YouTube doesn't publish a Saudi Arabia rate per 1,000 views; your RPM depends on viewer location, niche, format and fan income like Super Chat. Saudi Arabia is on every YouTube monetisation list, and payouts arrive by wire transfer or check before your bank converts them into riyals.
Saudi creators make everything from Arabic comedy and gaming to cooking and religious content, often for big audiences. So when a Riyadh or Jeddah creator asks what YouTube pays per thousand views, they're usually sitting on a lot of views already. The catch: YouTube doesn't publish a Saudi rate. Here's what it does tell us, and how to work out your own figure.
Saudi creators have the full YouTube toolkit
Saudi Arabia is named on YouTube's Partner Program availability page and on the expanded programme list. YouTube also lists Saudi Arabia for channel memberships and for Super Chat and Super Stickers. So beyond ads, Saudi channels can earn directly from fans, which suits the live, community-driven style of many Arabic channels.
For ads, the bar is 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 qualified watch hours in the last 12 months, or 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. The expanded route opens earlier, at 500 subscribers with 3 valid public uploads in the last 90 days and either 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views. That earlier tier opens fan funding rather than ads, but for a channel with a loyal live audience it's money worth having.
Live streams and fan income for Saudi channels
Live streaming is where Saudi channels can stand out. Super Chat lets viewers pay to highlight a message, and Super Stickers work in a similar way during live streams and Premieres. Memberships give your regulars a monthly way to support you in return for badges, emojis or members-only videos.
YouTube counts memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers and Premium alongside ads in your RPM. A Saudi gaming streamer who goes live several nights a week can therefore see a stronger figure per thousand views than a creator posting the same view count with ads alone. Note that Super Chat isn't available on made-for-kids, age-restricted, unlisted or private videos.
Why Saudi RPM changes from channel to channel
YouTube's RPM is the money you've earned per 1,000 video views after YouTube's revenue share. It includes every view, ad or no ad. Here's what moves it for Saudi channels:
- Audience location. YouTube says geography affects CPM. Views inside Saudi Arabia, elsewhere in the Gulf and further afield are sold to different advertisers.
- Niche. Cars, tech, finance and property content attracts advertisers with bigger budgets than general entertainment.
- Seasonality. Advertiser demand isn't flat across the year, so watch how your RPM moves month by month in YouTube Studio.
- Format. Shorts ad revenue is pooled, and creators keep 45% of their allocation, shared by engaged views among monetising creators in each country. Long videos earn from the ads around them.
I'd plan around your own RPM from the Revenue tab, never a figure from a forum. Compare it across a few months and across video types, and you'll quickly see which content pays best for you.
Receiving YouTube payments in Saudi riyals
Payments come from AdSense for YouTube. Google's payment methods table lists check and wire transfer for Saudi Arabia, and EFT isn't offered there. For a wire, add a bank account at a Saudi bank or branch, since Google requires the bank to be in the same country as your payments address.
The Saudi riyal isn't one of the currencies on the AdSense payment thresholds page, so expect to work to the 100 US dollars threshold, with your bank converting the payment into SAR. Google asks you to verify your identity before payouts, and it checks your address once your balance reaches 10 US dollars or the local equivalent.
The US tax form for creators in Saudi Arabia
Even though you're outside the US, YouTube asks you for US tax info. Once it's submitted, only earnings from US viewers are subject to withholding, at between 0 and 30% depending on treaty status. Saudi Arabia isn't on the IRS list of US income tax treaties.
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Without the form, an individual account has 24% of total earnings worldwide withheld, according to YouTube, and a business account faces 30% of US earnings. I'm not a tax adviser, so check how this fits your situation with an accountant in Saudi Arabia.
What a big hit can mean for a Saudi channel
For a million views, your YouTube income is your RPM multiplied by those views in thousands. That's the whole calculation, and it's why two Saudi creators with the same views can earn very different amounts.
The real gains from a hit often come later. New members join, your next live draws bigger Super Chat, and Saudi brands start paying attention. Keep your analytics screenshots ready for brand conversations.
If you want more people to find your videos in search, my guide on learning SEO from YouTube without wasting time helps. And for a neighbour with a slightly different payout setup, the UAE YouTube earnings guide covers a country where EFT is also on offer.
| Income route | Available in Saudi Arabia? | Source checked |
|---|---|---|
| Partner Program ads | Yes | YouTube Partner Program availability |
| Expanded programme | Yes | Expanded YouTube Partner Program |
| Memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers | Yes | YouTube help availability lists |
| Payout by wire or check | Yes | AdSense for YouTube payment methods |
| Payout by EFT | No | AdSense for YouTube payment methods |
Frequently asked questions
How much does YouTube pay per 1000 views in Saudi Arabia?
YouTube doesn't publish a Saudi rate. Your RPM, your earnings per 1,000 views after YouTube's share, depends on where viewers are, your niche, your format and fan income. You'll find it in YouTube Studio under Revenue.
Is YouTube monetisation available in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Saudi Arabia is on the Partner Program and expanded programme lists, and on YouTube's lists for memberships, Super Chat and Super Stickers.
How do Saudi YouTubers get paid?
Through AdSense for YouTube by wire transfer or check, as Google's payment table shows for Saudi Arabia. Your Saudi bank converts the payment into riyals.
Is there an AdSense threshold in Saudi riyals?
The Saudi riyal isn't listed on Google's AdSense payment thresholds page, so most accounts work to the US dollar threshold of 100 US dollars.
Do creators in Saudi Arabia pay US tax on YouTube earnings?
YouTube withholds 0 to 30% on earnings from US viewers once tax info is submitted, depending on treaty status, and Saudi Arabia isn't on the IRS treaty list. Ask a local accountant about your own tax.
