Marking a five-year milestone in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena), Facebook has opened the doors to its brand new regional headquarters in Dubai.

The 20,000-sq-ft space features an open office concept, and showcases regional cultural inspirations through the various designs and artistic cues.

Facebook’s connection to the region is reflected in the Arabic themes used in the new office design, not just limited to quirky meeting room names such as ‘Hommous’, but also with commissioned pieces that blend modern and traditional styles from Emirati artist Eman Al Hashemi, making her the first artist from the Arab world to join Facebook’s Global Artist in Residence programme.

Since launching a local presence in the region in 2012, Facebook reportedly has 164 million monthly active people. With more than 60 employees, Facebook has grown its Mena user base by 264%.

Working with companies across a multitude of industries including travel and tourism, finance, media, automotive, FMCG, retail, telecom and start-ups, Facebook has sought to support by driving both awareness and consideration for global and local brands in the region.

Complementing this is the company’s mobile-first strategy as more than 156 million users access Facebook on mobile devices every month in Mena, the release stated.

Jonathan Labin, the managing director, Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan at Facebook, said: “This region has embarked on a path of growth and transformation and we aim to be part of it. Our new headquarters is a truly inspiring space, and brings to life the dynamism, creativity and innovative culture of Facebook while reflecting the communities around us.”

Across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Egypt, Lebanon and many more countries in the region, we are seeing users, content creators, and brands use Facebook in new and innovative ways, unlike anywhere in the world. We are only 1% finished in our journey here, and we are excited about what lies ahead in this young, connected, and mobile-first region.”