To be eligible for the fund, a YouTube channel needs to have uploaded one eligible short clip in six months.

Being a social media influencer was all about attracting more followers before major brands and online platforms took note of the impact, which they could create among consumers by roping in digital celebs posting videos about everything from fashion and beauty to gaming and tech. Phones with sophisticated cameras, accessories that enhance clarity and platforms that empower content producers to edit material on the spot before broadcasting it to thousands or even millions of subscribers, have amplified the reach that viral sensations enjoy.

Young artists, fitness enthusiasts and educators who have managed to keep netizens glued to entertaining as well as informative visual content, are now reaping benefits by monetising their presence on platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. Having launched a separate platform to create short videos like the aforementioned apps, YouTube is now encouraging more vloggers to embrace the format, by offering rewards that'll come from a fund dedicated to shorts.

Launched in other countries earlier this year, the cash stashed for popular channels that post short clips, has now been launched in Middle Eastern countries like Lebanon, Kuwait, Morocco, Bahrain and Iraq, along with the UAE. This shouldn't come as a surprise considering the fact that the number of YouTube channels raking in revenues in six figures or more, has gone up by 40%.

Channels which have posted at least one short video in the last six months will be eligible for the rewards, and will earn anything between $100 to $10,000 a month, which will be followed by a bonus based on factors like performance and the location of viewers. The content producers will also need to adhere to copyright guidelines, and videos with logos or watermarks from third party platforms won't qualify for incentives.

With this initiative that comes months after YouTube upgraded and re-launched a hub for channels led by female Arab content creators, the platform joins the likes of Spotify among others, that have been working to promote regional talent online.