YouTube and Creators HQ target 1,000 creators for shopping affiliate programme

UAE content creators are gaining new ways to turn product recommendations into revenue.

YouTube and UAE-based Creators HQ have launched a regional incubator to help creators earn commissions through YouTube Shopping, with plans to train more than 1,000 participants across the Middle East and North Africa over two years.

Creators HQ, a hub that supports content creators through training, industry expertise and connections with global platforms, will give its members access to YouTube Academy masterclasses. Participants will learn best practices and tools to make YouTube Shopping a primary revenue source.

The initiative follows the recently launched YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program, which was established to help creators maximize their ability to generate income. Available to eligible creators in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the program allows them to tag products in videos, Shorts and livestreams and earn commissions when viewers make purchases. Amazon is its first affiliate partner, with more merchants expected to join.

“This programme gives creators another practical way to build their businesses, while offering brands a way to connect with highly engaged audiences,” said Javid Aslanov, head of YouTube in the Middle East and North Africa.

“Today’s masterclass is an extension of our joint efforts with CreatorsHQ to empower the next generation of storytellers from across the region, ensuring more creators have the tools and capabilities to turn their passion into a thriving, long-term career on YouTube,” he added.

YouTube Shopping uses Google AI to identify products in videos and suggest tags, reducing manual work for creators. Viewers watching on televisions can also scan an on-screen QR code with their phones to complete purchases.

The expansion comes amid strong demand for online video in the UAE. According to the Digital 2026 Global Outlook report, the country ranks seventh globally for weekly video viewing, with residents watching an average of 15 hours and eight minutes of content across all lengths.

YouTube also plays a role in how viewers discover products. A Kantar survey found that 94% of surveyed viewers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia said the platform had the best shopping-related content, while 86% said it had the most trusted creators for product recommendations.

Alia Al Hammadi, vice chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office and deputy CEO of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, said the collaboration would help creators turn audience engagement into economic opportunities.

“This collaboration reflects Creators HQ’s commitment to building strategic relations with leading global platforms, providing regional creators with new tools and solutions to scale their business, leverage the rapid shifts in the digital economy and unlock broader avenues for sustainable growth and monetisation,” she said.

Creators HQ is part of Visioneers, the UAE content management and development platform. In September 2026, it reported 5,000 registered members from 130 countries, with a combined following of more than five billion.

YouTube Academy has trained more than 5,000 creators since launching last year. Aslanov said the latest collaboration extends their joint efforts to help regional creators build long-term careers on the platform.

The initiative will also include a YouTube Shopping experience at the fifth 1 Billion Followers Summit, organized by the UAE Government Media Office under the theme “Content for Good.” The summit takes place from January 8–10, 2027, across Jumeirah Emirates Towers, DIFC and the Museum of the Future in Dubai.