YouTube Turns 20 with Surge in Millionaire Creators Across UAE, Saudi and Egypt

YouTube shows significant growth through Saudi Arabia and UAE together with Egypt because their respective seven-figure annual revenues from creators have increased dramatically while the platform marks 20 years of supporting creators worldwide.

The December 2024 YouTube data showed Saudi Arabian channels exceeded SAR 1 million revenue annually by 40% and Egyptian channels exceeded EGP 1 million revenue annually by 60% simultaneously. Creators who earn seven figures in AED across the UAE experienced a yearly growth of 15% over the past year. The MENA creator economy finds support through a series of developments which YouTube continues to expand across its global initiatives.

During the past three years YouTube has distributed $70 billion to content developers and media companies alongside creators thus demonstrating its essential role in business development and content production.

YouTube celebrates its twentieth anniversary by acknowledging the superb creator work across the MENA region according to Javid Aslanov who stands as the head of YouTube in MENA. YouTube’s media formats allow creative business founders to establish thriving worldwide businesses. We offer our creators our extensive backing because we are enthusiastic about what the near future brings.

International audiences contribute more than 95% of watch time for UAE channels on YouTube and Egypt experiences over 60% worldviews originating from outside the country thus showing the global interest in MENA content. YouTube functions as a platform for Saudi comedy TV shows and agricultural personality videos as well as producing viral hits such as the Pyramids Harlem Shake frenzy and Queen Rania’s Visionary Award ceremony while showing Middle Eastern cultural diversity.

The user base of YouTube is expanding in May 2024 with over 20 million users in Saudi Arabia and 7.5 million in the UAE and 1.7 million in Qatar thereby confirming its transformative impact on the digital world of the Arab nations.