How YouTube Influencers Collaborate with UAE Brands

UAE’s influencer marketing industry is booming, and YouTube influencers are at the forefront of collaboration with major UAE brands.

In their quest to engage consumers and find potential brand partners, YouTube influencers are keenly aware of the digital landscape in the UAE, particularly the social media habits of UAE residents.

This article examines what YouTube influencers need to do to find potential UAE brand partnerships in 2025.

🎯 Capitalize on UAE YouTube Trends

YouTube is a powerful social media platform in the UAE, where 2.78 million users are active.

UAE residents spend an average of 22.6 hours per month watching videos on YouTube.

YouTube is the second most popular social media platform in the UAE, with 76% of residents using it. The UAE is ranked as one of the countries with the highest average daily time spent on YouTube in the world, with each user watching an average of 67 minutes daily.

In 2025, the most subscribed YouTube channels in the UAE are expected to be owned by popular content creators, including Mo Vlogs, 3M views, Ali Al Sayed, and Anas Bukhash.

Also, YouTube Shorts are skyrocketing in popularity in the UAE, with many brands opting for YouTube Shorts instead of longer videos or Instagram Reels.

In 2025, a YouTube Short campaign will be a prerequisite for YouTube influencers who hope to collaborate with UAE brands.

💸 Understand UAE Influencer Marketing Regulations and Payment Methods

The influencer marketing industry in the UAE is heavily regulated.

The National Media Council requires influencers to fill out a registration form and undergo training before being approved to begin their influencer marketing activities.

Also, a new law regulating advertising in the UAE that was enacted on January 1, 2025, stipulates that influencers must declare their advertising partnerships in their content.

These regulations impose heavy penalties on influencers who fail to comply. For example, the NMC recently imposed a hefty fine of AED 100,000 against a high-profile influencer who failed to declare advertising partnerships in their content.

UAE brands are also aware of these regulations and will often prefer to partner with influencers who are compliant.

In addition to being aware of the regulatory landscape, YouTube influencers must also familiarize themselves with popular payment methods in the UAE.

The most popular payment methods in the UAE are:

1. Cash – Cash remains the most preferred mode of payment in the UAE, especially for small businesses.
2. Credit / Debit Card – Credit and debit card payments dominate the online shopping market in the UAE, accounting for 40% of all transactions.
3. Bank Transfer – Bank transfers are a popular method of payment for B2B transactions in the UAE.
4. Digital Wallet – Digital wallets, including PayPal, Google Wallet, and Apple Pay, are popular payment methods among UAE residents, especially the youth.
5. Cryptocurrency – Cryptocurrency payments are becoming more common in the UAE.

Most UAE brands will prefer to make payments through established payment methods such as bank transfers, PayPal, and Google Wallet.

Additionally, UAE brands may offer non-monetary compensation such as gifts, products, and services in exchange for collaborations.

🌍 Leverage UAE-Specific Social Media Platforms

YouTube influencers can also find UAE brand collaboration opportunities on UAE-specific social media platforms.

For example, Grape Vine is a UAE-based influencer and marketing agency that specializes in helping brands identify and partner with influencers.

Founded in 2019, the agency has over 40,000 influencers on its roster.

Grape Vine provides influencers with opportunities to collaborate with brands such as Mamas and Papas, Cigna, and UAE University.

The agency uses data-driven decision-making to match influencers with brands based on their engagement and audience demographics, ensuring that brands effectively reach their target markets.

YouTube influencers can partner with Grape Vine or other UAE-based influencer marketing agencies to find more opportunities to collaborate with major UAE brands.

📈 Study Influencer Marketing Trends in the UAE

YouTube influencers must also keep their fingers on the pulse of influencer marketing trends in the UAE.

For example, brands across the UAE are increasingly shifting budgets from traditional marketing to influencer marketing, with 47% of UAE brands planning to increase their influencer marketing budgets in 2025.

In fact, more than 71% of UAE marketers expect influencer marketing budgets to double over the next three years.

Furthermore, over 72% of marketers in the UAE believe that engaging influencers will have a significant impact on their overall marketing strategy in 2025.

This bold forecast offers promising collaboration opportunities for YouTube influencers hoping to partner with UAE brands.

🏙️ Learn About Influencer Marketing in Dubai

Dubai is a major influencer marketing hub in the UAE.

With 93% of Dubai residents aged 18 to 34 on social media, Dubai has the highest social media penetration rate in the world.

This social media-savvy population provides enormous collaboration opportunities for YouTube influencers in Dubai.

In Dubai, influencer marketing budgets are expected to increase by 20% in 2025.

Instagram is the most popular platform for influencer marketing in Dubai, capturing 72% of influencer marketing budgets.

YouTube is also a highly favored platform for influencer marketing in Dubai, capturing 56% of budgets.

The high investment in influencer marketing in Dubai is expected to yield high returns, with 77% of marketers expecting increased ROI from influencer marketing campaigns.

Furthermore, the effectiveness of influencer marketing in Dubai is underscored by the fact that 50% of consumers in Dubai are likely to purchase products recommended by influencers.

Familiarity with Dubai’s unique social media landscape and Instagram’s stronghold in influencer marketing will help YouTube influencers find brands in Dubai willing to collaborate with them.

📣 Use UAE Brand Collaboration Services

YouTube influencers can also find collaboration opportunities with UAE brands through brand collaboration platforms.

For instance, ZOOZ is a UAE-based influencer marketing platform that connects brands with influencers.

ZOOZ allows UAE brands to post campaigns on its platform, enabling influencers to pitch for collaboration opportunities.

Brands can also browse influencer profiles on the platform for influencers they would like to partner with.

After connecting, brands and influencers can finalize the partnership details and collaborate to create high-quality content that promotes the brand’s products or services.

ZOOZ charges brands a monthly subscription fee starting from AED 299, granting them access to a wide pool of influencers.

YouTube influencers can also explore other UAE-based influencer marketing platforms such as Jin, Kikala, and Buzzeff for more collaboration opportunities.

🤝 Network with Influencers and Brands in the UAE

Building a professional network is essential for YouTube influencers pursuing collaboration opportunities with brands in the UAE.

YouTube influencers can attend industry events, marketing conferences, and influencer networking meetups to meet potential collaborators in person.

For example, the Middle East Influencer Conclave 2025 is an event in Dubai where influencers and brands across the Middle East meet to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the influencer marketing industry.

Influencers can also connect with UAE brands through social media platforms.

For instance, Diwa Al Shamsi is a renowned Emirati influencer and entrepreneur with over 160,000 followers on Instagram.

Diwa is the CEO of Diva Charms, a Dubai-based jewelry brand.

Influencers can reach out to Diwa through direct messaging on her social media platforms to explore possible collaborations with her jewelry brand or other brands she may be associated with.

🔑 Conclusion

YouTube influencers can find UAE brands willing to collaborate by leveraging YouTube trends in the UAE, understanding UAE influencer marketing regulations and payment methods, using UAE-specific social media platforms, and brand collaboration services, networking with influencers and brands in the UAE, and staying informed about influencer marketing trends in the UAE.

The influencer marketing industry in the UAE is expected to grow significantly in 2025.

YouTube influencers can position themselves to take advantage of this trend by implementing the strategies outlined in this article.

BaoLiba will continue to update South African influencer marketing trends, stay tuned!