The social networking company said Wednesday the office in Dubai's Internet City business park will start out with a staff of three employees.

It aims to attract more advertising revenue directed at the 45 million users that Facebook says it has in the Middle East and North Africa.

The launch follows Facebook's May 18 initial public debut, one of the most anticipated stock offerings in history. The stock had lost 24 percent of its value ahead of the Dubai launch.

Joanna Shields, Facebook's vice president and managing director for Europe, the Mideast and Africa, says employees are "just getting on with" their work despite the share price slide.