YouTube launches Veo 3 on Shorts in MENA, revealing that 61% of Saudi Shorts users don’t use Instagram Reels.
DUBAI: In a bold move to amplify creator innovation in the region, YouTube announced the rollout of Veo 3—Google’s most advanced AI video generation model—on YouTube Shorts across select MENA countries. The announcement was made during the platform’s flagship Brandcast event held on November 7 in Dubai.
Veo 3 on Shorts is expected to revolutionise short-form content creation by enabling select creators to generate high-quality, AI-powered videos with ease. The MENA launch will begin in English, with plans to extend support to additional languages and creators over time. This strategic push underlines YouTube’s growing influence in the region’s digital content landscape.
Alongside the Veo 3 announcement, YouTube unveiled Auto Dubbing expansion plans, enabling creators to translate content from Egyptian Arabic to English, allowing over 51,000 creators in Egypt to reach broader global audiences.
Additionally, YouTube introduced its Creator Partnerships Hub and an Open Call platform for brands, set to launch across MENA in 2026, aimed at streamlining collaborations between brands and content creators.
New research unveiled at the event revealed significant audience insights. According to GWI data, 61% of YouTube Shorts users in Saudi Arabia and 54% in the UAE are not active on Instagram Reels, confirming a unique digital demographic. A Kantar study further highlighted YouTube as the top platform for product discovery and decision-making among viewers in the Gulf region.
Tarek Amin, YouTube’s Regional Director for the Middle East, Turkey & Africa, highlighted the platform’s regional leadership: “MENA is a global force in content creation. By combining AI tools like Veo 3 with trusted creators, we are shaping the future of commerce, entertainment, and culture.”
The Brandcast event also revealed Gen Z’s shifting behaviour in MENA, with over 60% preferring video product reviews over written formats, and 61% less likely to return purchases when they use YouTube for research—pointing to the growing power of video in shopping decisions.
