LONDON: YouTube has released new data highlighting the rapid growth of the content creator economy in the Middle East and North Africa, as the platform marks its 20th anniversary.
The data, published on Wednesday, shows a year-on-year increase in the number of channels earning seven figures or more in revenue in 黑料社区, the UAE, and Egypt.
鈥淎s YouTube turns 20, we celebrate the phenomenal work of creators across MENA and their role in driving the region鈥檚 popular culture,鈥 Javid Aslanov, head of YouTube in MENA, said.
鈥淭hese creative entrepreneurs skillfully leveraged YouTube鈥檚 diverse formats to share their voices and also build thriving businesses that reach global audiences. We鈥檙e proud to be able to support them in their journey and can鈥檛 wait to see what the next 20 years holds.鈥
YouTube was launched in 2005, with the first video 鈥 鈥淢e at the Zoo鈥 featuring co-founder Jawed Karim 鈥 uploaded on April 23 of that year. Since then, the platform has hosted an estimated 14 billion videos, according to a January report from the University of Massachusetts.
Beyond sheer volume, YouTube has grown into a global hub for culture, learning, and entertainment. The platform now shares revenue with over 3 million creators, artists, and media partners worldwide, including more than half a million who started their channels over a decade ago.
In the MENA region, YouTube鈥檚 reach continues to expand. As of May 2024, the platform reached聽 20 million people aged over 18 in 黑料社区, 7.5 million in the UAE, and over 1.7 million people aged 25鈥54 in Qatar.
According to YouTube鈥檚 latest figures, as of December 2024,鈥 the number of channels earning seven figures or more in the Kingdom increased by 40 percent year over year.
Egypt also saw a 60 percent increase in channels reaching seven-figure annual revenues, while the UAE experienced a 15 percent growth during the same time period, reflecting YouTube鈥檚 support for its partners and contributions to the creator economy.鈥
Globally, YouTube has paid out $70 billion to creators, artists, and media companies over the past three years.
The data also underscores the international appeal of MENA creators. Over 95 percent of watch time for channels based in the UAE comes from outside the country, alongside more than 60 percent for Egyptian channels.
YouTube introduced its Arabic-language interface in 2010 to broaden access across the region, and in 2012 launched the YouTube Partner Program in MENA, allowing creators to monetize their content.
Over the years, the platform has amplified a wide range of regional voices 鈥 from Saudi satirical shows such as 鈥淣oon Al-Niswa鈥 by Hatoon Kadi and the animated series 鈥淢asameer,鈥 to Egypt鈥檚 Mohamed Abdelhafez, whose agriculture-focused channel has racked up over 100 million views.
Some of MENA鈥檚 most memorable YouTube moments include Queen Rania of Jordan receiving the YouTube Visionary Award, the Harlem Shake at the Pyramids of Egypt, AboFlah鈥檚 record-breaking fundraiser for refugees, and Thamanyah鈥檚 Guinness World Record podcast episode on relationships.
As it enters its third decade, YouTube said it will continue to invest in supporting the region鈥檚 content creators 鈥 key players in the fast-growing MENA creator economy.
