The Real Story We’re Building in Jordan
It’s a strange feeling, having a camera follow you around. We were filming a segment for a documentary showcasing Jordan’s digital growth, and the lens forces you to articulate not just what we’ve built, but why it matters. Looking back at the official announcements and the handshakes at forums, it’s easy to see the polished corporate story. But behind the scenes, this journey has been about something much more fundamental.
Our story in Jordan isn’t an accident; it’s a deliberate, strategic bet we made years ago. When we first established our office in 2019 with a team of 25, we saw the raw ingredients for an incredible partnership: a stable, ambitious nation with a deep pool of young, hungry talent. It represented a classic asymmetric opportunity—a solid foundation with the potential for exponential upside, not just as a market, but as a strategic hub for the entire MENA region.
The milestones you read about, like the MoU we signed with int@j at the Jordan-Singapore Tech Alliance Forum, aren’t just ceremonial. They are the outcomes of countless hours of real conversation and alignment. When we hosted the Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship at our offices in both Amman and Singapore, the discussions weren’t just about BIGO. They were about a shared vision: How can we bridge the tech ecosystems of Southeast Asia and the Middle East? How can we make Jordan the undisputed gateway for that bridge? These weren’t corporate obligations; they were strategic working sessions.
But the real story, the one that energizes me, isn’t found in boardrooms or forums. It’s in our offices in Amman and Irbid. It’s in the fact that we’ve grown from that initial team of 25 to over 1,000 people. This isn’t just about headcount; it’s about capability. Our teams in Jordan are not just executing; they are leading. They are shaping our content strategies, pioneering our AI moderation systems for Arabic-speaking markets, and running localized campaigns that resonate with millions. This isn’t a satellite office; it’s a core engine for our regional growth.
That’s why initiatives like the Singapore-Jordan Incubation Program are so critical. For someone who has built things from the ground up, there’s no greater ROI than empowering the next wave of founders. By offering Singaporean startups space, mentorship, and a foothold in Jordan, we’re doing more than just “supporting the ecosystem.” We’re actively building it. We’re lowering the barrier to entry and betting that the cross-pollination of ideas will create value for everyone, including us.
Being celebrated as a success story in the Middle East was a moment of pride, but it felt less like an endpoint and more like a checkpoint. The work is far from done. As the creator economy continues to evolve, our focus sharpens. We’re committed to deepening our innovation pipeline here and ensuring the knowledge exchange between our global and Jordanian teams is a two-way street.
This is about building a legacy of genuine contribution. It’s about shaping the digital narrative of a region from within the region.
We’re not just operating in Jordan.
We’re building with Jordan.
And we’re just getting started.
