Google on recruitment drive in Arab world

Free food and chillout rooms await a new band of Google staffers in the Arab world, as the web giant launches a recruitment drive in the region.

Only the smartest graduates and professionals are likely to benefit from Google's famous workplace perks, which have survived the increasingly corporate nature of the firm.

Ari Kesisoglu, Google's manager for the Middle East and North Africa, says that Google now has around 40-50 staff working in the region - with more on the way.

"We have more than doubled the headcount this year," he said. "We are hiring. We have senior positions open; we have junior positions open."

There are 10 positions open across the firm's main regional offices in Dubai and Cairo - and Mr Kesisoglu said more will be posted as these get filled. Last year, Google told The National that it would be opening two or three new offices in Mena region in 2011. The Google boss - who recently revealed an initiative to get more Saudi businesses online - says that the region needs to continue to invest in fostering new talent.

"There is a big pool of talent that we know is there, but they haven't been able to surface their abilities yet," he said.

"Do I think that there is as much talent here as in Silicon Valley? I don't think so, I don't think we are there yet. So we need to continue to invest."