YouTube Reports Surge in MENA Creators Earning Seven-Figure Revenues

YouTube has reported a sharp rise in the number of content creators in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE earning seven-figure annual revenues, coinciding with the platform’s 20th anniversary.

According to data newly released by YouTube, the number of channels earning seven figures in Saudi Riyals rose by 40% year-on-year as of December 2024. In Egypt, the growth reached 60% in Egyptian Pounds, while the UAE saw a 15% increase in Dirham-denominated earnings.

The platform, which launched its Arabic-language interface in 2010 and introduced the YouTube Partner Program to MENA in 2012, has paid out $70 billion globally to creators, artists, and media companies over the past three years. YouTube’s regional head, Javid Aslanov, credited MENA creators for shaping popular culture and expanding their reach internationally. Over 95% of watch time for UAE-based channels now comes from outside the country, while Egyptian channels see more than 60% of their views from international audiences.

YouTube also reported that in May 2024, it reached 12 million people over the age of 18 in Saudi Arabia on connected TVs, 2.5 million in the UAE, and 600,000 in Qatar. The platform currently shares revenue with 3 million creators globally, over half a million of whom have been active for more than a decade.