Twitter to open office in Dubai

According to Twitter officials, the Mena region is one of the fastest-growing markets for the platform worldwide and the announcement comes as a part of the company’s increased interest in expansion.

The Dubai office will be the first for Twitter in the MENA region. Kacper Pempel / Reuters

Twitter on Wednesday announced plans to open an office in Dubai, its first in the Middle East and North Africa region.

The Mena region is among the fastest-growing markets for the California-based social media company.

“Mena is a key strategic market for us and our new Dubai office will serve as the focal point to help our development across the region,” said Shailesh Rao, Twitter’s vice president for Asia-Pacific, Latin America and emerging markets.

“Dubai is a regional hub for many brands and advertising agencies and we are excited to build a team on the ground here who can work with partners directly, helping them get the most out of Twitter.”

Several factors have contributed to Twitter’s growth in the Middle East, especially the region’s changing demographics. More than 30 per cent of people in the region are between the ages of 15 and 29.

Some of the largest groups of Mena internet users are in the Arabian Gulf region – the UAE and Saudi Arabia in particular.

They will probably be the drivers for Twitter’s expected growth in the region.