Dubai Lynx, MENA’s Festival and Awards for creative excellence in branded communications, has announced Khaled AlShehhi as Advertising Person of the Year, Outstanding Contribution. One of the Festival’s most prestigious awards, it celebrates an individual who has made a significant contribution to MENA’s advertising in the previous year.
Speaking about the Award, Philip Thomas, Chairman, LIONS and Dubai Lynx, said, “The Advertising Person of the Year, Outstanding Contribution Award recognises an individual who has made a significant contribution to MENA’s advertising industry. Khaled has shown significant commitment to transforming the communications industry in the UAE and using creativity to drive progress across the MENA region. We’re delighted to honour him with this Award.”
Khaled AlShehhi is a transformational marketing leader who’s reshaping government communications, strengthening the UAE’s reputation as an incubator for pioneering developmental, humanitarian, cultural and knowledge projects. He has changed the way the UAE Government communicates, producing innovative and creative content that has positively impacted the lives of millions locally, regionally, and globally. His unique approach to creativity has made Khaled an important and inspiring speaker around the world; sharing the story of how governments’ creativity can be turned on.
His creative strategies have resulted in the UAE Government Media Office being awarded over 200 awards at some of the most prestigious creative and marketing shows around the world, including Cannes Lions, Dubai Lynx and WARC. Accolades include: the UAE Government Media Office achieving an unprecedented dual honour, Brand and Agency of the Year Globally in the 2022 AME Report, by the New York Festival’s AME Award, recognized as the most outstanding single client performance worldwide in 2022 at the Cresta Awards, ranked the no.2 brand across Africa and the Middle East in the Loeries Official Ranking for 2021 and 2022 and ranked the no.4 Agency of the Year in the 2022 Communicate Agency of the Year Ranking.
Khaled has earned leadership roles at the Global CMO Growth Council established by Cannes Lions and the ANA, New York Festival AME Advisory Council, Brand Advisory Board (BAB) for The World Media Group, Strategy Board Member in the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) and Executive Board Member in The Public Relations and Communications Association. Khaled was the winner of the World Media Award (WMA) for Content Leadership & Innovation for 2022 and the Honorary Award of the 2022 Effie MENA. He has also been featured in the Arabian Business’ 2021 Power List of individuals who are shaping the future of the Middle East.
On learning of the award, Khaled AlShehhi, executive director of marketing and communication at UAE Government Media Office, commented, “Looking at the impressive pedigree of previous recipients, joining the exclusive club of Advertising Person of the Year at Dubai Lynx is an immense and amazing honour. In the marketing roles I have held in the last few years, I have been driven by the desire to innovate and achieve the best results possible for our humanitarian or nation-building campaigns. All I wanted was to serve my country to the best of my abilities and being awarded this title for me is the validation that I have met this ambition. This is the recognition of a lot of hard work by my team and the industry partners who inspire and support us, bound as we are by the same mission and dream. I not only thank them all but also dedicate this trophy to them as well. Advertising is the fruit of collaboration.”
