RIYADH, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – August 11, 2026: The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) is proud to announce the eighth edition of its annual KSA Leadership Majlis, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, in Riyadh. Centred around the theme "From Vision to Impact: How Strategic Communication is Shaping Saudi Arabia's Transformation," the event is set to bring together over 100 senior communications professionals, government leaders, and industry experts to explore the evolving role of the profession in the Kingdom.

Serving as the Strategic Partner & Headline Sponsor, GASCO Holding, the leading company in the LPG sector and a core pillar of the energy ecosystem in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stands as a primary highlight for this year's Majlis. To commemorate this significant collaboration, a formal signing ceremony was conducted on Monday, 20 July 2026. This alliance underscores a mutual dedication by both MEPRA and GASCO Holding to enhance the communications profession, cultivate future talent, and champion the Kingdom's ongoing transformation through sophisticated strategic communication.

The 2026 Majlis will examine how communication has transitioned from a tactical support function into a strategic leadership discipline essential for national transformation under Vision 2030. The program will explore how impactful communication shapes Saudi Arabia's global positioning and reputation while strengthening organizations through effective internal communication and resilience. Furthermore, sessions will address the integration of emerging technologies like AI—emphasizing the balance between innovation and maintaining trust—and the vital role of supporting youth development to empower the next generation of communications professionals.

Justin Kerr-Stevens, Chairman of MEPRA, stated: “Saudi Arabia continues to set the pace for innovation and transformation across the region, and communications professionals have a critical role to play in helping organizations build trust, navigate change, and create lasting impact. The KSA Leadership Majlis reflects MEPRA’s commitment to bringing together the brightest minds in our profession to exchange ideas, share practical insights, and collectively shape the future of strategic communication across the Middle East.”

Meanwhile, Monther Tayeb, Vice Chairman of MEPRA and Chair of the KSA Leadership Majlis Committee, said: “Strategic communication has become one of the key enablers of Saudi Vision 2030. It is no longer simply about delivering messages but about shaping informed decisions, building trust, strengthening reputation, and creating lasting impact. The KSA Leadership Majlis brings together senior leaders and industry experts to exchange knowledge, showcase best practices, and empower the next generation of communications professionals, further advancing the profession across the Kingdom and the wider region.”

A featured presentation will include the CARMA Saudi Reputation Report 2026, offering the latest data-driven insights into the Kingdom's evolving global standing and stakeholder perceptions.

The event will also feature the MEPRA Fellowship presentation, the association's highest honor for individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the regional PR industry.

A prestigious group of partners supports the 2026 Majlis:

●      Strategic Partner & Headline Sponsor: GASCO Holding

●      Gold Insights Partner: CARMA

●      Gold Partner: Influential Communication

●      Official Airline Carrier: flynas

●      Supporting Partners: Jummar PR and A2Z Media Group

About the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA):

The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) is the leading industry body for public relations and communication professionals in the Middle East with over 1,400 members. MEPRA strives to promote excellence in public relations and communication by providing a platform for knowledge sharing, professional development, and industry advocacy. With a growing membership of agencies, corporations, and individuals, MEPRA is committed to raising standards and building a thriving communication community in the region.

For more information, visit www.mepra.org

Contact: Dalya Mohamed - dalya@mepra.org

Senior leaders from government, business, media, and communications will convene in Doha on 10 September to examine how trust, resilience, and influence are being reshaped across the Middle East.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates // Doha, Qatar – 10 August 2026 The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) will host the 2026 MEPRA Qatar Leadership Majlis on 10 September at W Doha, bringing together senior leaders to explore the changing nature of influence and what it means for organisations across the region.

Held under the theme “The New Architecture of Influence,” the Leadership Majlis will examine how regional conflict, geopolitical realignment, economic uncertainty, rapid advances in artificial intelligence, and changing media habits are transforming the way information is created, shared, and trusted.

The event will feature a mix of discussions and panel conversations designed to surface what works, what does not, and what is changing across the regional communications landscape.

Building on feedback from last year’s Majlis, the 2026 edition will place a stronger emphasis on practical application and lived experience. Sessions will explore how communications teams are using AI tools to plan, execute, and report on events; how event-led strategies differ across B2B, B2C, and B2G contexts; and how organisations are measuring impact beyond attendance and media coverage.

Justin Kerr-Stevens, MEPRA Chair, said: “The role of communications has changed. It's no longer just about controlling the message. Increasingly, our role is to help organisations make better decisions, build trust before they need it and navigate periods of uncertainty with confidence. That's what this year's Qatar Leadership Majlis is about. We'll bring together leaders from across government, business, media and communications to share practical experience, challenge conventional thinking and explore what the new architecture of influence means for organisations operating in today's Middle East. If attendees leave with one new idea they can take back into their organisation the very next day, we'll have achieved our goal.”

As with previous editions, the MEPRA Qatar Leadership Majlis will serve as an open forum for candid discussion, peer learning, and practical insight. The event will give participants an opportunity to share experiences, challenge established approaches, and consider the capabilities communications teams need to remain trusted, resilient, and influential.

The Majlis is aimed at senior professionals from government, business, media, and communications, as well as leaders responsible for reputation, stakeholder engagement, corporate affairs, and organisational strategy.

For more information and to register, click here.

- H.E. Hend Al Otaiba, Founder & CEO of HAO Strategies, former UAE Ambassador to France, MEPRA Fellow, and Senior Leader in Strategic Communications and Global Affairs, served as Guest of Honour and delivered the opening keynote 
- MEPRA Fellowship awarded to Kate Midttun, Founder & CEO of Acorn Strategy and MEPRA Strategy Board Member, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the communications industry in the Middle East 
- The forum brought together over 120 senior communications leaders and influential industry voices to explore Emerging Stronger: Shaping What Comes Next 
 

United Arab Emirates, 30 June 2026: The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) held the 11th edition of its flagship annual event, the UAE Leadership Majlis, at Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas, Abu Dhabi. The forum brought together over 120 senior communications leaders, practitioners and industry voices to explore the theme ‘Emerging Stronger: Shaping What Comes Next’ - a theme that resonated strongly as communicators across the region navigate an increasingly complex global environment. 

Her Excellency Hend Al Otaiba, Founder & CEO of HAO Strategies, former UAE Ambassador to France, MEPRA Fellow and Senior Leader in Strategic Communications and Global Affairs, served as Guest of Honour and delivered the opening keynote address. 

Drawing on her extensive diplomatic and communications career, H.E. Al Otaiba set the tone for the day's discussions, speaking to the communications profession's role in shaping trust, credibility and the UAE's next chapter. 

The forum also marked the presentation of this year's MEPRA Fellowship, awarded to Kate Midttun, Founder & CEO of Acorn Strategy and MEPRA Strategy Board Member and former Chair of the organisation. The Fellowship recognises an individual's outstanding contributions to the communications industry in the Middle East, and Midttun's recognition reflects her sustained impact across the profession and her commitment to vital industry issues, including mental wellbeing.

Mazar Masud, MEPRA Executive Board Member and Chair of the UAE Leadership Majlis Committee, and Senior VP of Corporate Affairs at M42, said: “At a defining moment for our region, the UAE continues to demonstrate that resilience is built not only through bold decisions, but through trust, clarity and purposeful leadership. Communications has a critical role to play on that journey. We are no longer simply telling stories; we are helping to shape understanding, inspire confidence and enable progress. That was the spirit behind this year's UAE Leadership Majlis. Bringing together leaders from government, business and the communications profession, we explored how our industry can help write the UAE's next chapter on the global stage. The conversations reinforced that communications has earned its place as a strategic leadership function, helping organisations and nations navigate complexity while building the trust that underpins long-term success." 

The MEPRA UAE Leadership Majlis featured a packed roster of senior voices spanning agency, industry, and government. Across keynote sessions, panel discussions, and roundtables, speakers included Mazen Nahawi, MEPRA Fellow and Executive Board Member and Founder & Group CEO of CARMA; Umayma Abubakar, Deputy Chief Communications Officer at Mubadala, who represented one of the UAE's most strategically significant sovereign wealth funds in discussions on communications resilience; Faheem Ahamed, Group Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at G42; Kelly Kolker, Director of Communications, MEA and Central Asia at McKinsey & Company; and Ziad Hasbani, MEPRA Fellow and Regional CEO of Weber Shandwick MENAT. 

Justin Kerr-Stevens, MEPRA Chairman and CEO of Northbourne Advisory, said: "The Majlis was a testament to the quality and ambition of the communications profession in this region. Having H.E. Hend Al Otaiba open proceedings set exactly the right tone, and seeing Kate Midttun receive the MEPRA Fellowship was a proud moment for everyone in the room. The conversations throughout the day reflected both the challenges and the real opportunity in front of us. We left with stronger connections, sharper thinking, and renewed energy for what comes next." 

Across the day's sessions, a clear signal emerged: communications is no longer simply a function that responds to change - it is one that helps shape it. From sovereign wealth and technology to global consulting and agency leadership, the perspectives in the room pointed towards a profession reinforcing its strategic role, with greater responsibility for how organisations and institutions navigate what comes next for the UAE and the wider region. 

The Majlis featured keynote insights, panel discussions and roundtable sessions designed to foster collaboration and deliver practical guidance on the issues shaping the profession, from navigating geopolitical uncertainty to building organisational resilience and defining the next chapter of communications in and for the Middle East. 

The 2026 UAE Leadership Majlis was supported by gold partners Mubadala and CARMA; silver partner G42; bronze partner Telum Media; and supporting partners Weber Shandwick MENAT, North Seventy Five, First & Ten Productions, and Tales & Heads. 
 

For more information, visit www.mepra.org

Now in its 11th edition, the UAE Leadership Majlis will bring together senior communications leaders and industry professionals from across the region for a focused and forward-looking conversation on how the UAE is emerging stronger amid ongoing global and regional shifts, and the role of communications in shaping what comes next. 

Held under the theme “Emerging Stronger: Shaping What Comes Next,” this year’s Majlis will provide a platform for meaningful dialogue, practical insights, and peer exchange at a time when clarity, confidence and collaboration are more important than ever. 

The programme will feature a curated mix of keynote data-led insights, sector-led presentations, panel discussions and interactive roundtables. Discussions will explore how organisations are navigating change, maintaining stakeholder trust and strengthening resilience across industries, while identifying the strategic communications priorities that will define the next phase of growth. 

The Majlis will also feature a leadership panel on communicating resilience and future priorities, as well as a dedicated session on internal communications, focusing on how organisations are attracting, engaging and retaining talent in an evolving workplace. 

The event will conclude with an interactive roundtable discussion, where participants will identify practical actions and shared commitments, reinforcing the Majlis’ focus on outcomes that extend beyond the room. 

Justin Kerr-Stevens, Chairman of MEPRA, commented: 

“At a time when our region continues to navigate rapid transformation, the role of communications has never been more critical. The UAE Leadership Majlis brings together the leaders shaping our industry to exchange perspectives, share practical insights, and collectively define what comes next. This year’s theme reflects not only resilience, but the opportunity to move forward with clarity, purpose and impact.” 

The 2026 UAE Leadership Majlis is supported by CARMA as Gold Insights Partner, with First & Ten Productions as Supporting Partner.

Open to communications professionals across corporate, government and agency sectors, the UAE Leadership Majlis continues to serve as a key platform for industry dialogue in the UAE. 

For more information and to register, visit www.mepra.org. 
 

The MEPRA Awards, widely recognised as the regional standard for exceptional achievement in public relations and communications, will mark this special milestone with a grand celebration in Dubai on 26 November 2026. The prestigious event is anticipated to draw over 600 attendees, including leading industry figures, agencies, in-house teams, and partners. 

To further enhance the prestige, credibility, and quality of submissions across all categories, the 2026 Awards feature several key improvements: 

● Rigorously Structured Judging: Over 100 senior industry professionals from the region will serve on the diverse jury. An independent adjudicator(s) will oversee the process to review any inconsistencies and guarantee fairness.. 
● Refined Evaluation Framework: Updated criteria and a refined evaluation framework will encourage more strategic, impactful, and results-focused entries. Judges will apply a more structured scoring approach, consistent with the new standards. 
● New Trophy Design: As part of the 25-year celebration, a new Awards trophy design, symbolising the evolution of the Awards and the future of regional communications. 

Justin Kerr-Stevens, Chairman of MEPRA, commented, “The MEPRA Awards have spotlighted the individuals, teams, and campaigns shaping the Middle East's communications landscape. Celebrating our 25-year milestone, we are proud to introduce enhancements that significantly strengthen the integrity, transparency, and prestige of the Awards. These changes reflect both the distance our industry has travelled and our ambitious outlook for its future.” 

Entries are open to students, freelancers, in-house teams, and agencies throughout the region. Submissions will be evaluated across a comprehensive range of categories, covering sectors, campaigns, and individual professional excellence. 

MEPRA extends its gratitude to its esteemed partners for their continued support, including Diamond Partner Memac Ogilvy, Gold Partner Weber Shandwick, Silver Partner BayerMiddle East, Category Partner Telum Media (for Best Use of Media Relations – B2B), and supporting partners First & Ten Productions, Burson, and Matrix Public Relations. 

Further details regarding categories, entry guidelines, and deadlines are available at www.mepra.org/awards

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday 03 February

The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) has today announced a new leadership team from throughout the region, marking a significant shift in the growth of MEPRA.  Qatar’s Justin Kerr Stevens has been appointed Chair, alongside Neda Shelton and Monther Tayeb appointed as Vice Chairs.

The appointments come as MEPRA marks its 25th anniversary, a milestone year for the region’s leading professional body for public relations and communications. Alongside Kerr-Stevens, who is the first Chair appointed from outside the United Arab Emirates, Monther Tayeb becomes the first Vice Chair appointed from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reflecting the association’s growing regional breadth and focus on expanding its membership across the region.

In addition, two further appointments have been made to the MEPRA Executive Board, with Rishi Talwalker, Head of Communications, Havas Red and Ghaleb Zeidan, Regional Managing Director UAE, Culture, L&D, and Partnership Weber Shandwick joining the board. 

Justin Kerr-Stevens succeeds Kate Midttun, who steps down following a period of leadership focused on strengthening governance, professional standards and the long-term sustainability of the association.

With nearly three decades of experience spanning government, consultancy and agency leadership, Kerr-Stevens brings a cross-market perspective shaped by senior advisory roles across Australia, the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Central Asia. He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Northbourne Advisory, a Doha-based strategic advisory firm, and previously served as CEO of BLJ Worldwide, and Partner and Middle East General Manager at Portland Communications.

Commenting on his appointment, Kerr-Stevens said:

“As MEPRA marks 25 years, it is worth recognising the role professional bodies play in shaping not just an industry, but the people within it. Throughout my own career, organisations like MEPRA have provided perspective, standards and a sense of belonging, from the earliest career stages through to senior leadership.

I am honoured to take on the leadership of MEPRA, and looking ahead, my priority is that MEPRA continues to be a place where experience is respected, new voices are encouraged, and practitioners at every point in their career feel connected to the profession. Remaining relevant to senior leaders while being meaningful to those just starting out is our core responsibility, and central to MEPRA’s purpose as it enters its next chapter.”

Outgoing Chair Kate Midttun said:

“It has been a privilege to serve MEPRA during a period of change for the industry. The incoming leadership team brings a strong mix of experience, energy and perspective. I am confident they will continue to strengthen MEPRA’s role as a trusted voice for the profession.”

The new leadership team assumes office at a time of significant change across the Middle East communications sector, including consolidation among global networks, rapid adoption of AI-enabled tools, and increasing demand for strategic counsel, ethics and professional judgement.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – January 15, 2026 – This year, the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) is marking its 25th anniversary, recognizing a quarter century of advancing professional practice, industry alignment, and leadership in communications across the region. 

Founded in 2001 by a small group of senior agency leaders, MEPRA emerged at a time when public relations in the Middle East lacked a consistent definition and formal recognition. What began as an informal gathering of agency heads to discuss shared industry challenges evolved into a structured association dedicated to strengthening standards, capability, and credibility for communications practitioners in the region. 

As part of its Silver Jubilee program, MEPRA is highlighting the association’s founding story through the perspective of one of its original members, Jack Pearce, Founder of Matrix Public Relations and former Chair of MEPRA. 

Pearce recalls how a small gathering of agency leaders, originally brought together to discuss shared industry challenges, led to the idea of forming a professional association for public relations in the region. 

“I suggested we form an association to promote PR generally, with the possibility that at some stage in the future we could get our definition of PR included in the list of categories of consultancies of the various Economic Departments of the GCC states,” said Pearce. 

He also reflects on the early leadership decisions made at the association’s inception. “Once the idea for MEPRA took shape, it was raised that, as we were based in the Arab world, the Chair should be Arab. I agreed immediately, and that is how Sadri Barrage stepped into the role,” said Pearce. 

“MEPRA’s 25th anniversary is an opportunity to acknowledge our shared legacy, pay tribute to those who laid the foundation, and look forward with confidence and ambition to the future of our profession,” said Dalya Mohamed, General Manager of MEPRA. “Our celebrations will build up to special recognitions at our flagship Awards and key events. We invite our members and industry peers to join us in celebrating this milestone throughout the year.” 

The Silver Jubilee celebrations will run throughout 2026 and culminate in recognitions aligned with MEPRA’s flagship Awards and key industry events. The anniversary program is designed to honor the association’s founding contributors while reinforcing its ongoing role in advancing professional standards and leadership in communications across the Middle East.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - November 29, 2024: Honoring the standout achievements in PR and communications over the past year; the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) hosted its 16th award edition on November 28, 2024. Attended by over 550 guests, the event gathered 62 top agencies and professionals to contend for esteemed titles across 53 competitive categories, celebrating excellence and transformative impact in the industry. Showcasing the finest achievements in the industry, the MEPRA Awards 2024 celebrated groundbreaking campaigns, agencies, and professionals who redefined excellence through innovation. With over 770 entries judged by an esteemed panel of 130 industry veterans, the awards spotlighted communication campaigns that excelled in concept, strategy, and impact.

 
Agencies that outshined the evening for scooping maximum awards had Memac Ogilvy winning 27 titles, Gambit Communications clinching 22 titles and Weber Shandwick  securing the third position with 16 awards. The agencies showcased thoughtfully curated campaigns, strategic techniques, and innovative solutions meeting evolving industry needs. The prestigious Chairman’s Award was conferred upon Mr. Jamal Al Mawed (Founder & Managing Director, Gambit Communications) while the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi was pronounced the In-House Team of the Year. 

The sector category highlighted the finest of PR and communications success glorifying Dubai Holding’s Gift It Forward Ramadan Campaign 2024 as the Best Business to Business Campaign; while Snap Inc and Weber Shandwick MENAT’s TASAWAR-Taking the Runway won both, Best Fashion Campaign and Best Technology Campaign. Burson took home gold in Best Government Communications and Public Affairs for I Care and Memac Ogilvy and Qatar Foundation co-owned the gold for Best Education Campaign. 

The services category of MEPRA Awards 2024 honored ingenuity and commitment to excellence spotlighting Matrix PR and Acronis for Best Crisis Communication, Gambit Communications and City Centre Mirdif for Best Retail Campaign, and; Weber Shandwick MENAT and Careem Kuwait for Best Consumer Services Campaign. Harnessing the power of digital media, Current Global MENAT and MullenLowe clinched gold for Best Use of Social Media. The winners showcased unmatched resilience in a rapidly evolving communications landscape where expertise demanded adaptability and innovative strategies. 
 

Complimenting the winners, Kate Midttun, Chairperson of MEPRA said; “We have some amazing trailblazers, leaders as well as rising stars of the PR industry tonight as we continue to applaud the efforts channeled towards recognition. Not a single win has been smooth sailing for any of us as agencies continue to strike a winning balance between tighter budgets, deadlines, and client expectations. The emphasis on creative storytelling through owned content and strategic maneuvering of AI and technology to reach newer audiences shows that the Middle East’s PR industry shall continue to reign supreme when it comes to embracing innovation.” 

Other notable wins were Current Global MENAT and FP7 for Best Integrated Campaign and Best Use of Media Relations, Brazen MENA for Best Use of Limited Budget, and CYLKA CSR for Best ESG Campaign. 

The highlights of the evening were the Large Agency of the Year bagged by Memac Ogilvy followed by Gambit Communications and Matrix Public Relations for Medium Agency of the Year and Small Agency of the Year, respectively. Gambit Communications was crowned as the Homegrown Agency of the Year for a third time, having won this highly coveted award in 2021 and 2022.

Iman Isa of Burson was named the Best Communicator of the Year while Rebecca Rego from Edelman won the Young Communicator of the Year award. Providing a competitive platform to the new generation of PR practitioners, the audience cheered Astha Kurup, Arvy Moga, and Jared Rallos of Murdoch University Dubai for bagging gold in Outstanding Student Campaign. 

Weber Shandwick collaborated as Diamond Partner for the third consecutive year with MSL Group Middle East, Action Global Communications, and Memac Ogilvy as Platinum Partners. Supporting partners included CARMA, Edelman, Mubadala, TECOM Group Dubai, SEC Newgate Middle East, TrailRunner International, Burson, AMEC Measurement and 
Evaluation, Place Communications, LPME Studios, Matrix PR, and First and Ten Productions.

The annual event witnesses the participation of more than 150 public relations and communications leaders from the region and the world. 

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – November 07, 2023: The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) has concluded its annual Leadership Majlis event in Riyadh, stressing the importance of the Saudi perspective in the PR and communications industry and highlighting a positive change in the global media coverage about KSA as a result of communications efforts 
regarding Vision 2030. 

Over 150 attendees of public relations and communications leaders in the region and the world participated in the event, where they discussed the industry’s most pressing topics and best practices in the age of digital disruption and artificial intelligence, as well as the findings of the third edition of MEPRA annual media perception report about the Kingdom. 

“With a 16% increase in global mainstream media coverage of Saudi Arabia and a shifting focus towards themes like Saudi economy and its investment in sports, the Kingdom’s concerted communications efforts around Vision 2030 have yielded results,” said Mazen Nahawi, MEPRA Executive Board Member and CEO of CARMA & SOCIALEYEZ who presented the report. 

“Positive coverage about KSA has grown 4%, and negative news was reduced by 12%, indicative of the success of the Kingdom’s narrative, especially about the Quality-of-Life Program, which grew 33% in positive media coverage,” he added. In his keynote speech, Mohammed Abaalkheil, Vice President of Corporate Relations at STC Group, stressed the importance of Saudi storytellers and their perspective on the changes in the Kingdom. “Managing the disruption needs the support of global agencies, but the participation of Saudi 
communicators is pivotal to success,” he said. 

For his part, Abdulrahman AlTrairi, Official Spokesperson and Chief of Communications & PR for the Royal Commission for AlUla, offered his perspective on the importance of listening and engagement in practicing communications. 

He highlighted the vibrant work done by the Royal Commission of AlUla in engaging the community of date farmers in AlUla, which led to the eventual success of AlUla Dates. 
“Building human capital who can navigate disruption” was on the agenda of a discussion panel that delved into the importance of disruption in finding, keeping, and developing talent, which is the most pressing challenge faced by the communications sector in the region. 

Kate Midttun, MEPRA Chairperson, concluded the event by presiding over the offering of MEPRA Fellowship Awards to Heba Fatani, MEPRA Strategy Board Member and Director 
General, RAK Government Media Office, Khaled Tash, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Saudi Airlines and Kenana Dahlan, Senior Advisor, Saudi Government. The awards represent the highest membership level awarded by the MEPRA Board for exceptional contributions to the PR industry in the Middle East.

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – October 10, 2024: The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) KSA Leadership Majlis stressed on the conclusion of its annual meeting in Riyadh that the Saudi youth are showing impressive ability to drive the change guided by Vision 2030, and are setting an example for the world in merging cultural merit and modern technology as the way forward for excellence in the communication industry. 

Under the theme “Creative Communications in Saudi Arabia: Inspiring Innovation and Engagement”, the esteemed KSA Majlis event gathered local and international public relations and communications leaders to discuss the importance of creativity in empowering the youth of Saudi Arabia and preparing them for future challenges in the communications industry, proposing ways to inspire and train young Saudis in these fields. 

Kate Midttun, Chairperson and Founder of MEPRA, commended the communication industry’s adaptability in the face of rapid technological advancements. She emphasized the importance of authentic storytelling as a cornerstone of the industry, fostering creativity, inspiring youth, and celebrating Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage. 

“Delivering impactful storytelling requires a harmonious blend of cultural authenticity and innovative technology, which Saudi Arabia is already demonstrating,” Midttun stated. “Our youth are at the forefront of this transformation, not only embracing change but also driving it. They are poised to share our stories globally, utilizing both traditional and technological methods,” She stressed.   

She further highlighted the role of strategic initiatives like Vision 2030 in empowering Saudi Arabia’s youth to not only adapt to modernization but also integrate their nation’s rich cultural history into its progress.

The KSA Leadership Majlis boasted a rich agenda with several sessions and panel discussions on the importance of creativity in empowering and engaging the youth of Saudi Arabia and preparing them for future challenges in the communications industry, as well as cultural integration: blending tradition with modern and creative communication in Saudi Arabia.

The KSA Leadership Majlis featured a distinguished lineup of partners, including Strategic Partner Almarai and Platinum Partner CARMA, a leading media monitoring and data analytics company, that presented its latest report, "The 2024 Kingdom Reputation Report," unveiling key insights into Saudi Arabia's public perception and reputation on the global stage. 

Joining the event as Supporting Partners were Jummar PR and Communications, SEC Newgate ME, Influential Communication, and A2Z Media. These notable organizations took advantage of their expertise and experience to contributing to the rich discussions and networking opportunities during the event.    

Beyond the insightful discussions, the Leadership Majlis hosted the announcement of the prestigious MEPRA Fellowship Awards that recognize exceptional contributions to the PR industry in the Middle East and celebrate the achievements of outstanding individuals.   

Contributed by

MEPRA

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – July 31st, 2024: The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) is delighted to announce the annual "MEPRA KSA Leadership Majlis," scheduled for Tuesday, 1st October 2024, in Riyadh. This Majlis will gather local and international public relations and communications leaders to discuss the future of creative communications in Saudi Arabia, focusing on "Inspiring Innovation and Engagement."

The Majlis will feature several panel discussions and keynote speeches, with a focus on embracing change, fostering creativity, engaging youth, and integrating cultural heritage into modern communication strategies to lead impactful and relevant campaigns.

"We are thrilled to bring the MEPRA Leadership Majlis to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a region rich with innovation and boundless creativity. This year's theme, 'Creative Communications, Inspiring Innovation and Engagement,' reflects our commitment to empowering PR professionals to harness the power of storytelling and cutting-edge strategies,” said Kate Midttun, MEPRA Chairperson. “By fostering a culture of creativity and inspiring meaningful engagement, we aim to drive forward the future of communications in the Middle East, setting new benchmarks for excellence and impact," she added.

There will be a discussion on the importance of creativity in empowering the youth of Saudi Arabia and preparing them for future challenges in the communications industry. It will propose ways to inspire and train young Saudis in these fields.

The Majlis will also feature a panel discussion on cultural integration: blending tradition with modern and creative communication in Saudi Arabia. This session will focus on the importance of harmoniously blending traditional Saudi cultural elements with contemporary communication strategies. It will explore how leveraging cultural heritage can enhance creative campaigns and create a deeper connection with the audience.

CARMA returns as the Platinum partner and is set to present the findings of their latest “Kingdom Reputation Report.” As a leader in media intelligence and data analytics, CARMA’s insights and expertise will significantly enhance the KSA Leadership Majlis. Supporting partners include SEC Newgate Middle East and Jummar Public Relations.

The Majlis sessions will conclude with the announcement of the MEPRA Fellowship Awards, celebrating the highest membership level awarded by the MEPRA Board for exceptional contributions to the PR industry in the Middle East.

About the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA):
MEPRA is the leading industry body for the public relations and communications industry in the Middle East, with over 1,000 members. Founded in 2001, MEPRA drives growth, sets standards of excellence, and fosters a strong, connected community of PR professionals.

For more information visit www.mepra.org 
Contact: Dalya Mohamed - dalya@mepra.org

10 June 2024, Dubai, UAE – The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) is pleased to announce the opening of entries for the 16th Annual MEPRA Awards. As the premier event for the communications industry in the Middle East, the MEPRA Awards honour outstanding campaigns and professionals whose work has made a significant impact across the region.

Open to public relations and communications agencies, in-house teams, and individuals throughout the Middle East, the MEPRA Awards recognise exceptional and innovative campaigns across a diverse range of categories. This year, MEPRA has introduced 11 new categories, including Best Use of Artificial Intelligence, Best Use of Arabic Language Campaign, Best ESG Campaign, Best Education Campaign, and Best Communicator of the Year, to further highlight excellence in various aspects of communication.

"Effective communication has the power to shape perceptions, influence behaviour, and drive positive change in our communities," said Kate Midttun, MEPRA Chairperson. “The MEPRA Awards celebrate those who excel in this vital field, showcasing the creativity, dedication, and impact of PR professionals across the Middle East. These awards not only recognise outstanding achievements but also set new benchmarks and underscore the essential role that communications play in making a meaningful difference.”

Weber Shandwick MENAT returns as the Diamond Partner for the third consecutive year, reaffirming their steadfast support for the MEPRA Awards and demonstrating their ongoing dedication to advancing the industry.  “The Middle East region is still confidently growing business-wise, and at the same time reaffirming that it is an epicentre where bold ideas, creative insights, and great work are being generated and executed. The ability for regional communicators to share their work by entering the MEPRA Awards, adds great value not only to proud campaign contributors, but also develops a deeper understanding and recognition of our wider industry. That’s why we’re always proud to support this special industry programme,” said Ziad Hasbani, Regional CEO of Weber Shandwick MENAT.

The deadline for entries is set for 5th September. A distinguished panel of judges composed of leading industry professionals will thoroughly evaluate the submissions along with an adjudication panel to ensure the utmost transparency and fairness in the judging process. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Dubai on Thursday, 28th November 2024, featuring a special gala event where the winners will be unveiled and celebrated for their exceptional work.

Further enriching the event's prestige and prominence, MSL Group Middle East and Action Global Communications join as Platinum Partners, reflecting their commitment to fostering excellence within the industry and recognising outstanding achievements in communications. Supporting partners include CARMA, Mubadala, and Place Communications.


CLICK HERE FOR GUIDELINES AND JUDGING
For more information and categories, download the 2024 MEPRA Awards Entry Kit HERE!

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT ENTRIES

2^nd June 24, Abu Dhabi, UAE - The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) successfully hosted its 9th edition of the UAE Leadership Majlis. The prestigious event gathered more than 100 industry leaders, under the theme "The Potential and Dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI)" at the New York University Abu Dhabi, The Arts Centre, Abu Dhabi. The event also saw the launch of the MEPRA AI Guidelines; Developed by MEPRA’s AI Committee the guidelines aim to provide a framework for using AI for communications professionals in the Middle East. The guidelines are intended to be used alongside direction, policies and references to help inform ethical and legal use of the technology in our working lives.

The Leadership Majlis explored the multidimensional aspects of AI, where it hosted experts from across the industry that brought insight through the diversity of their expertise and knowledge. The Majlis provided the optimum platform to explore opportunities and solutions for the communications industry in supporting the ever evolving incorporation of AI in daily practices in the communications industry and beyond.

 “At G42, we are deeply committed to shaping the future of AI, ensuring it acts as a catalyst for positive change. MEPRA's event allowed us to have productive conversations about the opportunities and challenges brought forth by AI for communications and marketing professionals. AI is not just enhancing storytelling, streamlining processes and supporting creativity; it's redefining our thinking patterns, consumer behaviour and the way we communicate with one another. Our dedication to advancing these technologies responsibly underscores our mission, as we continue to innovate with a strong emphasis on ethical practices and societal well-being in collaboration with industry associations,” commented Faheem Ahamed, Group Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at G42.

Huda Buhumaid, Chief Impact Officer, Dubai Holding, and Jonty Summers, Managing Director, Hanover Middle East were honoured with the MEPRA Fellowship award for their outstanding contributions to the communications industry.

"As this year's MEPRA Majlis concludes, we are pleased that this year's theme 'The Potential and Dangers of Artificial Intelligence' produced profound discussions and insights that have emerged from our exploration of the event. It has not only served as a platform for thought leadership but also as a catalyst for actionable strategies within the communications industry. The engagement and enthusiasm from our community have been truly inspiring! Together, we have taken a significant step forward in understanding how AI can be harnessed responsibly to enhance our work and the businesses we support. MEPRA remains committed to leading these essential conversations, ensuring our members are at the cutting edge of communication trends and technologies." highlighted Kate Midttun, MEPRA Chairperson and Founder/CEO, Acorn Strategy."

The MEPRA UAE Leadership Majlis 2024 partners included  CARMA, Mubadala, and APCO.

Click here to view Artificial Intelligence (AI) Guidelines.

Click here to view the 2024 MEPRA Leadership Majlis UAE photos.

Join us for the Annual UAE Leadership Majlis on Thursday, 30th May 2024, Abu Dhabi, hosted by MEPRA. This year's theme, "The Potential and Dangers of Artificial Intelligence," will bring together industry leaders, experts, and professionals to explore the multifaceted aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

As AI continues to shape the future landscape of industries and economies globally, our Majlis aims to delve into its transformative potential, associated challenges, and ethical considerations. Expect a comprehensive platform for discussions and insights, alongside networking opportunities with peers and leading experts in AI and Communications.

A huge thank you to our platinum partner G42,
and supporting partners, CARMA, and First and Ten Productions.

Stay tuned for updates on the agenda and speakers.

Register and secure your seat now.

Dubai, UAE -: The 15 th edition of the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) Awards took centre stage on November 23 rd at the Atlantis, The Palm, marking a historic moment with the largest ever judging panel. The event, attended by over 500 guests and 87 organisations, transformed into a red-carpet spectacle for Middle East-based agencies and professionals across 47 award categories. 

In celebration of the best public relations strategies and campaigns, the awards ceremony spotlighted outstanding performance in the industry throughout 2023. From impactful communication campaigns to outstanding organisational excellence, finalists demonstrated brilliance in concept, execution and brand building. The MEPRA Awards, now considered the benchmark of high performance in the Middle East public relations industry, has organically grown in popularity since its inception in 2008.. 

The 2023 MEPRA Awards drew 750 entries across diverse categories, recognising the best agencies, individuals, teams, campaigns, techniques, and innovative solutions meeting evolving industry demands. PR professionals seized the opportunity to showcase creativity, receiving accolades for strategies, leadership, and impact. The event featured a special address by Mr Sunil John, President of BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe) for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), highlighting the positive impact that communicators 
have on industries. 

Among the notable wins, Gambit Communications claimed Medium Agency of the Year, while Memac Ogilvy set an industry precedent for the Best Campaign Demonstrating DE&I Initiatives. Current Global, FP7 and Heinz celebrated team spirit with the Best Collaborative Campaign, and Sticky Ginger secured the Best Food and Beverages Campaign. New categories brought fierce competition, with Hill & Knowlton Strategies named Large Agency of the Year, Current Global MENAT as Small Agency of the Year and Brazen 
MENA awarded Best Homegrown Agency. 

In Sector and Services, Hill & Knowlton, TECOM Group and Emirates Red Crescent secured Best Business to Business, while Weber Shandwick MENAT and OnStar by General Motors together won Best Consumer Services Campaign. In Techniques and Services, Dubai Holding earned Best Sustainability Stakeholder 

Engagement campaign and Action Global Communications claimed Best Campaign Demonstrating Environmental Initiatives. The Best in Market category witnessed Memac Ogilvy triumph Best Campaign in the UAE while Havas Red Middle East excelled in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, winning Gold in both. 

The Chairman's Award honoured MEPRA Executive Board Member and Communications Consultant, Monther Tayeb and the Young Communicator of the Year Award celebrated industry newcomer Khyati Megchiani of Brazen MENA. 

Memac Ogilvy took home an impressive total of 20 awards, securing the highest number of titles, closely trailed by Weber Shandwick MENAT with 19 accolades, and Hill & Knowlton in close pursuit with 17 awards. 

“This year’s awards ceremony was special for more reasons than one. With four new categories and the largest-ever judging panel, it demonstrated stringent processes to select nothing but the best. We are delighted to celebrate the winners as these communication experts are driving the industry forward with innovation and passion. The PR campaigns recognized today are beyond boardroom strategies and the collaborative approach feted speaks volumes of the region’s willingness to explore newer avenues within the industry. MEPRA will continue encouraging growth in industry standards, skills, and creativity and is immensely proud to establish a platform where PR practitioners are recognised for their worthy contributions. I take this opportunity to congratulate all the finalists and winners,” said Kate Midttun, Chairperson of MEPRA. 

Nominees were evaluated by an expert panel of over 112 regional and international industry experts to select the 2023 finalists and winners. The 2023 MEPRA Awards received support from partners including Weber Shandwick as Diamond sponsor along with Carma, Edelman, Four Agency Worldwide, TrailRunner International, Place Communications, Hill & Knowlton, First and Ten Productions, Matrix Public Relations, and AMEC Measurement and Evaluation.

Contributed by

MEPRA

The annual event witnesses the participation of more than 150 public relations and communications leaders from the region and the world. 
 

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – November 9, 2023: The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) has concluded its annual Leadership Majlis event in Riyadh, stressing the importance of the Saudi perspective in the PR and communications industry and highlighting a positive change in the global media coverage about KSA as a result of communications efforts regarding Vision 2030. 
 

Over 150 attendees of public relations and communications leaders in the region and the world participated in the event, where they discussed the industry’s most pressing topics and best practices in the age of digital disruption and artificial intelligence, as well as the findings of the third edition of MEPRA annual media perception report about the Kingdom. “With a 16% increase in global mainstream media coverage of Saudi Arabia and a shifting focus towards themes like Saudi economy and its investment in sports, the Kingdom’s concerted communications efforts around Vision 2030 have yielded results,” said Mazen Nahawi, MEPRA Executive Board Member and CEO of CARMA & SOCIALEYEZ who presented the report. “Positive coverage about KSA has grown 4%, and negative news was reduced by 12%, indicative of the success of the Kingdom’s narrative, especially about the Quality-of-Life Program, which grew 33% in positive media coverage,” he added. 
 

In his keynote speech, Mohammed Abaalkheil, Vice President of Corporate Relations at STC Group, stressed the importance of Saudi storytellers and their perspective on the changes in the Kingdom. “Managing the disruption needs the support of global agencies, but the participation of Saudi communicators is pivotal to success,” he said. 

For his part, Abdulrahman AlTrairi, Official Spokesperson and Chief of Communications & PR for the Royal Commission for AlUla, offered his perspective on the importance of listening and engagement in practicing communications. He highlighted the vibrant work done by the Royal Commission of AlUla in engaging the community of date farmers in AlUla, which led to the eventual success of AlUla Dates. “Building human capital who can navigate disruption” was on the agenda of a discussion panel that delved into the importance of disruption in finding, keeping, and developing talent, which is the most pressing challenge faced by the communications sector in the region. 

Kate Midttun, MEPRA Chairperson, concluded the event by presiding over the offering of MEPRA Fellowship Awards to Heba Fatani, MEPRA Strategy Board Member and Director 
General, RAK Government Media Office, Khaled Tash, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Saudi Airlines and Kenana Dahlan, Senior Advisor, Saudi Government. The awards represent the highest membership level awarded by the MEPRA Board for exceptional contributions to the PR industry in the Middle East.

Contributed by

MEPRA

Riyadh, KSA – August 3,2023: The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) is proud to announce the highly anticipated Fourth Annual KSA Leadership Majlis, which will take place on 12 October in Riyadh, KSA. This prestigious event will bring together local and international industry leaders, experts, and professionals to delve into the theme "Exploring the Future of Communications in the Kingdom: Innovations, AI, and Youth Development." 
 

This year participants of the KSA Leadership Majlis will explore the latest trends in communications, including innovations and artificial intelligence. Distinguished speakers and thought leaders will also highlight the crucial role of youth development in shaping the industry's future, fostering growth and innovation. 
 

The KSA Leadership Majlis will provide attendees with networking opportunities and the chance to learn from leading experts in the field of communications. The Majlis promises to leave a lasting impact on the attendees' professional journey. "We are thrilled to bring together renowned leaders in the communications industry at this year's Majlis. This is an excellent opportunity for professionals to gain new perspectives, share insights, and engage in thought provoking and meaningful discussions, while establishing connections that 
will drive the communications landscape forward," said Kate Midttun, Chairperson at MEPRA. 
 

Global media monitoring and analysis company Carma is the platinum partner, bringing its unmatched expertise in media intelligence and data analytics to further elevate the KSA Leadership Majlis. 
 

Additionally, Edelman KSA's sponsorship further enhances the event's prestige and recognition, solidifying the Majlis' position as a premier gathering in the Kingdom's communications sector. 
 

About the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA): 
MEPRA is the leading industry body for the public relations and communications industry in the Middle East, with over 1,000 members. Founded in 2001, MEPRA drives growth, sets standards of excellence, and fosters a strong, connected community of PR professionals. 

For more information visit www.mepra.org 
Contact: Dalya Mohamed - dalya@mepra.org

Dubai, UAE - June 22, 2023: The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) is pleased to announce that entries are now being accepted for the highly anticipated 15th Annual MEPRA Awards. Recognised as the premier event in the Middle East, the MEPRA Awards aims to honour and celebrate exceptional communications campaigns and 
professionals in the region. 
 

The MEPRA Awards welcomes participation from Public Relations and Communications agencies, in-house teams, and individuals across the Middle East. This esteemed platform will showcase the finest and most innovative campaigns across various categories, including Best in Market and Techniques & Services and more. To further elevate the competition, new categories such as Medium Agency of the Year, Best Campaign Demonstrating DE&I initiatives, Best F&B Campaign, and Best Collaborative Campaign have been introduced this year. 
 

Chairperson of the Middle East Public Relations Associations, Kate Midttun, expressed her enthusiasm for the MEPRA Awards, stating, "As the premier event for communications professionals in the Middle East, we take immense pride in celebrating the best and brightest talents within our industry. We are very excited to see this year's creative and impactful campaigns, and we look forward to recognising and honouring the region's top communications professionals." 
 

Weber Shandwick continues to be the Diamond Partner for the second consecutive year, reaffirming their unwavering support for the MEPRA Awards and exemplifying their ongoing commitment to advancing the industry. The agency, which has offices across the region in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait, Doha, and Riyadh, has supported the MEPRA Awards 
since its inception. 
 

The deadline for entries to the 15th MEPRA Awards is set for September 7, 2023. An esteemed panel of judges comprising leading industry professionals will carefully evaluate the submissions in September. The awards ceremony will be held in Dubai on Thursday 23 November, featuring a special gala event where the winners will be announced and applauded for their outstanding contributions. 
 

Edelman KSA joins as a sponsor, further enhancing the event's prestige and recognition. 
 

About the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA): MEPRA is the leading industry body for the public relations and communications industry in the Middle East, with over 1,000 members. Founded in 2001, MEPRA drives growth, sets standards of excellence, and fosters a strong, connected community of PR professionals. 

For more information visit www.mepra.org 
Contact: Dalya Mohamed - dalya@mepra.org

29 March. 23, Dubai, UAE - The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) successfully hosted its 8th edition of the UAE Leadership Majlis. The prestigious event gathered over 100 industry leaders at the first Net-Zero building in the region, SEE Institute Dubai, to discuss the critical role of communications in sustainability. The Majlis emphasised the tremendous opportunities and responsibilities for the communications industry in supporting sustainable practices and promoting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices across the Middle East.

Brian Lott, Chair of the Arthur W. Page Society and CCO of Mubadala, delivered a keynote speech emphasising the vital role of the Chief Communications Officer in adopting a multi-stakeholder approach that caters to the needs of all stakeholders involved.

The event brought together esteemed industry experts who shared their insights and expertise. Notable participants included Hajar Alketbi, Director of Government Communications, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, UAE; Sunil John, Founder of ASDA'A BCW and President of MENA BCW; Sal Jafar, Managing Director, ESG mena; and Ishraq Abdalla, Co-Founder and Director of Fundraising and Partnerships, Me&Youth.

The panel discussions also included Neda Shelton, SVP Group Communications, Mubadala; Tom Ashby, Head of Global Communications at the International Energy Forum; Benjamin Schroeder, Communications Leader in the Energy Industry; and Roland Buerk, SVP of Corporate Communications, Mubadala, who provided valuable perspectives on Energy Transition Communication. Dr. Jasmina Locke, CEO of SEE Institute Dubai, delivered an inspiring presentation, encouraging attendees to look  at research and science to understand and embrace sustainability in their daily lives and work.

The highlight of the Majlis was the breakout groups, where attendees actively engaged in discussions on how effective communications can influence behavioural change and foster the adoption of sustainable lifestyle habits among citizens.

Taryam Alsubaihi, Corporate Communications Consultant, and former MEPRA Chair, along with Ghaleb Zeidan, Managing Director of Weber Shandwick UAE, were honoured with the MEPRA Fellowship award for their outstanding contributions to the communications industry.

Kate Midttun, MEPRA Chair said: “The MEPRA Leadership Majlis was a huge success. Our goal was to create a platform for industry experts and communications professionals to come together and share insights and best practices in sustainability and communications. As communicators, we hold the power to amplify sustainability initiatives and make a positive difference. That’s why MEPRA is actively working on organising ESG and sustainability communications training. The level of engagement we witnessed was so inspiring, and we eagerly anticipate further discussions on this important topic."

The Majlis partners included Mubadala, SEE Institute, Tabreed, ESG mena and PepsiCo.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - November 25th, 2022: – The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) announced the finalists for this year’s MEPRA Awards - an annual gala event that recognizes and honors the brightest, bravest, and boldest campaigns and practitioners in communications. 
 

The 2022 MEPRA Awards attracted nearly 800 entries – significantly more than the year before – from regional public relations agencies and in-house communications departments, signaling the growing importance of excellence in PR. 

This year’s program was off to a remarkable start as agencies and in-house communications teams submitted multiple campaigns in over 40 hotly-contested categories, including Best in Market, People & Teams, Techniques, and Sector & Services, for a chance to demonstrate their creativity and impact, as well as claim bragging rights. 

The winners in their respective categories will be revealed at a glamorous black-tie ceremony marking a celebration of the brightest, boldest, and bravest in Middle East PR that will take place on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at The Atlantis The Palm, Dubai. 
 

Leading the nominations tally for the 14th edition of the region’s most sought-after awards was Weber Shandwick MENAT with a total of 60 nominations in 31 categories followed closely by Hill+Knowlton Strategies being nominated for 23 categories. Other top contenders also include Dubai-based homegrown boutique agency Matrix Public Relations, Four Communications and Gambit Communications. Top hotly contested categories include Best Launch / Live Event / Stunt, Best Use of Media Relations (Consumer/Trade) and Best Integrated Campaign, with a combined 30 nominations from 142 entries.  

"We are proud to announce the finalist of the 14th edition of the MEPRA Awards - an achievement that signifies the continued growth of MEPRA as a resource center for excellence in public relations and the entire Middle East PR industry. The 2022 MEPRA awards attracted near-record-breaking entries from agencies and internal teams across the GCC, showcasing their best work and the impact the respective 
campaigns had on society. On behalf of the judging panel, we congratulate all the finalists for their hard work, dedication, and contribution to the industry,” said Rym Rahal, General Manager, MEPRA. 
 

The annual MEPRA Awards is the most coveted event of its kind and is open to all Middle East-based agencies, corporates, government organizations, and non-profits working in the PR and communications profession. The premier awards program was developed to shine a spotlight on impactful communications campaigns and highlight the importance of the communications industry within the Middle East. According to MEPRA, this aligns with its goal to achieve its vision of being the unique voice representing the public relations and communication profession in the Middle East and its mission to raise awareness and build a holistic understanding of public relations in the region. 

Partners of the MEPRA Awards include Weber Shandwick, which is supporting the event as Diamond Sponsor. Other partners are Saudi Electricity Company, Apco Worldwide, Carma, Four Communications, & Acorn Strategy.

MEPRA Board members are invited to meet the 2023-2025 nominees for the Executive Board in an exclusive board members only meeting on Thursday 10th November. In this meeting the Executive Board Elections will take place and votes will be cast online for the candidates they would like to stand on the Executive Board for the next two years. Results will be announced during the meeting.

Once elected, the new Executive Board members will immediately assume their roles and work closely with MEPRA staff to drive key initiatives for the communications industry in our region for the next two years.

By committing themselves as MEPRA Board Members, they will also work towards an industry collective goal to:

Raise awareness and build understanding of public relations in the Middle East, both as a profession and as a driver of organisational reputation. We do so by promoting industry standards, sharing knowledge and building the capabilities of professionals in the region.

For the role of Chair 

Rashid Al Awadhi, CEO at New Media Academy

Rashid has over 24 years of Marketing and Communications experience, including various senior-level positions in Middle East based multi-national companies, as well as UAE government entities.

He was named CEO of the New Media Academy on June 17th 2020, leading its 3 divisions: Education, Talent and Content. Prior to that, Rashid was the Senior Vice-President for Marketing and Communications at the Dubai International Financial Center, leading the transition of the organization into Digital Media and Content Marketing.

Prior to that, he founded and managed Barza New Media, a digitally driven boutique-style consultancy that specialized in the production of social media driven reality content, with particular focus on Arabic-centric topics.

Before that, he was the co-founder of “Qabeela.tv” with his brother Mohamed. Together they produced, directed and hosted the award-winning social travel show “Peeta Planet”, which was the first ever blended Social TV show in the world. The show was powered by Google and supported by twofour54.

In 2009, Rashid became the first Emirati Government Employee to win the prestigious “Communicator Of The Year” Award from the Middle East PR Association, and in February 2020 he was voted in it’s Executive Board.

He was chosen as one of “The 40 Most Influential Emiratis Under 40” during the UAE’s 40th National Day celebrations, and was featured on the Forbes Middle East list of “50 Impactful Marketing and Communications Professionals In The Middle East” in 2020.

Rashid graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing, from the University of Houston, in Texas (USA).

Kate Midttun, CEO at Acorn Strategy

Kate Midttun is CEO at Acorn Strategy. She has a Bachelors Degree in Business (Marketing and Public Relations) from Queensland University of Technology, Australia and has just completed her Masters in Business Administration (Marketing and International Business Strategy).

Kate has over 13 years experience in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, and United Arab Emirates; demonstrated success in creating impactful strategies and programmes.  Other applications include strategic marketing consulting, establishing processes and achieving quantifiable business results for a wide variety of boutique brands through to major international destinations.  With a specialisation in destination marketing, Kate has deep sector knowledge across the real estate, leisure, hospitality and sports industries.

She has consulted and worked for a number of global brands both abroad and in the UAE, including: Mubadala, Miral Asset Management for Yas Island (Executive Affairs Authority, Abu Dhabi), Oman Arab Bank, Hilton Worldwide, Viceroy Hotel Group, Business In Sport and Leisure, amongst others.

For the role of Vice Chair

Jon Barber, VP MARCOM at TECOM Group

Jon Barber is a senior communications specialist with experience in Government and Private industry throughout the Middle East.

Mr. Barber has over 20 years’ experience in the Middle East and Western Europe. A Broadcast Journalist graduate of Nottingham Trent University, he spent more than 10 years with the BBC as a news and sport journalist.

For the past decade he has worked in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as a leading communicator for many of the UAE’s most notable brands including Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, DAMAC Properties, Dubai World Trade Centre and most recently ACWA Power – a private developer, owner and operator of power generation and desalinated water production plants, ADNOC Distribution. He is now the VP MARCOM at TECOM Group.

For the Role of Executive board: 

Samir Hammad, CEO at Four MENA

Over the past 20 years, Samir has immersed himself in the worlds of journalism, in-house communications and agency consultancy, developing a strong mix of capabilities, skills and knowledge.

Samir’s experience is diversified in strategic communications, public relations, crisis comms, marketing, and event management. He worked for reputable organisations such as Mashreq Bank, Emirates Identity Authority, Al Ittihad and Al Bayan Newspapers.

Since his joining Four Communications Group in 2015, Samir possesses proficiency in driving business excellence in communications, leadership and providing high profile consultancy for the Agency’s portfolio.

Samir holds B.A. degree in Journalism and Mass Communications, since 2002

Mazar Masud, Head of Edelman Abu Dhabi at Edelman 

Mazar has worked in financial and corporate communications for fifteen years and has extensive experience in capital markets, reputation management, communications strategy and creating and delivering integrated corporate communications campaigns across a range of sectors. 

He has advised a number of companies on their critical communications challenges, ranging from large multinationals to startups earning the reputation for being a trusted advisor to the C-suite of FTSE100, FTSE250 and private companies globally. 

Prior to Edelman, Mazar was a Director at Kekst CNC spearheading the firm’s growth in the Middle East. He was lead advisor on Dr Sulaiman Al Habib’s $700m IPO, the region’s largest listing in 2020, supported on multiple workstreams at Saudi Aramco, and launched Kekst CNC RISE, a dedicate communications platform for the region’s disruptive startups. Before Kekst CNC, Mazar was a Director at Powerscourt, one of the UK’s leading strategic communications consultancy, where he built the firm’s integrated communications business, and also worked at Brunswick for over five years on global mandates.

Mazar has advised on various capital markets transactions and corporate campaigns during his career across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the UK.

Prior to a career in communications, Mazar worked as an auditor at PwC. He graduated with a First in BA (Hons) English from the University of Cambridge.

Maragaret Flanagan, Co-Founder at Tales & Heads 

Margaret has spent the last two decades working with brands, businesses, governments and individuals to build and protect their reputations and strengthen bonds with their audiences.

Before launching Tales & Heads, she was Executive Vice President of Strategy & Client Experience at a major WPP communications agency working across the Middle East. Here she developed communications strategies and provided counsel and thought leadership for global blue-chip companies including Ford, Nestlé and Lufthansa; government ministries and agencies; and some of the region’s most successful businesses including Jumeriah Group, Art Dubai and Alshaya.

Prior to this, Margaret worked with one of the UK’s leading independent agencies from launch at its London and UAE offices on consumer, corporate and public affairs briefs.Originally trained as a journalist, Margaret has developed messaging, media trained and written speeches for leaders in government and industry, from CEOs to Crown Princes. In 2019, she was awarded a Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) Fellowship for her contribution to the industry and now sits on the association’s strategy board. She was listed in the PRWeek Middle East Power Book in 2019 and 2020.

Jon Barber, VP MARCOM at TECOM Group

Jon Barber is a senior communications specialist with experience in Government and Private industry throughout the Middle East.

Mr. Barber has over 20 years’ experience in the Middle East and Western Europe. A Broadcast Journalist graduate of Nottingham Trent University, he spent more than 10 years with the BBC as a news and sport journalist.

For the past decade he has worked in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as a leading communicator for many of the UAE’s most notable brands including Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, DAMAC Properties, Dubai World Trade Centre and most recently ACWA Power – a private developer, owner and operator of power generation and desalinated water production plants, ADNOC Distribution. He is now the VP MARCOM at TECOM Group.

Abu Dhabi, UAE, October 27, 2022: – The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) announced today that it has received a record-breaking of close to 800 award entries from regional public relations agencies and in-house communications departments for this year’s premier awards gala event. 

The annual MEPRA Awards is the most coveted event of its kind and is open to all Middle East-based agencies, corporates, government organizations and non-profits working in the PR and communications profession. This year will see agencies and in-house teams and practitioners compete across 44 hotly-contested award categories including Best in Market, People & Teams, Techniques, and Sector & Services, for a chance to be crowned as victors. 
 

In its 14th edition, the MEPRA Awards will feature a brand-new sponsorship category - Diamond Sponsor - which Weber Shandwick has taken up. The winners in their respective categories will be announced at a glamorous black-tie ceremony marking a celebration of the brightest, boldest, and bravest in Middle East PR that will take place on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at Atlantis, The Palm. 
 

The 2022 MEPRA Awards comes hot on the heels of changes in the organization with the recent appointment of Rym Rahal as the general manager who is expected to drive the organization’s overall growth and elevate MEPRA’s industry benchmarks in communications and PR. Rym Rahal, a marketing and brand strategist, brings on board her vast expertise in marketing and brand strategy to drive MEPRA’s ambitious growth plans. Under her leadership and over a decade- long experience in the UAE, MEPRA will gain deeper market insights needed to boost its competitive edge and grow its membership in the region. Rym is known to be a proven team leader who spins challenges into opportunities and has been trained under the seasoned wings of industry stalwarts like Mohammed Jaffar, the co-founder of Talabat. Her prior influential stint at the successful conceptualization and launch of Just Clean, GCC’s first on-demand laundry app will be instrumental in guiding MEPRA to effectively establish a solid ground and foundation in the region and be known as the leading regional platform for PR and Communications in the GCC.” 

“We are once again delighted to announce this year’s MEPRA Awards, which is the region’s most coveted platform that seeks to recognize excellence in public relations. This year also marks 14 years since the initiative was started - a phenomenal milestone that demonstrates the consistent growth of the region’s PR sector. In line with our mission to elevate regional PR intelligence and performance measurement parameters to bring quality to the forefront, it’s encouraging to witness remarkable growth in participation as industry practitioners benchmark their work against their peers and gain recognition from the largest professional PR association in the region,” said Rym. 

Shortlisted entries will be announced on November 9 following a rigorous judging process, which will be conducted by a team of the industry’s communications experts.

Contributed by 

MEPRA

MEPRA hosted its largest-ever Awards edition last night attended by more than 500 in-person guests. The event saw 88 agencies and in-house communication teams finalists battle it out to win across a record 56 categories. The Awards ceremony saw Gambit Communications take home Small Agency of the Year and the inaugural Home-Grown Agency of the Year award in only its second year of entering the Awards, while Acorn Strategy won the coveted title of Large Agency of the Year in its first year of entering the category.

This year marked the 13th edition of the MEPRA Awards, which celebrates and recognises the most impactful and creative campaigns in the Middle East. The event, which also marked MEPRA’s 20th anniversary, saw winners awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze in each category during the black-tie gala at Atlantis, The Palm Dubai.

The Large In-House Team of the Year award went to the UAE Government Media Office while Mastercard MEA scooped the Small In-House Team of the Year Award, both first-time entrants for these prestigious categories. For the third year in a row, there was less than one percent difference between the winner and second place for Large Agency of the Year, with Acorn Strategy scoring 83.19% and Hill+Knowlton Strategies just behind them on 82.84%, demonstrating how competitive this coveted title is.

The biggest winners of the night were Weber Shandwick MENAT and Hill+Knowlton Strategies, with each scooping a colossal 24 awards to tie for most-awarded agency. Red Havas won four Gold Awards and one Bronze for their entry; Adidas Beyond the Surface, which was the most wins received for a campaign on the night together with Weber Shandwick MENAT & Google MENA who received three gold, one silver and one bronze for their campaign; The Google Cook-Off.

The People’s Choice Best Middle East Campaign Over the Last 20 Years, which was introduced to mark MEPRA’s 20th Anniversary, went to Weber Shandwick MENAT and Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) for their Vote Bu Tinah campaign. The category, which saw the public vote for the overall winner among the 10 finalists, recognised the most iconic, homegrown communication campaign, developed and executed in the region between 2001 and 2021.

The Chairman's Award, which was presented by Taryam Al Subaihi, MEPRA Chair, was awarded to Jack Pearce, co-founder of MEPRA and Founder of Matrix Public Relations in recognition for his outstanding contribution to the industry.

The Young Communicator of the Year Award went to Aliasgar Gulshan from Hill+Knowlton Strategies. Ali will be invited to join the MEPRA Youth Board to help shape MEPRA’s strategy and engagement with young communicators in the region.

A record 639 entries were assessed by a panel of more than 50 regional and international industry leaders to select the 2021 finalists and winners. The judging process was also reviewed by AMEC Chair and Co-Managing Partner atCARMA Richard Bagnall, who served as an independent adjudicator. Shortlisted entries were limited to 10 per category. For categories, which received a larger collection of entries, only the top 10 were shortlisted, even if the submission reached over the 70% scoring threshold.

Richard Bagnall, MEPRA Awards Adjudicator, AMEC Chair and Co-Managing Partner, CARMA Global said:

"It’s been an absolute pleasure to chair the MEPRA Awards judging panel for the third time. Each year the entries are stronger, and I continue to be impressed by the creative and diverse communications work that’s being undertaken right across the region. AMEC stands for best practice in media intelligence, PR Measurement and communications evaluation so it’s very encouraging to see that so many companies entering the MEPRA awards tell a meaningful measurement story and evaluate their activity with credible and relevant metrics. Judging has been meticulous, fair and detailed with plenty of actionable feedback provided for entrants. My warm congratulations to all the winners!"

Taryam Al Subaihi, MEPRA Chair, judge and Director of Corporate Communications at EWEC, added: “It is encouraging to see more and more agencies and in-house communications departments recognising the value that MEPRA brings to the industry. This has continuously been demonstrated by the ever-growing number of award entrants. Most importantly, the caliber of campaigns that have been entered shows just how creative and vibrant the regional industry is. Agencies and in-house departments are pushing the boundaries in search of excellence - a trend we highly commend them for.”

The 2021 MEPRA Awards is supported by Acorn Strategy, APCO Worldwide, CARMA, ASDA'A BCW, Edelman Middle East, Four Communications Group, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Lexis Nexis, Matrix Public Relations, Memac Ogilvy, Mojo PR, Mubadala Investment Company, YouGov, Weber Shandwick MENAT, Zayed University.

To view the full list of winners, visit: www.mepra.org/awardwinners

MEPRA is looking for passionate MEPRA Members in the Middle East region who are committed to leading key initiatives for the communications industry, which focus on promoting standards of excellence

Nominations are open for two board levels:

MEPRA Executive Board

The MEPRA Executive Board takes on an operational role of MEPRA and will work closely with MEPRA staff to implement initiatives throughout the year. This board is the decision-making body of the Association, comprised of a Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary plus a small group of Executive Directors. An Executive Board Member will be committing to twelve meetings per year plus time allocated for sub committee planning and projects.

Executive Board positions available for nomination:

2 x Executive Directors

1 x Treasurer 

MEPRA Strategy Board

The MEPRA Strategy Board serves as an advisory body to the Executive Board and will help identify and shape the strategy for MEPRA moving forward, particularly around our major initiatives and events. A Strategy Board Member will be committing to four meetings per year plus time allocated for sub committee planning and projects. Number of positions available: Unlimited

By committing yourself as a MEPRA board member, you will be working towards an industry collective goal to:

Raise awareness and build understanding of public relations in the Middle East, both as a profession and as a driver of organisational reputation. We do so by promoting industry standards, sharing knowledge and building the capabilities of professionals in the region. 

To find out more about the board election process and roles, click here.  To download the nomination form, click here. 

Please note you may nominate yourself or others. 

Please submit completed applications to community@mepra.org by COB Monday 20th December, 2021. 

MEPRA Board Nominees will be announced in January with voting and election announcements to take place during the 2022 MEPRA Annual General Meeting - date TBC. 

As MEPRA celebrates its 20th anniversary, those who have chaired the industry body talk about its inception, challenges and growth.

Download the latest edition of Campaign ME Magazine to read the five page feature with our past and present Chairs.

Click here to download - pages 12-16

Contributed by

https://campaignme.com/

MEPRA Youth Board today revealed results from its first Talent Barometer survey, which provided insights into the motivations, challenges, ambitions and opportunities of young communication professionals today. The MEPRA Youth Board Talent Barometer polled over 120 young communicators to help guide employers on how to nurture the next generation of industry professionals.

The Talent Barometer survey, which will be run annually to monitor and benchmark young communicator sentiments revealed:

• 90% of young communicators are looking for a hybrid working model with flexible working arrangements selected as the most important workplace benefit
• 60% of respondents revealed that mental health + salary reduction were the two biggest challenges faced as a result of COVID-19 impacts
• Salary scored the lowest for the reason to pursue a career in communications with only 4% of respondents selecting salary as the primary reason.
• The top reason young communicators pursue a career in communications was for exposure to leading brands and industry leaders with 28% of respondents stating this
• When asked to rank their skills, videography was ranked the weakest technical skills for both in-house and agency young communicators, while writing was ranked the highest
• 38% of respondents revealed workplace culture was most important when considering a job switch

The MEPRA Youth Board developed a comprehensive white paper on the Talent Barometer to delve into the insights around the motivations, skillsets and drivers for pursuing a PR career for young communicators.

Jennifer Love, MEPRA Youth Board President and Senior Account Director at Brazen MENA said:

“The survey revealed that a new working model, career progression and company culture were high on the agenda for the next generation of PRs. We also found that respondents expect mental health and wellbeing to be prioritised more heavily in a post-pandemic world, citing it as one of the most crucial factors for a supportive and positive company culture.”

“With talent retention increasingly becoming a challenge in the industry, the Talent Barometer and the white paper seeks to offer a practical perspective on what young communicators expect and need to thrive in their careers. We hope this can help guide employers on how to nurture our next generation of PR superstars.”

The MEPRA Youth Board white paper is available to download at mepra.org/talentbarometer.

Click here to download the full report.

MEPRA wrapped up its seventh Leadership Majlis this week, which was held virtually for the second time since the pandemic. The event, which brought together more than 200 industry professionals, included a series of live session over one afternoon with communication leaders from the Middle East and abroad. Speakers explored the theme ‘fit for the future’ and addressed the importance of organisations reinventing and reimagining their brand strategies as audiences continue to evolve.

Hosted by MEPRA Chair and Director of Corporate Communications at EWEC, Taryam Al Subaihi, the event welcomed speakers from the UAE Federal Government, Expo 2020 Dubai, Mastercard, Mubadala Investment Company, Majid Al Futtaim, New Media Academy, APCO Worldwide, Memac Ogilvy, Brazen MENA, Four Communications, Hanover Communications, PageGroup, Kingston Stanley, The Lighthouse Arabia and PRovoke Media.

The opening keynote speaker, His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, encouraged the adoption of AI technologies within the communications industry:

“I personally believe that every single person needs to upskill on AI technologies to be part of the future of their industry, just as my generation needed to upskill on using computers, everyone who wants to thrive in their industry need to understand and work with AI.”

Discussing how the Expo 2020 Dubai team plans to reconnect the world for a better tomorrow and align with the rapid transition to digital life, work, and learning we saw as a result of the pandemic, Sconaid McGeachin, Senior Vice President of Communications Expo 2020 Dubai said:

“Expo 2020 Dubai’s theme Connecting Minds, Creating the Future is more relevant today than it ever was before. The world has changed dramatically, and Expo will be the first mega event held since the start of the pandemic where people can come together, focus on key world challenges, discover ideas and innovations, and really look at things that are going to change our future.”

Mastercard Global Chief Marketing Officer Raja Rajamannar discussed how communicators and marketers needed to prepare for the ‘tsunami’ of emerging technologies coming their way:

“There are two dozen breakthrough technology coming at us like a tsunami. These will dramatically change consumer lives and usher marketing into the Fifth Paradigm. Modern marketers need to quickly educate themselves on a range of emerging technologies or risk becoming redundant.”

Umayma Abubakar, Director of Executive Communications & Corporate Center, Mubadala Investment Company joined a panel discussing the importance of prioritising the ‘Employee Experience’, she said:

"The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought with it challenges for all industries, where decisions and communications needed to be carried out efficiently and in real-time. At Mubadala, our priority is to ensure our employees' safety and well-being. We also focused on safeguarding our operations and ensuring that we were making decisions that were in line with our corporate values. As an organization, we have benefitted from investing in leadership engagement in relation to our employees, enhanced our efforts to listen to our peoples’ feedback and proposing data-driven solutions to reinforce that our human capital are our top priority. This has allowed us to also accelerate major changes across the board which we successfully implemented throughout the pandemic."

MEPRA Vice Chair and CEO of New Media Academy joined a panel to discuss how to best nurture the next generation of communications professionals and prepare them for the future of the industry:

“In terms of upskilling, the absolute biggest opportunity for the PR industry today especially in this region is storytelling and script writing. We need to develop the talent of writing into the art of storytelling particularly for digital content. That is the industry’s biggest weakness at the moment and that’s where we need to focus our attention.”

Speaking on the success of the event, MEPRA Chair and Director of Corporate Communications at EWEC, Taryam Al Subaihi said:

“This year marks the 20^th anniversary since MEPRA was formed. That’s 20 years of supporting communication professionals in the Middle East through knowledge sharing, skill development and promoting best practice. The UAE MEPRA Majlis serves as a platform to achieve just that. This year’s Majlis has been no exception as we brought together regional and international communication leaders, and professionals to address the industry’s biggest challenges and opportunities.”

During the event two MEPRA Fellows were inducted. MEPRA Fellowship is the highest grade of membership awarded for outstanding contribution to the public relations profession in the Middle East, through excellence in achievements and adherence to the highest professional standards. The inductees included Her Excellency Hend Al Otaiba, Director of Strategic Communications, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Tony Christodoulou, Founder and Chairman of Action Global Communications.

The 2021 Virtual MEPRA Leadership Majlis was supported by Mubadala Investment Company, Majid Al Futtaim, APCO Worldwide, CARMA and PRovoke Media.

MEPRA today announced its line-up of speakers for its seventh Leadership Majlis, which will be held virtually for the second time since the pandemic. The Virtual MEPRA Leadership Majlis will include a series of live sessions over one afternoon on 19^th May, 2021 with communication leaders from the Middle East and abroad. Speakers will explore the theme ‘fit for the future’ and address the importance of organisations reinventing and reimagining their brand strategies as audiences continue to evolve.

Free for all MEPRA Members, The Virtual MEPRA Leadership Majlis will open with a keynote from His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications. His Excellency will address how the UAE is pioneering AI technologies to build a knowledge-based economy and shape the future of vital sectors such as communications. The session will be hosted by APCO Worldwide MENA President Mamoon Sebei.

The programme will then follow with an exclusive fireside chat with Sconaid McGeachin, Senior Vice President of Communications Expo 2020 Dubai on how the Expo 2020 Dubai team plans to reconnect the world for a better tomorrow. Seonaid will address how the team navigated the unexpected postponement of its programme, how the pandemic has shaped the 2021 event when it comes to visitor engagement, safety communication and crisis planning, plus how Expo has adapted to align with the rapid transition to digital life, work, and learning we saw as a result of the pandemic.

The Majlis will also include a presentation with renowned Global CMO of Mastercard, Raja Jaramana who will reveal his forward-thinking ways and breakthrough frontier strategies used to navigate the challenges communicators and marketers face to thrive in a modern business world.

MEPRA Chair, Taryam Al Subaihi said:

“The MEPRA Majlis has always been a highlight of the calendar, as we bring together the region’s top communication leaders to discuss the industry’s biggest challenges and opportunities. This year’s event will be held virtually and made free for all MEPRA members so we can encourage as much attendance as possible to debate and address the most pressing topics for the communication profession today. “

“Following on from the 2020 event theme ‘beyond the curve’, this year we want to focus on how we move beyond the pandemic and ensure as communicators we are preparing ourselves for the future of our industry.”

Further topics to be explored include the Employee Experience and Nurturing The Next Generation with speakers from Mubadala Investment Company, Majid Al Futtaim, Memac Ogilvy, New Media Academy, Brazen MENA, Page Group, Four Communications and Kingston Stanley.

The 2021 Virtual MEPRA Leadership Majlis is supported by Mubadala Investment Company, Majid Al Futtaim, APCO Worldwide, CARMA and PRovoke Media.

The event is free for MEPRA Members or AED200 for non-members. To register your attendance or view the agenda for the 2021 Virtual MEPRA Leadership Majlis, visit mepra.org/events/majlis or email community@mepra.org

today announced its line-up of speakers for its seventh Leadership Majlis, which will be held virtually for the second time since the pandemic. The Virtual MEPRA Leadership Majlis will include a series of live sessions over one afternoon on 19^th May, 2021 with communication leaders from the Middle East and abroad. Speakers will explore the theme ‘fit for the future’ and address the importance of organisations reinventing and reimagining their brand strategies as audiences continue to evolve.

Free for all MEPRA Members, The Virtual MEPRA Leadership Majlis will open with a keynote from His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications. His Excellency will address how the UAE is pioneering AI technologies to build a knowledge-based economy and shape the future of vital sectors such as communications. The session will be hosted by APCO Worldwide MENA President Mamoon Sebei.

The programme will then follow with an exclusive fireside chat with Sconaid McGeachin, Senior Vice President of Communications Expo 2020 Dubai on how the Expo 2020 Dubai team plans to reconnect the world for a better tomorrow. Seonaid will address how the team navigated the unexpected postponement of its programme, how the pandemic has shaped the 2021 event when it comes to visitor engagement, safety communication and crisis planning, plus how Expo has adapted to align with the rapid transition to digital life, work, and learning we saw as a result of the pandemic.

The Majlis will also include a presentation with renowned Global CMO of Mastercard, Raja Jaramana who will reveal his forward-thinking ways and breakthrough frontier strategies used to navigate the challenges communicators and marketers face to thrive in a modern business world.

MEPRA Chair, Taryam Al Subaihi said:

“The MEPRA Majlis has always been a highlight of the calendar, as we bring together the region’s top communication leaders to discuss the industry’s biggest challenges and opportunities. This year’s event will be held virtually and made free for all MEPRA members so we can encourage as much attendance as possible to debate and address the most pressing topics for the communication profession today. “

“Following on from the 2020 event theme ‘beyond the curve’, this year we want to focus on how we move beyond the pandemic and ensure as communicators we are preparing ourselves for the future of our industry.”

Further topics to be explored include the Employee Experience and Nurturing The Next Generation with speakers from Mubadala Investment Company, Majid Al Futtaim, Memac Ogilvy, New Media Academy, Brazen MENA, Page Group, Four Communications and Kingston Stanley.

The 2021 Virtual MEPRA Leadership Majlis is supported by Mubadala Investment Company, Majid Al Futtaim, APCO Worldwide, CARMA and PRovoke Media.

The event is free for MEPRA Members or AED200 for non-members. To register your attendance or view the agenda for the 2021 Virtual MEPRA Leadership Majlis, visit mepra.org/events/majlis or email community@mepra.org

30 small and medium independent communication agencies in the UAE were surveyed to assess the biggest challenges faced by this group

MEPRA released results from their recent survey today, which revealed the top challenges faced by small and medium independent communication agencies in the UAE. The survey polled 30 organisations last month to determine how MEPRA can better support this group.

The survey, which will be run every year to monitor how MEPRA is helping to overcome industry challenges, revealed:

• Managing overdue receivables, cashflow, accessing market reports and managing the RFP process were the four top challenges faced by small and medium independent agencies
• 60% of respondents said clients don’t pay according to contract agreements
• Almost 90% of respondents said they are challenged on price either at pitch stage or by clients and it’s “untenable”
• Almost 40% of respondents say they hope to grow their businesses by 20% in terms of number of employees

MEPRA established a working group made up of small and medium independent agency board members to develop a strategy, which addresses the challenges faced by SMEs and consultants in the Middle East. The group, which includes Acorn Strategy CEO Kate Midttun, Brazen MENA’s Managing Partner Louise Jacobson, Matrix PR CEO Hilmarie Hutchison, Shakespeare Communications CEO Ananda Shakespeare, Sticky Ginger Managing Partner Kiera Purdue and Tales and Heads Co-Founder Margaret Flanagan has developed a series of support activity to be rolled out by MEPRA starting next month.

The tailored support includes bi-monthly workshops on cashflow management, legal support, building company culture and how to prepare for growth; a resource centre for small and medium independents and consultants, which includes a list of recommended supplier contacts, tips and guides tailored for SMEs; quarterly digital drop-ins and networking events to discuss challenges and opportunities; industry partner discounts negotiated by MEPRA on behalf of small and medium independents and consultants; an industry rate cards guide to assist with pricing and budget development; lobbying efforts to help assist with delayed payments for SMEs; and special payment terms for small and medium independents and consultants on MEPRA memberships and events.

MEPRA Chair of the Small and Medium Independents and Consultants Working Group, and Acorn Strategy CEO, Kate Midttun said:

“While the survey revealed many of our small independent members benefit from MEPRA’s free training, wellness support and branding opportunities, we realised there was still a lot of work to do in developing support which specifically addressed unique challenges faced by this group. Small and medium independents and consultants are vital to our industry and its future. Supporting their specific needs and ensuring they have access to resources and tools they need is an important contribution to the economy as well as our remit at MEPRA.”

To find out more about MEPRA membership, visit www.mepra.org or email community@mepra.org

TAQA, Mastercard, DP World and Dubai Holding lead membership drive

MEPRA’s agency / in-house membership split reaches 50-50 for first time ever

MEPRA has experienced its best ever quarter for new corporate members with a 20% growth achieved this year to date, further solidifying its position as the region’s leading industry body for communications professionals.

In the first quarter of 2021, MEPRA welcomed nine new corporate members, including TAQA, Mastercard, DP World and Dubai Holding.

For the first time ever, corporations now make up half of all MEPRA organisational memberships, following initiatives to widen the association’s base beyond its traditional agency partners. MEPRA now boasts more than 50 corporate organisation members from a variety of sectors, including energy, finance, travel, retail, hospitality and media.

Taryam Al Subaihi, MEPRA Chair and Head of Corporate Communications at EWEC, said:

“As a corporate member myself, I am not surprised we are seeing more in-house communication teams joining MEPRA. We have worked hard to develop programmes which support all communication professionals, no matter which side of the fence you sit on. In fact, there are significant benefits for in-house members who don’t necessarily have the backing of larger teams and networks that communication agencies tend to have.

“Our growth in corporate memberships also benefits agency members who want to connect with in-house professionals for business leads and to widen their industry network.”

Baiba Upmale, Vice President Communications at Mastercard MEA, said:

“At Mastercard, we know that having a strong and dynamic communications function is key for building our brand, enhancing our reputation, and forging Priceless relationships with our audiences. Being part of an established industry body like MEPRA gives us a platform to share industry best practice, connect with our peers, and give back by helping drive the profession forward in our region." 

This year marks MEPRA’s 20^th anniversary of supporting communication professionals in the Middle East. MEPRA members receive access to regular free training, market insights, a workplace wellness programme, talent directory, job advertisements, branding opportunities, discounts to major industry events plus much more.

To find out more about MEPRA membership, visit www.mepra.org or email community@mepra.org

TO REFLECT REAL WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS

AED 18,000 of Prizes Available, in partnership with Emirates Literature Foundation

28 March 2021 MEPRA launched its National Student Pitch Challenge today, to recreate a real-life, intense work environment. PR and communication students in the UAE will be invited to represent their universities and compete against their peers for the chance to win a prize package valued at more than AED 18,000 and take the Student Pitch Challenge trophy from previous winners, Middlesex University.

In teams of five or less, students will be given just a few hours to respond to a communications brief set by Emirates Literature Foundation and take part in a live virtual pitch to a panel of senior industry professionals who will select the 2021 MEPRA Student Pitch Challenge title winner. Ahead of the pitch challenge, participants will hear from senior practitioners on how to dissect a brief and develop a communications strategy before the brand team delivers their brief.

MEPRA Chair and Head of Corporate Communications at EWEC, Taryam Al Subaihi said:

“The MEPRA Student Pitch Challenge was developed to recognise and reward the communications talent of the future. It’s a chance to provide students a glimpse of life as a communications professional and apply their learnings from the lecture halls. Adding the virtual element to this year’s event also mirrors how we have had to adapt in the real working environment.”

“No matter where you end up working, we are all required to pitch creative ideas under time-pressured environments. This event allows students to test their skills and receive invaluable feedback from industry leaders.”

Previous MEPRA Student Pitch Challenge winner and now Public Relations & Influence Account Executive at Memac Ogilvy, Sneha Sivanand said:

"I immensely enjoyed the experience and learned what it takes to create a winning pitch under pressure and against a tight deadline. The competition not only acts as a steppingstone to expectations we must meet in the real world but simultaneously gives competitors an insight into the everyday life of a PR professional.”

The MEPRA Student Pitch Challenge is an interactive virtual event split over two days, filled with mini-workshops, an opportunity to impress senior industry professionals and learn with like-minded students from other universities.

The prize includes MEPRA membership, tickets to the MEPRA Majlis, REMAP, 2021 MEPRA Awards, plus free MEPRA Academy training for one year. The winning university will also receive the MEPRA Student Pitch Challenge trophy, engraved with the new title winners, to display for one year.

To find out more or to register, visit mepra.org/students

Do you know The Global PR & Communication Model 2021?

Developed by Global Alliance in partnership with Corporate Excellence – Centre for Reputation Leadership, this model helps define the present and future of the role and value of public relations and communications management.

This model has been built with the collaborative and participatory efforts of a network of 1,400 professionals from 47 countries on five different regions. The Model aims to enable organisations and professionals worldwide to improve their leadership and business decision-making process while promoting a real and authentic connection with their stakeholders for the post-COVID-19 world.

About the Model: www.prcommsmodel.com

Workshop details

To learn more, register to attend the 30 minute express live session, which will include a video explaining the model and open Q&A with Dr Angel Alloza from Global Alliance.

Hosted by

Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management

Speakers

Dr Ángel Alloza , Academic & Research Director, Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management @Global_Alliance CEO, Corporate Excellence – Centre for Reputation Leadership 

Date and Timings

18th February 3.00pm – 3.30pm GST

Location

Via Zoom

Register here

As your industry body, MEPRA is committed to building the capabilities of communication professionals and promoting best practice to drive our industry forward in the Middle East. That’s why we are offering a range of FREE virtual workshops every month this year, so everyone has the chance to future proof their careers, diversify their skill-sets and learn how to create award-winning campaigns.

Check out our jam-packed online events calendar and register today – mepra.org/events!

While these sessions are free, registration is essential and exclusive to MEPRA Members.

We’d like to thank our partners for making these trainings possible: 

Acorn Strategy, APCO Worldwide, ASDA’A BCW, BPG Group, CARMA, Four Communications, Grey DOHA, Hanover, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Kekst CNC, markettiers MENA, The Public Diplomacy Office, Tabreed,TOH PR, Weber Shandwick MENAT

MEPRA is inviting all students to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a content creator for the UAE’s National Vaccination Program and #bringlifebacktolife awareness campaign plus score an Etihad Airways travel voucher worth AED5,000 with the National Student Creative Challenge: #Bringlifebacktolife.

This competition is a joint initiative with G42 Healthcare & APCO Worldwide and is free to enter. All currently enrolled students in the UAE are eligible to enter, and not limited to only communication students; marketing, design, advertising or similar related fields are also welcome.

How will it work?

In teams of up to four, students will be asked to create one to three pieces of creative content for social media to support the #bringlifebacktolife campaign message, which drives home the importance and urgency of taking a vaccine against COVID-19. #bringlifebacktolife promotes vaccination as the tool to put an end to the pandemic, inviting the public to get the Sinopharm vaccine which is being given free across 200 plus vaccination centers throughout the UAE. 

Visit mepra.org/bringlifebacktolife for more

MEPRA is thrilled to welcome our newly elected Executive & Strategy Board Members, who will serve the region's communications industry for the next two years.

The new MEPRA Board includes some of the region’s top leaders, all committed to driving forward key initiatives for our profession. These initiatives will be focused on promoting standards of excellence, sharing knowledge and building the capabilities of communication professionals in the Middle East.

Find out more about your 2021 MEPRA Board here.

MEPRA members are invited to attend the 2021 Virtual MEPRA Annual General Meeting to meet this year's nominees for the Strategy Board and Executive Board. You will be asked to vote online during the meeting for members to stand on the MEPRA Strategy Board for the next two years. Executive Board nominees will be voted for by the Strategy Board. Results will be announced during the event.

Once elected, the new Strategy Board and Executive Board members will work closely with MEPRA staff to drive key initiatives for the communications industry in our region for the next two years. During the AGM, MEPRA Chair, Taryam Al Subaihi and Treasurer Mazen Nahawi will also deliver a presentation on MEPRA's performance in 2020 and talk through the 2021 strategy and activity plan for the year ahead.

Please note, this is a members-only event.

Please RSVP by 28 January 2021 by registering here or email community@mepra.org. We hope you can join us.

2021 MEPRA Board Nominees

To view 2021 MEPRA Board nominee bios, click here.  To find out more about the board election process, click here.

About the Boards

MEPRA Executive Board The MEPRA Executive Board takes on an operational role of MEPRA and will work closely with MEPRA staff to implement initiatives throughout the year. This board is the decision-making body of the Association, comprised of a Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary plus a small group of Executive Directors. An Executive Board Member will be committing to twelve meetings per year plus time allocated for sub committee planning, projects and industry social events.Executive Board positions available for nomination in 2020 include:

• Executive Director(s): x 3
• Secretary x 1

MEPRA Strategy Board The MEPRA Strategy Board serves as an advisory body to the Executive Board and will help identify and shape the strategy for MEPRA moving forward, particularly around our major initiatives and events. A Strategy Board Member will be committing to four meetings per year plus time allocated for sub committee planning, projects and industry social events.

• Number of positions available: Unlimited

By committing themselves as a MEPRA board member, candidates will be working towards an industry collective goal to:Raise awareness and build understanding of communications in the Middle East, both as a profession and as a driver of organisational reputation. We do so by promoting industry standards, sharing knowledge, thought leadership and building the capabilities of professionals in the region. 

For any questions, please contact Sabrina De Palma at sabrina@mepra.org.

MEPRA is looking for passionate MEPRA Members in the Middle East region who are committed to leading key initiatives for the communications industry, which focus on promoting standards of excellence, sharing knowledge and building capabilities of communication professionals in the region.

Nominations are open for two board levels:

MEPRA Executive Board

The MEPRA Executive Board takes on an operational role of MEPRA and will work closely with MEPRA staff to implement initiatives throughout the year. This board is the decision-making body of the Association, comprised of a Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary plus a small group of Executive Directors. An Executive Board Member will be committing to twelve meetings per year plus time allocated for sub committee planning and projects.

Executive Board positions available for nomination:

3 x Executive Directors

1 x Secretary

MEPRA Strategy Board

The MEPRA Strategy Board serves as an advisory body to the Executive Board and will help identify and shape the strategy for MEPRA moving forward, particularly around our major initiatives and events. A Strategy Board Member will be committing to four meetings per year plus time allocated for sub committee planning and projects. Number of positions available: Unlimited

By committing yourself as a MEPRA board member, you will be working towards an industry collective goal to:

Raise awareness and build understanding of public relations in the Middle East, both as a profession and as a driver of organisational reputation. We do so by promoting industry standards, sharing knowledge and building the capabilities of professionals in the region. 

To find out more about the board election process and roles, click here To download the nomination form, click here Please note you may nominate yourself or others. Please submit completed applications to sabrina@mepra.org by COB Wednesday 19th January, 2021. 

Voting and election announcements will take place during the Virtual MEPRA Annual General Meeting on 3rd February 4.00pm - 5.30pm. You can register your attendance for the AGM by emailing community@mepra.org a formal invitation will be sent to all members next week.

MEPRA today announced its new Chair and Vice Chair, who will serve as the leaders of its Executive Board from 2021 to 2023. Taryam Al Subaihi, Head of Corporate Communications at Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), has been appointed as Chair and Rashid Al Awadhi, Chief Executive Officer at New Media Academy as Vice Chair for a two-year period.

This is the first time two Emirati Nationals have been elected to lead MEPRA and drive the association’s initiatives, which aim to promote industry standards, share knowledge and build capabilities of communication professionals in the Middle East. Al Subaihi and Al Awadhi were voted in by the MEPRA Executive Board this week, following an advisory ballot by the wider MEPRA Strategy Board in November. Both will assume their roles on 1st January 2021.

Through his role as the Head of Corporate Communications at EWEC, Al Subaihi leads a diverse team of professionals responsible for managing all aspects of the company’s branding, marketing, and communications. Prior to joining EWEC, Al Subaihi served as the Director of Corporate Communications at TAQA – Iraq, as well as Global Head of External Communications for TAQA. He has also led communications for Masdar and Etihad Airways. A UAE National, Al Subaihi began his career as a journalist, working as a writer and columnist for some of UAE’s top English language newspapers including Gulf News, Emirates Today and The National. He has served on the MEPRA Strategy Board for the past 12 months while also helping to spearhead MEPRA’s first Virtual Leadership Majlis and MEPRA’s UAE Cultural Workshops.

Speaking on his appointment, the newly elected MEPRA Chair, Taryam Al Subaihi said:

“It is an absolute honour and privilege to be elected as Chair of MEPRA. I think it’s important right from the start to recognise the outstanding accomplishments achieved by Jonty, Lisa, Sabrina and the team, particularly during these challenging times.”

“MEPRA has not only weathered the storm thus far but has successfully launched new initiatives in 2020 at no cost to its members, including the Workplace Wellness Programme designed to provide mental health support to MEPRA members, the COVID-19 Resource Centre, offering a dedicated online platform to promote connectivity and knowledge sharing, and the Virtual Summer School just to name a few.”

“My personal commitment is to continue to offer the same unwavering support to our members whilst focusing on helping our organisation evolve and grow through positive change. I look forward to working with the MEPRA team and Boards in developing a 2021/2022 strategy that will undoubtedly continue to raise awareness and understanding of the communications industry whilst promoting knowledge sharing and co-operation amongst communication professionals in the UAE and the region.”

MEPRA Vice Chair, Rashid Al Awadhi has over 24 years of marketing and communications experience, including various senior-level positions in Middle East based multi-national companies, as well as UAE government entities. He was named CEO of the New Media Academy earlier this year, leading its three divisions: Education, Talent and Content. Prior to that, Al Awadhi was the Senior Vice-President for Marketing and Communications at the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), leading the transition of the organization into Digital Media and Content Marketing. Before joining DIFC, Al Awadhi founded and managed Barza New Media. In 2009, Al Awadhi became the first Emirati Government Employee to win MEPRA’s Young Communicator of the Year. He was also chosen as one of “The 40 Most Influential Emiratis Under 40” during the UAE’s 40th National Day celebrations and was featured on the Forbes Middle East list of “50 Impactful Marketing and Communications Professionals in The Middle East” in 2020. Al Awadhi joined the MEPRA Executive Board in January this year.

Following his appointment, MEPRA Vice Chair, Rashid Al Awadhi said:

“I am very honoured to be elected as Vice Chair of MEPRA and very happy to support the industry in any way possible to help drive the profession forward in our region. We are coming out of an extraordinary year, which has led to innovative thinking and new strategies in the way we do things and I know there’s going to be a lot of amazing things to implement in 2021. I look forward to working with Taryam and the team to take MEPRA to the next level.”

The newly elected Chair and Vice Chair will present their preliminary strategy for MEPRA during the 2021 Annual General Meeting scheduled for January. To find out more about MEPRA, visit mepra.og or email community@mepra.org

MEPRA hosted its largest-ever Awards edition last night, held virtually for the first time. More than 700 virtual guests tuned in, as 80 agencies and in-house communication team finalists battled it out to win across a record 53 categories. The Awards ceremony, which was hosted by MEPRA Chair Jonty Summers and Executive Board Member Souad AlSerkal, saw markettiers MENA take home Small Agency of the Year and Hill+Knowlton Strategies win the coveted title of Large Agency of the Year.

For the second year running, the Small In-House Team of the Year went to Standard Chartered Bank and Large In-House Team of the Year was awarded to first-time entrant Majid Al Futtaim. A big winner for the night was Hill+Knowlton Strategies, who not only scored Large Agency of the Year but also collected more awards than any other organisation, with an impressive 37 wins. As with previous years, there was only a small margin between the winner and second place for Large Agency of the Year, with Hill+Knowlton Strategies scoring 80.6% and Weber Shandwick MENAT just behind them on 78.5%. Gambit Communications made an impressive debut into the MEPRA Awards, coming in second for Small Agency of the Year and missing out by only 3%.

MEPRA welcomed more new winners this year than ever before, with W7Worldwide, The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives The UAE Government Media Office, Sticky Ginger, Roads and Transport Authority, Aster DM Healthcare, Tourism Authority of Thailand, EXPO 2020, IKEA – Al-Futtaim, Studio Master, Mazoon Dairy Company and DIFC all taking home MEPRA Awards for the first time.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, together with MullenLowe MENA and markettiers MENA won five Gold Awards for their entry; The World’s Tallest Donation Box, which was the most wins received for a campaign.

Omar Batterjee from Hill+Knowlton Strategies became the first Saudi National to win MEPRA’s Young Communicator of the Year for an Agency, following a two-round selection process including a written entry plus a presentation and interview with a MEPRA Awards judging panel. Amneh Alkhatib from Siemens Energy was selected as the Young Communicators of the Year for In-house after wowing judges with her impactful storytelling during her presentation. Both winners will be invited to join the MEPRA Youth Board, which helps MEPRA shape the strategy for engaging young communicators in the region.

The 2020 Chairman’s award was awarded to recently retired Ogilvy MENA Regional Director, Saada Hammad, for her outstanding contribution to the industry.

This year marks the 12th edition of the MEPRA Awards, the communications industry’s most prestigious event, which celebrates and recognises the most creative and impactful practitioners in the Middle East. The annual Awards is open to all Middle East based agencies, corporates, government organisations and non-profits working in the communications profession.

Jonty Summers, MEPRA Chair & Managing Director, Hanover Middle East

"Every year the MEPRA Awards continues to show the dynamism, creativity, and discipline of the public relations industry in the region. This year‘s new category showcasing creativity in the face of the COVID-19 situation Is a perfect illustration of these qualities. MEPRA also exists to promote and support the development of the next generation of regional talent, and it was heartening to see the largest ever number of entrants in our Young Communicator of the Year categories this year. The future looks in good hands.”

Entries were assessed by a panel of more than 50 regional and international industry experts to select the 2020 finalists and winners. The judging process was also reviewed by CARMA CEO Richard Bagnall, who served as an independent adjudicator. This year, shortlisted entries were limited to 10 per category. For categories, which received a larger collection of entries, only the top 10 were shortlisted, even if the submission reached over the 70% scoring threshold.

The 2020 MEPRA Awards is supported by corporate and agency partners including, Acorn Strategy, Brazen MENA, CARMA, Emirates Global Aluminium, Emirates Water and Electricity Company, Hanover Middle East, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Travelport, Nunify Networks Unified, Mubadala Investment Company and YouGov MENA and Zayed University.

For the first time, MEPRA has developed an online showcase, which includes a preview of all winners in each category. To view the full list of winners and the online showcase, visit www.mepra.org/awardwinners.

MEPRA wrapped up its third REMAP Creative Communications Festival this week, which was held virtually for the first time. Speakers explored the theme ‘Creatively Brave’ and showcased how communicators in the region could push the boundaries and advance the communications practice when it comes to creative strategy for brand campaigns.

Hosted by MEPRA Vice Chair and Hill+Knowlton Strategies METIA Managing Director Lisa Welsh, the event included six in-depth sessions covering creative strategy, behavioural science and digital marketing over two afternoons on 7^th & 8^th December. Unlike any other MEPRA event, REMAP brings in creatives and digital marketing leaders to inspire communications professionals to integrate new disciplines into their everyday work.

Rory Sutherland, Creative Director, Behavioural Science Lead, author and Vice Chair at Ogilvy UK, delivered a talk on ‘why it’s time to hype up marketing’ and argued that many of today’s problems, which are treated as problems of economic efficiency, are really marketing problems in disguise. Sutherland said:

“In order to make economics mathematically neat it makes assumptions about consumer behaviour which are fundamentally untrue. Businesses tend to use economics as the model by which they proceed because economics makes consumer behaviour look like an engineering problem, but consumer behaviour isn’t remotely like an engineering problem.”

“You could be throwing away millions if you don’t understand behavioural science. Behavioural science allows you to create magic. Marketers are essentially in the business of magic and we are dealing with hardcore rationalists in the rest of the organisation,” he said.

Global Chief Innovation Officer, Roy Armale focused his session on how we use technology to understand and connect with people as they decide on when and what to buy. Armale said:

“There are specific moments within your general consumption process that affect what you’re going to purchase disproportionally. It’s technology’s job to identify the moments that matter and capitalise on the moments that matter to inform us on how and when to sell. If you're not selling the way people are buying then you may as well not be selling at all.”

Vishal Badiani, Creative Strategy Lead for Middle East & North Africa, Snap Inc, discussed how the region’s young and highly creative population are pushing the boundaries when it comes to engaging consumers through organic and sponsored AR experiences with Snapchat. Badiani said:

“Whenever a new technology such as AR is utilised at such a mass scale there’s a unique opportunity for brands to rethink their strategies adding depth and dimension to their storytelling. People use AR on a daily basis, sometimes without even knowing it. It’s a blank canvas available to everyone to mark special moments and brands must be responsive to that.”

Continuing on the theme of immersive storytelling, Andrew Elia, Managing Director of the AR and VR agency Arishi showcased how AR and VR campaigns lead to the most effective and engaging form of content for consumers. Andrew said:

“Covid-19 has accelerated the adoption of immersive technologies because during a sales process if you can’t show what you’re selling and allow people to interact with the product it becomes challenging. If you can mimic that experience in a virtual space you stand a much better chance in making the sale than saying ‘here’s my website’. VR and AR has immense capacity to revolutionise the way brands market their products and services especially in this current environment.”

MEPRA partner, YouGov MENA launched an original piece of research which examined what consumers in the Middle East want to hear from brands and also revealed its new audience segmentation and planning tool, YouGov Profiles. YouGov MENA, Associate Director, Imran Ahmed said:

“We now have access to insight gathering tools which can better inform us on an audience’s likes, dislikes and beliefs that are all shaping consumption behaviour, and the best way to interact with. The exploratory nature of a tool like YouGov Profiles allows us to help uncover deeper and richer profiles of customers well beyond standard demographics that we’re used to.”

The 2020 Virtual REMAP Festival is supported by corporate and agency partners including, Acorn Strategy, Brazen MENA, CARMA, Emirates Global Aluminium, Emirates Water and Electricity Company, Hanover Middle East, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Travelport, Nunify Networks Unified, Mubadala Investment Company and YouGov MENA and Zayed University.

MEPRA has announced the speaker line-up for its annual REMAP Communications Festival, which will be hosted virtually this year over two afternoons on 7^th and 8^th December. Ogilvy’s Rory Sutherland, Geometry’s Roy Armale and Snapchat’s Vishal Badiani will headline the event, which focuses on the theme ‘Creatively Brave’.

Unlike any other MEPRA event, REMAP aims to bring together the best minds, innovators, drivers and leaders in marketing and creative strategy, in the hope for a paradigm shift in communications within the Middle East PR industry. The festival will precede the 2020 Virtual MEPRA Awards on 9^th December.

Rory Sutherland, who is often labelled as marketing and advertising's most original thinkers and influential speakers, is set to deliver a talk on ‘why it’s time to hype up marketing’. The Ogilvy UK Vice Chairman, Creative Director, Behavioural Science lead + author will argue how many of today’s problems, which are currently treated as problems of economic efficiency, are really marketing problems in disguise.

Another keynote will be delivered by Geometry’s Global Chief Innovation Officer, Roy Armale. Described as a ‘brilliant mind’ by his global CEO, Roy has been credited with bringing new and disruptive platforms to the WPP creative commerce agency. His talk will focus on disrupting commerce through technology and how we use technology to understand and connect with people as they decide on when and what to buy.

Vishal Badiani, Creative Strategy Lead for Middle East & North Africa, Snap Inc will join the virtual stage to discuss how the region’s young and highly creative population are pushing the boundaries when it comes to engaging consumers through organic and sponsored AR experiences with Snapchat. Vishal will draw from his dealings with progressive CMOs from leading brands and disruptive creative leaders from top agencies, who devise campaigns that win an unfair share of attention.

Continuing on the theme of immersive storytelling, Andrew Elia, Managing Director of the AR and VR agency Arishi will showcase how AR and VR campaigns lead to the most effective and engaging form of content that has a more significant impact on the hearts and minds of consumers. The UK agency which recently opened its doors in Abu Dhabi, has been credited with bridging the gap between tech and creative. Andrew developed some of Europe’s first augmented reality experiences in 2008 and started Arishi, at the age of twenty-six.

YouGov MENA will launch an original piece of research, examining what consumers in the Middle East want to hear from brands, delving into the role of purpose and how this influences brand loyalty. They will also reveal their new audience segmentation and planning tool, YouGov Profiles, which empowers clients to deep-dive into consumer segments. Hill+Knowlton Creative Strategist Arne Mosselman will join the session to discuss how these insights contribute to the creative process and how data can dictate the overall success or failure of a brand campaign. The two-day virtual event will end with a case study presentation by Mubadala Investment Company’s Head of Digital and Corporate Marketing, Mohammed Al Siddiq who will discuss Mubadala’s social engagement campaign #WeAreDedicated.

MEPRA Chair, Jonty Summers said:

“Each year we aim to bring the most creative thinkers and influential speakers to REMAP, to inspire our communication practitioners to push boundaries and think outside the box when it comes to brand strategy, storytelling and campaigns. We are thrilled with the lineup this year and look forward to tapping into their innovative minds to unleash an undiscovered realm of creative thinking amongst our profession.”

The 2020 Virtual REMAP Festival is supported by corporate and agency partners including, Acorn Strategy, Brazen MENA, CARMA, Emirates Global Aluminium, Emirates Water and Electricity Company, Hanover Middle East, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Travelport, Nunify Networks Unified, Mubadala Investment Company and YouGov MENA and Zayed University.

To purchase virtual seats and view the full agenda, visit mepra.org/events or email community@mepra.org.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, together with MullenLowe MENA and markettiers MENA lead the nominations for their entry; The World’s Tallest Donation Box, a campaign which put the Burj Khalifa’s 1.2 million lights up for sale to raise funds and provide meals for hard-hit communities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The submission is up for six awards.

This year brought in new contenders for the Small Agency of the Year title, with more entries submitted for this category than ever before. New entrants; Gambit Communications, Sticky Ginger, Cylka Corporate Social Responsibility and Matrix PR join Atteline, Acorn Strategy, Brazen MENA, KEKST CNC, markettiers and SOCIATE in battling it out for the coveted title.

Havas PR is this year’s new nominee for the Large Agency of the Year category, joining the usual contenders; APCO Worldwide, ASDA’A BCW, Four Communications, Hill+Knowlton Strategies and Weber Shandwick MENAT.

For the first time, the Dave Robinson Outstanding Young Communicator of the Year Agency & In-House winners will be invited to join the MEPRA Youth Board and with six former winners to help shape MEPRA’s strategy for engaging and supporting young communicators in the region.

Finalists will be awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze during a virtual MEPRA Awards ceremony on Wednesday, 9th December 2020. For the first time, MEPRA has developed an online showcase, which includes a preview of all shortlisted entries for each category so entrants can review their competition ahead of the awards ceremony next month.

This year marks the 12th edition of the MEPRA Awards, the communications industry’s most prestigious event, which celebrates and recognises the most creative and impactful practitioners in the Middle East. The annual Awards is open to all Middle East based agencies, corporates, government organisations and non-profits working in the communications profession.

This year’s entries were assessed by a panel of more than 50 regional and international industry experts to select the 2020 finalists and winners. The judging process was also reviewed by CARMA CEO Richard Bagnall, who served as an independent adjudicator. This year, shortlisted entries were limited to 10 per category. For categories, which received a larger collection of entries, only the top 10 were shortlisted, even if the submission reached over the 70% scoring threshold.

MEPRA Awards Adjudicator, AMEC Chair and Co-Managing Partner CARMA International, Richard Bagnall said:

“Once again I have been honoured to chair the judging panel for the annual MEPRA Awards. This year I have reviewed nearly 50 entries from across the region allowing me to see the brilliant and diverse PR and comms work being undertaken. As we face a challenging economic environment, it is critical that PR and comms professionals can tell a meaningful measurement story and evaluate their activity with credible and relevant metrics. We saw many examples of entries linking their communications strategy to desired organisational outcomes which is to be celebrated, and truly represents international best practice. My thanks to the team of judges who have worked so hard to be fair and thorough in their assessment of the entries, and my warm congratulations to all of those shortlisted and the winners!”

For the third year, the MEPRA Awards ceremony will be preluded by the REMAP Creative Communications Festival, which will also be held virtually, allowing more practitioners than ever before the chance to learn, share knowledge and celebrate the best through one event. The Festival will be held over two afternoons on 7^th and 8^th December. So far, speakers include; Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman, Creative Director, Behavioural Science lead + author at Ogilvy UK; Roy Armale, Global Chief Innovation Officer at Geometry; and Andrew Elia, Managing Director of Arishi (a VR and AR agency based in the UK which just opened in Abu Dhabi.

The 2020 MEPRA Awards is supported by corporate and agency partners including, Acorn Strategy, Brazen MENA, CARMA, Emirates Global Aluminium, Emirates Water and Electricity Company, Hanover Middle East, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Travelport, Nunify Networks Unified, Mubadala Investment Company and YouGov MENA and Zayed University.

To purchase virtual seats and party packs for the 2020 MEPRA Awards and REMAP Creative Communications Festival, visit mepra.org/events or email community@mepra.org. To view the 2020 MEPRA Awards Finalists, visit mepra.org/awardfinalists

United Arab Emirates, 6 September, 2020 – The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) wrapped up its sixth Leadership Majlis last week, which was held virtually for the first time. The event, which brought together more than 500 industry professionals included a series of daily sessions over one week with communication leaders from the Middle East and abroad. Speakers explored how industry sectors responded globally to the current pandemic and how communicators can help brands speed up recovery, stay relevant and remain connected to their audience beyond the curve.

The event welcomed speakers from the UK Government, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, AstraZeneca, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Malaffi, Atlantis Dubai, Seera Group, IKEA, Chalhoub Group, Nakheel Malls, IRENA, EWEC, TAQA, Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE), Mubadala Investment Company, Campaign Middle East, Twitter and more. Industry leaders from ASDA’A BCW, APCO Worldwide, Brazen MENA, Four Communications Group, Hanover Middle East, Hill+Knowlton Strategies and Manara Global also joined the virtual stage. The series culminated with a full day of virtual masterclasses with Twitter, Helpful Digital, Mubadala Investment Company and the UK Government Communications Services team.

Each day, the panels delved into a new sector, including government, retail, healthcare, travel & tourism and energy. Plus, a special session to address the future of the PR consultancy model and how the communications profession has transformed through the pandemic.

Speaking on the success of the virtual event, MEPRA Chair, Jonty Summers said:

“While we always enjoy seeing our members face-to-face, this year’s virtual edition of the Majlis enabled us to deliver more content than ever before. The sessions offered diverse perspectives on a range of industry sectors with regional and international communication leaders all coming together with a common purpose of sharing learnings from the Covid crisis and how our professionals can play their part in helping brands speed up recovery.”

Brazen MENA’s Managing Partner, Louise Jacobson joined the Majlis’ opening session to address the future of the PR consultancy and how the pandemic has changed the way they work with clients. Louise said:

“We are having to re-strategise on an ongoing basis and give value for money like never before.”

Discussing the importance of collaborations for the future of the retail sector Chalhoub Group’s Head of CX and Strategic Marketing, Ilaria Buonpane said:

“Developers and retailers need to build strong partnerships and invest in technology tools and data to create the best experiences for our customers. If it wasn’t clear before the pandemic, a comprehensive omnichannel approach is crucial for success in the future.”

AstraZeneca Gulf’s Head of Communications, Preeti Chhatbar emphasised the importance of empathy in communications during her panel session on how healthcare is evolving since Covid. Preeti said:

“What I have seen stand out is empathy in how we communicate with our stakeholders. There are a lot of overwhelming challenges and we have to show we care and communicate that authentically.”

MEPRA Strategy Board Member and Head of Corporate Communications at EWEC, Taryam Al Subaihi joined the energy sector panel and highlighted the need to pass on lessons learned to the next generation of communications professionals:

“This pandemic brought us together as communications professionals and enabled us to learn from each other. It’s our role now to prepare those who come after us with the lessons learned,” Al Subaihi said.

Mubadala Investment Company’s Director of Corporate Communications Umayma Abubaker and Director of External Corporate Relations, Rashed Alharmoodi, both emphasised the importance of listening, whether it be with an internal or external audience.

“As communicators, you are as effective as the information you have. You must listen to your employees and then use that data to advise accordingly,” Abubaker said.

“We need to continually find creative and innovative ways to communicate to our stakeholders. Communications works best when you listen and then react, it’s how you build long-term trust in stakeholders,” AlHarmoodi said.

The 2020 Virtual MEPRA Leadership Majlis was supported by Mubadala Investment Company, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, CARMA Global, Hanover Middle East, Brazen MENA, Emirates Global Aluminium and Travelport.

30^th August – 3^rd September 2020 via Zoom

United Arab Emirates, 18 August, 2020 – The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA)

today announced its line up of speakers for its sixth Leadership Majlis, which will be held virtually this year.

The Virtual MEPRA Leadership Majlis will include a series of daily sessions over one week with communication leaders from the Middle East and abroad. Speakers will explore how industry sectors have responded globally to the current pandemic and how communicators can help brands speed up recovery, stay relevant and remain connected to their audience beyond the curve. The series will culminate with a full day of virtual masterclasses with Twitter, Helpful Digital and the UK Government Communications Services team.

The event will welcome speakers from the UK Government, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, AstraZeneca, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Malaffi, Atlantis Dubai, Seera Group, IKEA, Chalhoub Group, Nakheel Malls, IRENA, EWEC, TAQA, Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE), Campaign Middle East, Twitter and more. Industry leaders from ASDA’A BCW, APCO Worldwide, Brazen MENA, Four Communications Group, Hanover Middle East, Hill+Knowlton Strategies and Manara Global will also join the virtual stage.

Each day, the panels will delve into a new sector, including government, retail, healthcare, travel & tourism and energy. Plus a special session to address the future of the PR consultancy model and how the communications profession has transformed through the pandemic.

MEPRA Chair, Jonty Summers said:

“Over the past six years, the MEPRA Majlis has always been a highlight of the year as we bring some of the region’s leading public relations practitioners to discuss issues that are facing our industry . In many ways, the situation we find ourselves this year presents us with opportunities that we have not had before. Video technology is our friend this year. It means we can expand our speaker panel – without the need to factor in travel schedules – meaning we can cross time-zones a little more than we normally do to seek global perspectives.”

“The Virtual MEPRA Majlis Week applies the learnings of six months of video conferencing with five consecutive afternoons of sessions. The format enables us to include more high-calibre content and at a significantly lower price, all to be enjoyed from the comfort of your home office, actual office, or wherever you choose to be to enjoy it.”

The event agenda will cover the theme ‘beyond the curve’ through a mix of presentations, panel discussions and workshops. Tickets are only AED250 per person or AED2,500 per organisation for unlimited access to the five day event.

The 2020 Virtual MEPRA Leadership Majlis is supported by Hill+Knowlton Strategies, CARMA Global, Hanover Middle East, Brazen MENA, Emirates Global Aluminum and Travelport.

To register your attendance or view the agenda for the 2020 Virtual MEPRA Leadership Majlis, visit mepra.org/events/majlis or email community@mepra.org

The MEPRA Youth Board announced an outreach initiative today, to support local businesses in Beirut following the devastating explosions that claimed the lives of more than 160 people, injured thousands and left as many as 300,000 without a home.

The award-winning young communicators are offering their time free of charge for any NGO, charity or local business based in Beirut who needs help amplifying their story to the world.

The Board will assist with copywriting, editing or translation services for businesses struggling to tell their story or may need some extra help through this time.

All requests should be emailed to community@mepra.org

– With more categories than ever before

– Entries discounted by 50% in response to COVID-19 impacts

– New COVID-19 category to recognise industry response to global pandemic

MEPRA has announced a call for entries for the 2020 MEPRA Awards, which recognises and celebrates the brightest, boldest and bravest campaigns and practitioners in Middle East PR. This year, the 12^th edition, marks the largest Awards with 54 categories, including a special focus on the most notable work produced in response to COVID-19.

MEPRA is providing a 50% discount on award entries to help ensure all professionals can participate following COVID-19 impacts. The awards are open to all Middle East-based agencies, corporates, government organisations and non-profits working in the communications profession. Winners will be announced on 9^th December 2020. A decision on whether to hold a physical or virtual Awards Ceremony will be taken closer to the time and guided by COVID-19 safety measures imposed by the UAE government.

Entries can be submitted for best campaigns in geographic markets across the Middle East; technical skills, such as video or creative work; industry sectors including healthcare, government and travel; people and teams; plus a special focus on COVID-19 responses including:

– Best Internal Communications Response During COVID-19

– Best Social Impact Campaign in Response to COVID-19

– Best COVID-19 Crisis Management

– Best Creative Approach During COVID-19

MEPRA Vice Chair and Head of the MEPRA Awards Committee, Lisa Welsh said: “It’s been a challenging year. We’ve listened to the industry who feel that, more than ever, they want to celebrate the impactful work for their clients.

“Over the past four months, our industry has evolved further, with an even bigger shift towards digital engagement, internal and crisis communications. Whilst there has been disruption to many industry sectors, what has remained is the commitment and dedication to create world class communications campaigns that deliver real change. Through the 2020 MEPRA Awards, we want to provide a platform to celebrate the resilience of our industry and the critical role of communications at a time when it’s been needed the most.”

The deadline for awards submissions is Sunday 4 October 2020, with finalists to be announced by 9 November 2020. Entries will be assessed by a panel of more than 40 local and international industry experts, with an independent adjudicator set to review the judging process.

To view all 2020 MEPRA Awards categories and entry guidelines visit www.mepra.org/awards

Make the most of your summer and enrol in MEPRA’s virtual summer school to fast track your continuing professional development (CPD) and become an accredited communications professional!

MEPRA has partnered with Acorn Strategies, APCO Worldwide, ASDA’A BCW, CARMA, Hanover, KEKST CNC, Leaders in Digital, Socialeyez and Tabreed to host 12 FREE virtual workshops from 18^th June to 20^th August on a number of topics to help future proof your career, including sessions on digital marketing, presentation skills, measurement, strategy, leadership plus more.

You can opt to enrol in just one or two courses and earn 5 CPD points per session (or just join in for fun), or register for the full programme to earn 60 CPD points and complete one out of the two years required to become a MEPRA or CIPR accredited communications professional. Once you have earned 120 points (60 per year) you will qualify for MEPRA Accredited PR status (MAPR) and CIPR accredited status (MCIPR), which can be used in your designation and added to your CV to demonstrate your commitment to your professional development.

A public relations professional’s success is dependent on staying relevant, resourceful, and inspired. Committing to your CPD can help you achieve all this and more. Even though we are offering you accreditation you don’t have to take part if you just want to attend the sessions and learn without worrying about points, that’s fine too!

Check out the courses and register at www.mepra.org/events

More about CPR & Accreditation

CPD helps you plan, manage and record all the activities you do to keep your knowledge and skills up to date. CPD ensures that you stay at the leading edge of your profession, so you are equipped for the future in a fast-changing environment. Free and exclusive to MEPRA members, CPD leads to accreditation and is your route to becoming an MEPRA Accredited PR Practitioner (MAPR) and even CIPR Chartered PR Practitioner.

Discover more about CPD and the accreditation model here.

If you have any questions, please email community@mepra.org or call Natalie Smith +971 (0) 54 494 0555

MEPRA announced the launch of a Workplace Wellness Programme today in response to the results from its recent survey, which revealed more than a third of industry professionals feel they are not well supported by companies with regards to their health and wellbeing. The survey, which polled 108 MEPRA members, also revealed that 45% of respondents’ mental health had “often” interfered with their ability to complete work-related tasks. MEPRA held the survey to better understand how COVID-19 had impacted the mental wellbeing of Middle East PR professionals and to tailor a workplace wellness programme in response.

The MEPRA Workplace Wellness Programme will include a toolkit for managers to help identify and support employees with mental health issues, a free webinar series including support for managers and employees on mental wellbeing and a free support service for anyone suffering from mental health issues. The programme is being developed in partnership with various mental health experts in the region and will be available from June 2020 to all MEPRA members.

The COVID-19 Mental health Impact Survey revealed the three most common challenges faced by respondents were feelings of anxiety and panic (51%), financial stress (42%), and depression (28%). More than a third of the respondents also stated they would like to see training for management and leadership on mental health to be better equip them to handle employee issues.

The survey, which was open to professionals working in PR and communications at all levels also revealed:

• The number of respondents who felt ‘very stressed’ tripled from before the lockdown to now – 10% to 30%
• 41% of respondents said their organisations never check in their mental wellbeing
• 38% of respondents don’t feel well supported with their health and wellbeing at work
• 48% of organisations have a wellness programmes
• Top three mental wellness programmes respondents would like to see in their organization:. training for management and leadership on mental health (36%), stress management programmes (30%), and meditation programmes (10% )
• Top three reasons why respondents currently feel stressed or anxious: uncertainty as to when living restrictions as a result of COVID-19 will end (61%), job insecurity (38%), and financial issues 35%
• 28% of respondents were diagnosed with a mental health condition or suffered from mental health issues before COVID 19.

MEPRA Executive Director, Sabrina De Palma said: “The survey results clearly show COVID-19 has impacted not only the physical health of individuals but their mental health as well, with employees currently experiencing more fear and anxiety than usual. The uncertainty about when pandemic will end, financial issues and jobs insecurity are causing employees to feel heightened levels of stress.

“MEPRA is committed to supporting members’ mental health and overall well-being by ensuring everyone has access to support when they need it most. We know from speaking to our members that some organisations have already successfully implemented a workplace wellness programme and as the region’s industry’s body we want to make sure mental health management tools are easily accessible so even more organisations can be better equipped to support their team’s mental wellbeing.”

MEPRA’s second webinar in its mental wellbeing webinar series will be hosted on 18th May 2020 by RE:SET, a locally based online resource centre for mental health support, and Atteline. It will uncover how organisations can create and develop wellness and mental health support practices for employees.

To view the findings from the MEPRA COVID-19 Mental Wellness Impact Survey and to find out more about MEPRA’s free webinars, training and support, visit www.mepra.org/covid-19

Download infographic here.

Earlier this month we surveyed 72 organisations to better understand the impact of COVID-19 on our industry and the issues affecting our members.

 The survey revealed:

• 53% of respondents will see a significant decrease in projects and activity in Q2, 2020

• 66% of respondents believe the PR industry will be “Hit hard with potential big business consequences”

• More than 60% of total respondents have a negative outlook for their business, for the rest of 2020

• 63% of agency respondents and around 40% of in-house respondents say they will see a significant decrease in projects and activity for Q2, 2020

• 41% of respondents are considering redundancies to mitigate the business impact of COVID-19

• 31% of private sector in-house respondents have already made redundancies, followed by 23% of agency respondents and 10% of government or semi-government

Although the survey revealed it is a distressing time for the majority of our industry, the responses allow all of us to have informed conversations about these issues as we move beyond it. The more informed we are, the better prepared we will be to get through these trying times.

We will run regular surveys to continue to monitor the state of our industry. Thank you for your support.

Download the infographic with results here.

As communications professionals, we are all well aware of the ongoing concerns surrounding the spread and impact of COVID-19.

We understand that our members will have increased responsibilities to communicate with stakeholders, clients and staff on activities and policies for their own organisations.

Our priorities at this time as your association is the health of our staff, our members and their families and to support you in your professional lives. We have developed a Resource Hub to keep our industry connected, which will include information developed by your board, MEPRA members and partners to support the profession at a time when the importance of clear and ethical communication is vital. We encourage all members to share and contribute ways in which they are communicating and supporting stakeholders at this time.

Due to the uncertainty about the continued trajectory of the virus, we made the decision to postpone a few of our key events scheduled for the first half of the year, this includes the Abu Dhabi Majlis, CARMA Measurement Workshop, Student Pitch Challenge and our MEPRA Academy training sessions. We are hoping to host these events in the second half of the year and we will continue to be guided by the UAE and regional governments on these decisions.

We are offering MEPRA Academy training online, with our first webinar on IGTV Strategy and Content to take place on the 25th March. You can sign up for our webinars here.

MEPRA's 'The Brief' podcast, will include an episode next week with representatives from agencies and in-house teams discussing how they are navigating these unprecedented circumstances and sharing their thoughts and advice for the industry.

At this difficult time, we are focused more than ever on bringing people together and supporting each other. We are inviting you to share relevant resources or best practice guides to include in the resource hub which can support the wider industry so we can get through this together. Part of MEPRA's mission is to promote industry standards, share knowledge and build the capabilities of professionals in the region. Together we will weather this storm.

If you would like to contribute resources, tips or guides on communicating through this time to support our industry, please email Sabrina at sabrina@mepra.org. You can view our resources hub here.

From all of us in the MEPRA team, we wish you, your families and all your clients strong health at this time.