DUBAI // The UAE has more members of the LinkedIn business social networking website than any other Arab country, the company has revealed.
Almost one million people in the Emirates have joined the site, which enables members to network, post details of their skills and experience and find out about job opportunities.
The figure puts the Emirates well ahead of other Arab countries with much larger populations. Saudi Arabia is second with 600,000 members, while Egypt is third with more than 500,000.
The popularity of the site in the region has led to speculation that it would follow the example of Facebook and Twitter and launch an Arabic version. It is possible to post in Arabic on LinkedIn, but the user interface is not available in the language. However the company has revealed that it has no plans to create an Arabic version.
"At this stage we have no news to share on an Arabic version of LinkedIn," said Darain Faraz, the company's corporate communications manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "We are, however, always looking at improving our offering and will be able to offer more information as it becomes available."
Last week's launch of the Arabic version of Twitter was welcomed because it meant non-English speakers would be able to use the site for the first time. Earlier this week the regional online recruitment company
Bayt.com revamped its website to challenge LinkedIn head-on.
LinkedIn was founded in California in 2003 and has more than 150 million members worldwide. The site is available in 16 languages.
