YouTube has officially announced the launch of its affiliate shopping program in the United Arab Emirates, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. This program will let creators in the region tag products directly in their content and earn commission on purchases.
This first phase will focus on Amazon as an affiliate partner, with plans to add more retail partners soon.
With more than 40 billion hours of shopping-related content on YouTube so far this year, and 40 million logged-in users across the MENA region alone, this launch will give creators more ways to make money, with a lower entry threshold of 500 subscribers.
"Launching YouTube Shopping in Saudi Arabia, the UAE & Egypt opens a massive new chapter for the creator economy, giving creators another, practical way to build their businesses while offering brands a way to connect with highly engaged audiences” . “Our affiliate partnership with Amazon helps connect businesses of all sizes with customers at the exact moment they’re looking for recommendations," said Javid Aslanov, Head of YouTube in the Middle East & North Africa.
Requirements
- 500 subscribers: this is the minimum audience size reported for eligible creators to earn commissions.
- Three markets: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
- Three formats: videos, Shorts, and livestreams.
"This collaboration with YouTube brings together the power of authentic creator recommendations and Amazon's trusted shopping experience. We're excited to give creators across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt a new way to connect their audiences with millions of products, while helping customers discover and buy what they need seamlessly," Sumit Kapoor, Director of Marketing and Prime, Amazon Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey, commented.
Google also uses AI to identify products in videos and recommend tags, saving creators hours of manual work, and shoppers can use an on-screen QR code to complete a purchase.
