YouTube to introduce Veo 3 AI video tool on Shorts in MENA, in coming weeks - As-salamu alaykum
As-salamu alaykum - YouTube announced it will start rolling out Veo 3, Google’s latest AI video-generation model, on YouTube Shorts for selected countries in the MENA region over the next few weeks. The rollout will be free for those chosen countries.
The news came at YouTube’s Brandcast event, as the platform pushes further into AI to strengthen its presence in the region amid competition from other apps. Tarek Amin, YouTube’s regional director for the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa, said that pairing trusted creators with tools like Veo 3 gives brands new ways to connect with audiences across the region.
YouTube marked its 20th anniversary this year and says it has been active in MENA for more than a decade. The platform reports very high use in the region - around 94% in the UAE and 89% in Saudi Arabia - making it a leading video app there.
According to YouTube’s data, 61% of Saudi Shorts users and 54% of UAE users said they don’t use Instagram Reels. YouTube says this supports its focus on growth and new features for creators in MENA.
Veo 3 on Shorts can generate high-definition videos. At first it will be English-first, with plans to add more languages and more creators over time. The platform also plans to expand its auto-dubbing tool, which already helps about 51,000 Egyptian creators translate Egyptian Arabic to English so they can reach wider audiences.
YouTube will also launch a Creator Partnerships Hub and Open Call across MENA in 2026 to help brands find and work with creators more easily.
The company highlighted shifts in viewer habits: a Kantar survey showed people in Saudi Arabia and the UAE rely on YouTube more than other platforms when researching brands or products. Also, 60% of Gen Z respondents in those countries prefer watching video product reviews over reading or audio reviews.
“We’re building the future of streaming, commerce and entertainment on YouTube,” Amin said. “MENA is a global force in content creation, and we are just getting started.”
May Allah grant ease and benefit to creators and viewers using these tools. Please remember to use such technologies responsibly and in ways that align with our values.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/