Dubai’s Creators HQ and YouTube have launched a two-year training initiative to help more than 1,000 content creators across the Middle East and North Africa earn commissions through YouTube Shopping. The programme will teach creators how to use affiliate shopping tools, promote products through videos and livestreams, and develop additional income opportunities. It also builds on YouTube’s recent affiliate shopping launch in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
- Location: Dubai, UAE
- Organisations: Creators HQ and YouTube
- Status: Two-year training programme announced on 10 November 2026
- Who is affected: Content creators across the Middle East and North Africa
- Business impact: New commission-based earning opportunities through product recommendations
- What’s next: YouTube Shopping experience at the 1 Billion Followers Summit, 8–10 January 2027
How Dubai’s YouTube Shopping Programme Will Help Creators Earn Money
Dubai is expanding its support for the regional creator economy through a new partnership between Creators HQ and YouTube. Announced on 10 November 2026, the initiative will train more than 1,000 content creators to earn commissions through YouTube Shopping over the next two years.
The programme comes shortly after YouTube introduced its affiliate shopping feature in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. It gives eligible creators an opportunity to generate additional income by tagging products featured in their videos, Shorts and livestreams.
For creators in the UAE, this opens another way to turn their online audience into a business opportunity. Instead of relying only on advertising revenue and brand collaborations, they can also earn commissions when viewers purchase products through their content.
YouTube Shopping Allows Creators to Earn Through Product Recommendations
The new initiative builds on YouTube’s recently introduced Affiliate Shopping programme, which allows eligible creators to connect viewers with products directly through their content.
Creators can tag products featured in their regular YouTube videos, Shorts and livestreams. Viewers can then explore the listed items and make purchases through the shopping links.
When a viewer completes an eligible purchase, the creator receives a commission. This provides an additional revenue stream alongside existing monetisation options available on YouTube.
Amazon is the first affiliate partner in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, with more retail partners expected to join the programme.
Another feature is the use of Google AI to identify products appearing in videos and suggest relevant shopping tags. This can reduce the time creators spend manually searching for products and attaching links.
YouTube is also making shopping more accessible to television viewers. Those watching content on a TV screen can scan an on-screen QR code with their mobile phones to continue the purchase process.
However, access is not automatic for every channel. Creators must meet YouTube’s eligibility requirements and programme conditions before using the affiliate shopping tools.
Creators HQ and YouTube to Train 1,000 Creators Over Two Years
Under the new collaboration, YouTube will deliver specialist masterclasses through YouTube Academy over the next two years.
The sessions will focus on helping creators understand YouTube Shopping, use affiliate commerce tools and identify ways to generate income through product recommendations.
According to WAM, YouTube Academy has already trained more than 5,000 creators since its launch in 2025. The latest initiative will build on this work by introducing more focused training around shopping-related content and monetisation.
The partnership also reflects the growing commercial role of content creators across the Middle East. Businesses are increasingly using online creators to reach audiences through product reviews, demonstrations and recommendations.
For creators, understanding how affiliate shopping works can help them develop a more structured approach to content creation and revenue generation.
Alia Al Hammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office and Deputy CEO of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, said the partnership would help regional creators access new tools, build their businesses and explore additional monetisation opportunities.
Javid Aslanov, Head of YouTube in the Middle East and North Africa, also highlighted the opportunity for creators to develop their businesses while helping brands connect with engaged audiences.
YouTube Shopping Launch Comes as Video-Based Shopping Grows in the UAE
The expansion comes as YouTube continues to play a role in how consumers research products and make purchasing decisions.
According to Google, viewers worldwide watch more than 40 billion hours of shopping-related content on YouTube every year.
Google also reported that more than 40 million logged-in users across five MENA markets, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco, made shopping-related searches on YouTube in June 2026.
A Kantar survey cited by YouTube found that 94% of surveyed viewers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia agreed that YouTube had the best shopping-related content. The survey also found that 86% considered YouTube creators the most trusted for product recommendations.
These figures highlight why affiliate shopping could become another revenue opportunity for creators and a useful channel for retailers.
For UAE-based businesses, creator-led shopping offers another way to showcase products to audiences who already follow particular channels and content categories. Product demonstrations, reviews and tutorials can help shoppers discover items while watching content they enjoy.
However, the success of affiliate shopping will depend on factors such as audience trust, product relevance and the quality of recommendations.
YouTube Shopping Experience to Feature at 1 Billion Followers Summit 2027
The Creators HQ and YouTube partnership will also have a presence at the fifth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit.
Scheduled for 8–10 January 2027, the event will take place across Jumeirah Emirates Towers, DIFC and the Museum of the Future in Dubai.
Organised by the UAE Government Media Office, the summit brings together content creators, digital platforms, media professionals and businesses to discuss developments in the creator economy.
The dedicated YouTube Shopping experience will give attendees an opportunity to explore the platform’s affiliate commerce features and understand how shopping tools can support content-based businesses.
The event will also provide a platform for creators to connect with industry professionals and learn about emerging opportunities in digital media.
The new YouTube Shopping initiative gives UAE creators another way to earn from the content they produce. It is particularly relevant to those who regularly create product reviews, beauty videos, technology content, lifestyle recommendations and shopping guides.
The programme could also benefit retailers looking to reach audiences through creator partnerships rather than relying entirely on traditional advertising.
For Dubai, the initiative adds to its efforts to strengthen its position as a regional centre for content creation and the digital economy.
The immediate next step is the rollout of YouTube Academy’s specialised masterclasses, followed by the dedicated shopping experience at the January 2027 summit.
FAQs
1. What is the new YouTube Shopping programme in Dubai?
It is a two-year training initiative launched by Creators HQ and YouTube to help more than 1,000 creators across the Middle East and North Africa earn commissions through affiliate shopping.
2. How can creators earn money through YouTube Shopping?
Eligible creators can tag products in their videos, Shorts and livestreams. They earn commissions when viewers purchase products through the associated shopping links.
3. Is YouTube Shopping available in the UAE?
Yes. YouTube introduced its Affiliate Shopping programme in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt in October 2026. Eligible creators can use the feature after meeting the platform’s requirements.
4. Which company is YouTube’s first affiliate shopping partner in the UAE?
Amazon is the first affiliate partner announced for the YouTube Shopping programme in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
5. When will the YouTube Shopping experience take place in Dubai?
A dedicated YouTube Shopping experience is planned for the fifth 1 Billion Followers Summit, scheduled for 8–10 January 2027 at Jumeirah Emirates Towers, DIFC and the Museum of the Future.
Dubai Continues to Invest in the Creator Economy
The partnership between Creators HQ and YouTube adds another opportunity for regional content creators to develop their online businesses. With specialised training, affiliate shopping tools and access to a growing digital audience, eligible creators will have more ways to explore commission-based income.
The programme also highlights the increasing connection between content creation, online shopping and business growth across the UAE.
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