Emirates NBD, a leading bank in the region, announced the launch of its official LinkedIn page, with the objective to consolidate its presence on social media platforms, and establish a two way communication channel focusing on entrepreneurs, potential employees, Business Banking customers and decision makers. The launch of the LinkedIn page follows from the banks successful presence on Facebook and Twitter, and its popular Instagram activities.

LinkedIn has established itself as the leading professional networking site for businesses both globally and in the region, and is being increasingly used by individuals and organisations for business purposes, said Vikram Krishna, Head Group Marketing and Customer Experience, Emirates NBD. As a leading UAE bank, we believe a strong presence on LinkedIn is the next logical step in Emirates NBDs social media journey, as this will enable us to connect more efficiently with our corporate customers and stakeholders.

Studies show that LinkedIn has become a influential professional networking site with over 277 million members worldwide, 10 million of whom are in the MENA region alone. A recent poll by a UAE-based publication also showed a marked preference for LinkedIn among business users as compared to Facebook, Twitter or Google networking platforms.

Emirates NBDs newly launched LinkedIn page is expected to play a key role in facilitating connectivity with stakeholders and possible employees from beyond the UAE. The bank aims to utilise the newly launched platform to reach out and attract talented employees, and position itself as an employer of choice in the financial services sector in the UAE.

According to Krishna, one of the main focus areas will be the SME sector - a key target for the banks business banking division. Given that SMEs are extensively active on LinkedIn, we hope to exploit the various features of the platform to showcase our RISE initiative, connect with small businesses and celebrate their entrepreneurial spirit, he added.

Emirates NBD has been recognised for its social media platforms including winning the award for the Best Social Media Strategy Financial Services at The Marketing Show Awards 2013. The latest recognition includes being ranked 25th in the Power 100 Social Media Rankings for Q4 2013, compiled by The Financial Brand, a US-based online publication focusing on branding issues and providing strategic analysis and insight on a range of critical brand-building tools.