On March 8, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, inaugurated the opening of Meta’s new regional headquarters in Dubai.
The headquarters, based in Dubai Internet City, will serve the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and will house over 100 employees.
Sheikh Hamdan said that the establishment of Meta’s new office in the emirate reflects Dubai’s growth as a global business hub and the continued confidence of the world’s largest technology companies in the city as a base for tapping new opportunities and advancing innovation.
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has been in the region for 10 years, working with communities, creators, partners, media, and governments to enable millions of people to create content and grow, official news agency WAM reported.
Meta has awarded grants to more than 100 Dubai-based small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to support businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Meta has also launched training and business resource centres and a MetaBoost programme to help businesses grow.
Meanwhile, globally, there are now more than three billion people that actively use Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp Messenger every month. Of these, 2.91 billion use Facebook alone every month, and over 2.81 billion people on average use at least one of Meta’s services every day.
Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Meta, who attended the event, said: “This office represents our commitment to the millions of people who use our platforms to express themselves, stay connected to their loved ones and their communities, and start and grow businesses. There is a culture of innovation in the UAE that fits with the spirit of our company. We share an excitement about the economic and social opportunities that a connected world can create. The talent and creativity of people across the region will be crucial as we embark on the next chapter for our company – helping to build the metaverse.
“It is no coincidence that we selected March 8 for our office opening. We chose to do it on International Women’s Day as a sign of our continued commitment to empowering women, here in Dubai and around the world.”
Derya Matras, vice president of Africa, Middle East, and Turkey Meta headquarters, said that launching such initiatives in the MENA region provides support to small and medium-sized businesses. Furthermore, he commented that the UAE’s commitment to establishing a work culture of innovation and creativity encourages such work to thrive.
