YouTube has launched its Shopping affiliate programme in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, allowing eligible creators to tag products in videos, Shorts and livestreams and earn commissions on purchases.
The programme, initially available through Amazon, allows creators to link products featured in their content directly to the retailer, helping viewers move from product discovery to purchase.
Eligible creators in the YouTube Partner Program with more than 500 subscribers can participate, subject to YouTube’s eligibility criteria. They can earn commissions when viewers purchase tagged products, including viewers in markets where YouTube Shopping is not yet available.
According to YouTube, people worldwide watch more than 40 billion hours of shopping-related content on the platform annually. In June 2026, more than 40 million logged-in users across Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the UAE made shopping-related searches on YouTube.
A Kantar survey cited by YouTube found that 94% of surveyed viewers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE considered the platform a leading source of instructional shopping videos, while 85% valued its product reviews and 80% its unboxing videos. The survey also found that 86% said YouTube had the most trusted creators for shopping recommendations.
“Launching YouTube Shopping in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt opens a massive new chapter for the creator economy,” said Javid Aslanov, head of YouTube in the Middle East and North Africa. He added that the partnership with Amazon would help businesses connect with customers when they are looking for product recommendations.
The platform is also introducing Google AI-powered product identification, which can suggest tags for products featured in videos, reducing the manual work required from creators. Viewers watching YouTube on televisions can scan on-screen QR codes with their mobile devices to complete purchases.
YouTube said it plans to expand the programme by working with additional local and international retailers.
