YouTube To Roll Out Veo 3 On Shorts In Select MENA Countries

In Saudi Arabia, 61% of YouTube Shorts users say they don’t use Instagram Reels; in the UAE, that figure stands at 54%. Against that backdrop, YouTube is introducing its AI video model, Veo 3, to Shorts in select MENA countries over the coming weeks — free to use.

Announced during its Brandcast advertiser event, the rollout will begin in English and with select creators, before expanding to more users and languages. YouTube also plans to broaden its AI-powered auto dubbing feature across MENA, which currently translates Egyptian Arabic to English for over 51,000 Egyptian creators.

Research presented at the event highlighted YouTube’s influence on consumer behavior. A Kantar survey showed that viewers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE rank YouTube as the #1 platform for product and brand research, ahead of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and Snapchat. Among Gen Z respondents, 60% prefer video reviews over written or audio formats, while a SmithGeiger study found that 61% of Gen Z are less likely to return purchases after using YouTube in their shopping research.

“YouTube has been the launchpad for the creator economy across MENA for over a decade,” said Tarek Amin, YouTube’s Regional Director for the Middle East, Turkey & Africa. “We’re building the future of streaming, commerce, and entertainment on YouTube. By combining the authentic trust of our creators with powerful AI models like Veo 3, we’re giving brands in the region an unmatched ability to drive culture and commerce with audiences they can’t find anywhere else.”

Launched in May 2005, YouTube — a Google company — continues to expand its footprint across the region. Looking ahead, a Creator Partnerships Hub and Open Call are planned for 2026, designed to connect brands with creators and streamline regional collaborations.