In pics: Sheikh Hamdan opens Meta’s new regional headquarters in Dubai

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, opened Meta’s new regional headquarters in Dubai on March 8.

The headquarters, based in Dubai Internet City, will serve the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and will house over 100 employees.

Today, I attended the opening of @Meta’s regional headquarters in @DIC_Community. Dubai continues to consolidate its partnerships with global technology players as part of its ambitious vision to shape the future. pic.twitter.com/RrbWRnAQPz

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) March 8, 2022

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.

From its new base in Dubai, @Meta will serve its markets in the Middle East and North Africa region and support 3 billion users of its platforms worldwide. pic.twitter.com/XqvtehdwID

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) March 8, 2022

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, Africa, Middle East and Turkey at Meta, said, “I am incredibly proud of the work that we have done and continue to do in the MENA region. From launching initiatives such as LoveLocal and SheCreates – a platform that shines a spotlight on incredible women- to our partnerships to support small and medium sized businesses, our work continues to have a great impact. None of this would have been possible without the support of our partners, which makes today such an important day in our history in the region. It is so encouraging to see the UAE’s commitment to establishing a culture that allows innovation and creativity to thrive.”