As YouTube turns 20, the MENA creator economy is recording some of its strongest growth figures yet. New platform data shows sharp rises in the number of channels hitting seven-figure annual revenues across Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE — a signal that the region's digital creators are building serious businesses on the platform.
MENA Creator Revenue Jumps Across the Board
According to YouTube's December 2024 data, the number of Saudi Arabian channels earning more than SAR 1 million annually grew by 40% year on year. In Egypt, channels surpassing EGP 1 million in annual revenue rose by an even sharper 60%. The UAE saw a 15% increase in creators earning seven figures in AED — a smaller percentage, but meaningful in a market already maturing at a high base.
These figures were released as YouTube celebrated its twentieth anniversary, marking two decades since the platform launched and began reshaping how content is made, distributed, and monetised worldwide.
$70 Billion Paid to Creators Over Three Years
The scale of YouTube's payout operation underlines how central the platform has become to the global media economy. Over the past three years, YouTube has distributed $70 billion to content creators, developers, and media companies — a figure that reflects both the platform's advertising revenues and its revenue-sharing commitment to creators at every level.
UAE and Egypt Content Draws Global Audiences
One of the more striking findings in the data is the international reach of MENA content. More than 95% of watch time on UAE-based YouTube channels comes from viewers outside the country. For Egypt, over 60% of watch time originates from abroad — a testament to the global appetite for Arabic-language and culturally specific MENA content.
YouTube's content from the region spans Saudi comedy programmes and agricultural lifestyle channels to viral cultural moments such as the Pyramids Harlem Shake trend and Queen Rania's Visionary Award ceremony, reflecting the breadth of what MENA creators produce.
Javid Aslanov: YouTube Backing MENA Creators
Javid Aslanov, head of YouTube MENA, noted the milestone as a moment to recognise creator achievement across the region. "YouTube's media formats allow creative business founders to establish thriving worldwide businesses," he said. "We offer our creators our extensive backing because we are enthusiastic about what the near future brings."
YouTube's MENA User Base in 2025
YouTube's regional footprint continues to expand. As of May 2024, the platform counted over 20 million users aged 18 and above in Saudi Arabia, 7.5 million in the UAE, and 1.7 million in Qatar — confirming its position as the dominant long-form and short-form video platform across the Arab world.
The combination of a large and growing user base, rising creator revenues, and deep international reach positions the MENA YouTube creator economy for continued expansion into its third decade.
