LinkedIn, one of the world’s largest professional network on the Internet with more than 347 million members, has launched the Arabic version of its site.

The Middle East and North Africa (Mena) is a fast growing region for LinkedIn, growing from five million members in October 2012 when the company opened its local office in Dubai, to more than 14 million today. The launch of Arabic - the first bi-directional language on LinkedIn - brings the total number of languages available to 24, said a company statement.

Ali Matar, head of LinkedIn Mena, Talent Solutions, said: “We already have more than 14 million members here in the Mena region using LinkedIn in English. The launch of an Arabic version will provide a more relevant experience to our members and customers in the region.”

“This will open up opportunities for hundreds of millions of Arabic speaking professionals to connect and engage with other professionals and employers across the world, and for companies to find and attract the best talent, connect their brand with our audience, and engage with their customers,” he added.

New members can now sign up for LinkedIn in Arabic by visiting the site and registering a new account. LinkedIn members who have been using the site in English can switch their language settings to Arabic, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service