Quick answer: YouTube Shopping’s affiliate program launched in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt on October 26, 2026, with Amazon as the first affiliate partner. Eligible YouTube Partner Program creators with at least 500 subscribers can tag products in long-form videos, Shorts and livestreams, then earn commission on qualifying purchases.[1]
Important rollout note: Google’s MENA announcement names all three new markets, but several YouTube Help pages retrieved after the announcement still showed older country lists.[1][2] Treat YouTube Studio → Earn as the account-level source of truth. Do not create a new account or change your channel country just to force access.
60-second eligibility checklist
Before looking for the Shopping tab, check these boxes:
- [ ] Your channel is based in the UAE, Saudi Arabia or Egypt.[1][3]
- [ ] You have at least 500 subscribers.[1][3]
- [ ] You uploaded at least 3 valid public videos in the last 90 days.[3]
- [ ] You have either 3,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months or 3 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days.[3]
- [ ] Your channel follows YouTube monetization policies.[3]
- [ ] Two-Step Verification is enabled on the Google Account.[3]
- [ ] You have one active AdSense for YouTube account ready to link.[3]
- [ ] Your channel is not primarily set as Made for Kids.[4]
- [ ] The products you plan to tag are genuinely shown, discussed or useful in the content.[4]
The 500-subscriber number is only one part of expanded YPP eligibility. YouTube’s current YPP guide also requires three recent public uploads plus either the watch-hour or Shorts-view threshold. It lists the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt among expanded-YPP markets.[3]
How to check and join
- Sign in to YouTube Studio using the correct channel.[3]
- Open Earn.[3]
- If you are not in YPP, select Apply now, accept the base terms and link an active AdSense for YouTube account.[3]
- If you are already in YPP, look under Programs or Shopping for the affiliate option.[2]
- Review and accept the YouTube Shopping affiliate terms if the option appears.[2]
- Open the Shopping area and review the products and commission rates available to your specific channel.[2]
- Start with one existing video in which a relevant product is clearly featured.
If the affiliate option is missing, first confirm that you are using the right Brand Account or channel. Google’s MENA launch is new, while some public Help pages still display older market lists, so account enablement and documentation may not update at the same time.[1][2]
How to tag an Amazon product
YouTube says the new regional program supports product recommendations in long-form videos, Shorts and livestreams. It also says AI-assisted tagging can detect products shown on screen and suggest matching links.[1]
For a controlled first test:
- Open an eligible video in YouTube Studio.[4]
- Find Products, Shopping or Tag products.[4]
- Search for the exact product shown or discussed.[4]
- Confirm the model, size, color and seller before adding the tag.[4]
- Put the most important product first, especially for a Short.[4]
- Save the changes and view the public video from another account.[4]
- Confirm that the product tag opens the intended retailer listing.
- Record the video URL, tagged product and date so you can audit broken or out-of-stock tags later.
YouTube’s tagging rules require products to be identifiable, meaningfully related to the content and shown or discussed in a way that gives viewers value. Tags may be removed when they are unrelated, misleading or attached to ineligible content.[4]
Copy-paste disclosure templates
Use a clear disclosure that matches the content and your local legal obligations. These examples are starting points, not legal advice.
Video description
Affiliate disclosure: This video includes product tags. I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Short on-screen line
Affiliate links — I may earn a commission.
Livestream reminder
Some products tagged in this stream are affiliate links. I may receive a commission if you buy through them.
A disclosure does not make an irrelevant tag acceptable. YouTube still requires the tagged product to be meaningfully connected to the video.[4]
Best first videos to tag
Start with content where buying intent already exists:
- a phone, laptop or camera review[4]
- a “what I use” creator setup[4]
- home, kitchen or beauty tutorials[4]
- gaming gear demonstrations[4]
- comparison and buying-guide videos[4]
- unboxing followed by real use[4]
- livestream product demonstrations[4]
- Shorts that clearly show one product solving one problem[4]
Avoid bulk-tagging your full archive on day one. Test a small set, confirm that tags render correctly and review clicks and estimated earnings before expanding.
What viewers will see
In long-form videos, viewers may see a Shopping button or product shelf. In Shorts, the first tagged item can appear as a product sticker. YouTube says the new MENA rollout also supports an on-screen QR-code path for viewers watching on connected TVs, allowing them to continue checkout on a phone.[1][4]
Availability can vary by viewer location, device, retailer inventory and the channel’s eligibility. A tag working for the creator does not guarantee that every viewer will see the same offer.
Earnings, commissions and returns
Do not quote a fixed commission rate in your content unless that rate is visible for the specific product and campaign in your own YouTube Studio. Rates and eligible products can vary.
YouTube’s Help documentation says affiliate performance can be reviewed in Studio and that refunds, cancellations or returns can reverse commission. Finalized earnings are paid through AdSense for YouTube under the applicable affiliate-payment process.[2]
Track these four numbers during the first 30 days:
- videos with tags[2]
- product-tag clicks[2]
- estimated commission[2]
- reversed or adjusted commission[2]
This gives you a useful earnings-per-tagged-video measure without assuming that views alone equal purchase intent.
Troubleshooting: Shopping is not showing
The Earn tab has no Shopping option
- Confirm that you are on the correct channel.[3]
- Check whether YPP is active or still under review.[3]
- Verify the expanded-YPP thresholds, including recent uploads and watch hours or Shorts views.[3]
- Check that the channel country is accurate; do not change it to misrepresent your location.
- Wait for the regional rollout to reach the account and check again.
- Contact YouTube Creator Support if the channel is eligible but the option remains absent.[2]
A product cannot be found
The exact item may not be available in the product picker, may be out of stock or may not be offered to your market. Do not tag a different model just to show a Shopping link.
A tag was removed
Check whether the product is clearly shown or discussed, whether the content has a copyright or monetization restriction, and whether the item remains available. Repeated irrelevant tagging can put Shopping access at risk.[4]
The tag appears on one device but not another
Viewer location, device support and retailer availability can change how Shopping appears. Test on mobile and desktop, but do not promise identical placement on every screen.[4]
7-day launch plan for creators
Day 1: Confirm YPP, AdSense and Shopping eligibility in Studio.
Day 2: Pick three existing videos with clear product intent.
Day 3: Add only exact, relevant product tags and disclosures.
Day 4: Test each tag as a viewer on mobile and desktop.
Day 5: Publish one new comparison, review or tutorial with a product demonstrated on screen.
Day 6: Review clicks and fix missing, incorrect or out-of-stock items.
Day 7: Keep the formats that generated useful engagement; remove weak or forced tags.
For the older U.S.-focused Amazon linking and payout workflow, see the separate YouTube Amazon Product Tags setup guide. Regional creators should still rely on what their own YouTube Studio displays because the MENA rollout is newer than parts of the Help Center documentation.
Frequently asked questions
Is YouTube Shopping available in the UAE?
Yes. YouTube’s October 26 announcement says the affiliate program launched in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, with Amazon as the first affiliate partner.[1]
Is 500 subscribers enough by itself?
No. For expanded YPP, YouTube also lists three valid public uploads in 90 days and either 3,000 valid public watch hours in 12 months or 3 million valid public Shorts views in 90 days, along with policy, security and AdSense requirements.[3]
Can Saudi and Egyptian creators join?
YouTube’s MENA announcement names both Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Actual account access should be checked in YouTube Studio because public Help pages may lag a new rollout.[1][2]
Can I tag products in Shorts?
Yes. YouTube says the regional program supports long-form videos, Shorts and livestreams. Shorts can display a Shopping product sticker for a tagged item.[1][4]
Is Amazon the only partner?
Amazon is the first affiliate partner named for this launch. That wording does not guarantee which products, storefronts or future retailers will be available to every creator.[1]
Do all tagged sales earn commission?
No. Earnings depend on a qualifying purchase, the product’s current terms and later adjustments such as returns or cancellations.[2]
Why does a Help page not list my country yet?
Documentation and account rollouts can update at different times. The dated Google MENA announcement confirms the three-country launch, while YouTube Studio shows whether the feature is enabled for a specific channel.[1][2]