From detailed tech reviews to everyday skincare routines, viewers’ favorite creators have quietly become the region’s most authentic storefronts.
According to a survey conducted by Kantar, 86% of surveyed viewers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE agree that YouTube has the most trusted creators for product recommendations while shopping and 84% agree that YouTube helps them make more confident shopping decisions.
To turn that inspiration into a seamless shopping experience, we're launching the YouTube Shopping affiliate program in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt, with Amazon as our first affiliate partner.
More ways to make money on YouTube for creators
Creators drive the culture and commerce of YouTube. With the new affiliate program, eligible creators in the YouTube Partner Program (with as few as 500 subscribers) can now monetize product recommendations directly inside their long-form videos, Shorts, and livestreams.
- Lowering the barrier to entry: Eligible creators in the YouTube Partner Program with at least 500 subscribers helps emerging creators to build a sustainable business earlier in their journey.
- Automated discovery with Google AI: Rather than spending hours hunting down product URLs, creators can use AI-assisted tagging to automatically detect items featured on screen and suggest matching affiliate links.
- Global reach, local content: Through Universal Shopping Tags, regional creators can earn commissions whenever viewers in participating global markets, from the US to Japan, make a purchase.
A better shopping experience for viewers, on every screen
Finding the right product shouldn't mean pausing a video to search across tabs or hunting through messy description boxes. Viewers can now browse tagged items with a single tap while watching, complete with clear pricing, product details, and direct purchase options. Whether discovering a new skincare routine in a Short or watching an in-depth tech breakdown, viewers get an intuitive way to see not just what a creator loves, but exactly where and how to buy it from trusted retailers without missing a moment of content.
With over 40 million logged-in users across nine MENA countries making shopping-related searches in June 2026 alone, we’re also bringing this experience into the living room. Viewers watching on Connected TVs can simply scan an on-screen interactive QR code with their mobile phone to complete their checkout on Amazon in seconds.
Bringing brands closer to high-intent audiences
For brands and retailers, retail now happens directly inside the cultural conversations shaping consumer habits on YouTube.
By tapping into YouTube’s fully integrated affiliate ecosystem, businesses can reach high-intent shoppers right when inspiration strikes. Partners gain access to engaged audiences across key regional markets, converting viewer interest into measurable business impact & retail growth. It also gives merchants the opportunity to discover creators that have high credibility in the niches they own and the content they create.
Now, when you watch your favorite creators share their top picks, from gaming gear to home essentials, you can buy them directly, all without interrupting your viewing.
