Kevin Scott, LinkedIn Sales Manager for the Middle East and North Africa, announced last Wednesday that the popular social network will launch an Arabic version. The reason given is that the Arab region is increasingly young and youth unemployment in the area is very high. Two important factors that, according to Scott, has led LinkedIn to consider this option.
Arab users who already have accounts will not have to change anything; they will simply be offered the option to change the language as is the case on other websites. However, new users will start, from the beginning, with the new Arabic version. The social network, which has two million users in the United Arab Emirates, another million in Saudi Arabia and a similar figure in Egypt, has extended its services since it opened its office in Dubai in 2012 and currently has 14 million users in the region.
This plan has also been designed to help with youth unemployment in the region which, according to the ILO, is “dramatic”, at almost 24%. In addition, it may be an important stabilising element in an area of recent political upheaval and social tensions. Furthermore, this social network applied to business and job opportunities can provide a better connection between businesses and users. This is the opinion of Adel Fakeih, Minister for Labour Affairs of Saudi Arabia: “belonging to a global network will also help young people to identify key demands in certain areas and thus, develop their skills in line with those niches”.
