The Etisalat Group Chooses LinkedIn to Transform Talent Acquisition

February 10, 2013

Dubai, UAE - February 11, 2013 - LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network with more than 200 million members worldwide and over five million professionals in the MENA region, and the Etisalat Group, one of the world's leading telecommunications companies, whose headquarters are in the UAE and has operations spanning fifteen countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, today announced an agreement that will see Etisalat utilise LinkedIn's Talent Solutions to enhance its' hiring strategy in the region.

Etisalat's UAE operations are strategically located at the crossroads of East and West enabling the company to be the major hub in the Middle East for Internet, voice, broadcast, roaming and corporate data services. This has helped Etisalat achieve significant success in 15 countries across the Middle East, Africa and Asia leading to a market value of approximately $20 billion, annual revenues topping $8.5 billion and a customer base of 130 million.

In a drive to reinforce Etisalat's position as an employer of choice amongst telecoms and business professionals across the world, Etisalat plans to transform the way it drives brand awareness and acquires top talent using LinkedIn solutions, including LinkedIn's flagship product, Recruiter, which allows companies to recruit the best passive candidates, (those not actively looking for work) with unparalleled search and collaboration tools.

"The telecoms business is driven as much by people as it is advances in technology. Having the best team is the difference between being a follower and a leader. As the Etisalat Group continues to expand, and as the telecoms industry becomes increasingly competitive, we need to promote the opportunities that are available in our company and grow our reputation as the employer of choice. LinkedIn gives us one click access to a skilled member base, at scale and will provide an opportunity to engage with a global talent pool," said Abdulaziz Al Sawaleh, Chief Human Resources Officer, Etisalat Group.

With over 80 percent of LinkedIn's member base being passive candidates, a strong employer brand is critical to attracting the right talent. LinkedIn launched the Talent Brand Index as a simple metric which allows customers to benchmark and ultimately elevate their employer brand. According to LinkedIn data, a strong employer brand reduces cost per hire by up to 50 percent. Eighty three percent of global recruiting leaders say employer branding is a critical driver of their ability to hire top talent. LinkedIn's career pages allow businesses to differentiate their business with video, banners and employee spotlights.

Ali Matar, Director, Talent Solutions at LinkedIn Middle East said, "We are excited to work with Etisalat to help them transform their recruitment strategy. LinkedIn's Talent Solutions including optimized Career Pages, Work with Us Ads, and Recruiter are uniquely placed to help organizations find and retain the best talent by matching the right talent with the right opportunity."

Located in Dubai's Internet City, LinkedIn's UAE, which opened in October 2012 serves as regional headquarters to over five million members in the Middle East and North Africa, one million of which are based in the UAE.

About Etisalat Group

Since 1976, Etisalat has been at the forefront of the Middle East's technological revolution and has developed and grown to become one of the world's leading telecommunications companies.

Etisalat focuses on delivering innovative solutions to transform the communities in which it operates and accelerate social development and economic growth by developing and engineering the platforms for growth. This approach has helped Etisalat achieve significant success in 15 countries across the Middle East, Africa and Asia leading to a market value of approximately $23 billion and annual revenue topping $8.5 billion and a customer base of 130 million.

For further information please visit www.etisalat.com.