Campaign Middle East rounds up the latest updates on social media and content and streaming platforms from November. Here are the key highlights:
LinkedIn:
LinkedIn rolled out new LinkedIn Events enhancements to help brands scale events of any size, reach the right audiences, and measure full-funnel impact both on and off the platform. LinkedIn Events allow individuals and organisations to create, promote, and host professional gatherings online, in person, or in hybrid formats enabling professionals to connect, learn, and grow their networks in meaningful ways.
The update introduces key features that make it easier for organisations, particularly SMBs, to plan and promote events seamlessly:
- Boost directly from an Event Page to expand reach with a single click.
- Lead generation as an objective for Events Ads to capture high quality prospects.
- API integrations with event platforms including ON24, Cvent, and Integrate for smoother execution and tracking.
With these enhancements, LinkedIn continues to empower brands to create more connected, measurable and impactful event experiences.
Spotify:
Spotify has evolved its subscription portfolio in the UAE and Saudi Arabia with the introduction of three new plans: Spotify Premium Lite, Spotify Premium Standard (including Student), and Spotify Premium Platinum. This pilot aims to better meet the diverse needs of listeners across both markets.
As part of this rollout, Premium Platinum subscribers will gain access to Lossless audio, one of the most anticipated features on Spotify, alongside other new additions such as AI DJ, third-party DJ integration, and AI Playlist. Fans will also continue to enjoy favorites like Jam and dalist, taking listening experiences to the next level.
YouTube:
YouTube has announced a range of new AI-powered features that will become available across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in the coming weeks. At Brandcast, YouTube’s flagship advertiser event, the platform announced it would begin rolling out Veo 3, Google’s most powerful AI video generation model, for free on YouTube Shorts in select MENA countries.
Similarly, YouTube is releasing a feature that allows creators to generate unique images or videos based on text prompts, which can then be easily added to a Short as a green screen background or as standalone video clips. It will also launch a photo-to-video feature, enabling people to instantly turn a picture from their camera roll into a video by simply selecting the image and choosing a creative suggestion.
Coming soon is the AI Playground, a gallery where creators can find inspirational examples and pre-filled prompts to help them instantly generate videos, images, music, and more. Additionally, YouTube plans on expanding its auto-dubbing feature to more creators across MENA.
For advertisers, YouTube’s Creator Partnerships Hub and Open Call will be coming to brands across MENA in 2026 to help them streamline their collaboration with creators and identify the best fit for their campaigns.
Additionally, YouTube will also begin rolling out Veo 3 on YouTube Shorts for free to select countries in MENA over the coming weeks.
The announcement comes as new GWI data reveals a significant, unique audience on the platform, with 61 per cent of YouTube Shorts users in Saudi Arabia and 54 per cent in the UAE reporting that they do not use Instagram Reels.
YouTube announced the availability of new AI-powered tools for creators:
- Veo 3 in Shorts: Google’s most powerful video generation model, which creates stunning, high-definition video, will begin rolling out to select creators in MENA in the coming weeks on YouTube Shorts. The launch in MENA will be English-first with plans to expand to more creators and languages in the future.
- Auto Dubbing: YouTube plans on expanding access to its AI-powered translation feature across MENA, which is currently available from Egyptian Arabic to English for 51,000 Egyptian creators helping them reach global audiences.
- Creator Partnerships Hub and Open Call will be coming to brands across MENA in 2026 to help them streamline their collaboration with creators, while identifying the best fit for their campaigns.
Google:
Google launched Gemini 3, their most powerful AI-powered, agent AI model yet, delivering richer visualisations – all built on the foundations of the world’s most sophisticated reasoning.
The Gemini 3 Pro experience is now available across a range of Google products, allowing users to leverage these technologies in their daily life, whether for learning, building, or planning for the future.
Google also introduced Gemini 3 Deep Think – an enhanced inference mode that pushes Gemini 3 performance even further – and is granting access to safety testers before making it.
Snapchat:
In partnership with Publicis Groupe Middle East, Snapchat launched Youth Studio, a first-of-its-kind hub designed to help brands better understand and engage with Gen Z and Gen Alpha (Gen ZAlpha) across the GCC.
The platform helps marketers move beyond stereotypes and uncover the real drivers shaping youth identity, creativity, and influence – backed by data, insights and real voices. Each module leverages Youth Studio’s proprietary data and platform insights from Snapchat, helping brands design campaigns grounded in evidence, not assumption.
