MEPRA to host Leadership Majlis in May

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The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) will host the second edition of the MEPRA Leadership Majlis at The Ritz Carlton, Abu Dhabi on May 25, 2016, bringing together industry representatives to discuss the topic of ‘The Future of Public Relations in the Middle East: Innovation, Disruption and Relevance’. With over 200 guests expected, the speaker line-up for the event includes: Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs and Chairwoman, Media Zone Authority-Abu Dhabi and twofour54; Peter Baumgartner, CEO, Etihad Airways and Rania Roston, Chief Innovation and Communications Officer, GE.

“The response to our inaugural Majlis was extremely positive and our programme of speakers for this year is even stronger,” says Brian Lott, Chairman, MEPRA Board. “This event showcases the unique talent we have in the region and best practices from some of our most prominent practitioners, with fresh insights into the rapid changes happening in our industry.”

Digital Media Forum to be held in April

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The fifth installment of the Digital Media Forum (DMF) is set to be held in Dubai on April 26, 2016. The forum is a gathering of the digital media industry’s top and influential leaders from the MENA region and around the world, brought together to give talks that are inspiring and idea-focused, as well as share experience-based learnings. The theme of this season’s event will be ‘The Future Re-starts at 2016 DMF’ and the program will have different streams; Media and Performance, Creative and Tech, Panel Discussions and interviews. Speakers scheduled to appear at the forum include: Adam Kostyal, Senior Vice President, NASDAQ OMX Sweden; Alexander Bregman, Strategic Partner Development Manager, Google EMEA and Simon Atwater, Executive Creative Director, DigitasLBi MENA.

Al Arabiya hosts Lord Bell

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Al Arabiya English hosted communications veteran Lord Timothy Bell, Chairman of public relations firm Bell Pottinger, as part of a panel discussion on the PR industry last Thursday, March 10. The event was moderated by Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief, Al Arabiya English and attended by government representatives, public relations industry professionals and senior journalists, as part of an ongoing series – Al Arabiya News Global Discussions, an initiative created by Al Arabiya News during its relaunch in order to bolster understanding, encourage dialogue and find ways to bridge the communication gap between the MENA region and the rest of the world. Lord Bell offered his opinions on a number of topics, including Britain’s membership in the EU, the ‘war of words’ against ISIS as well as the rise of social media and how this has brought more opportunities to reach more specific audiences.

“The essence of public relations is to use third party endorsement to inform and persuade…none of that has changed,” says Lord Bell, referring to social and digital media and the PR process. “It’s the same skill and the art of it is to have an idea that you communicate with the same power to capture the imagination of the people you’re talking to, which makes them change the way they think and the way they behave.”

 

 

 

Dubai Lynx 2016 Winners Announced

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The Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity held its awards ceremony last night, attended by over 1,800 guests, at the Madinat Jumeirah to celebrate winners of the 10th annual awards. 2016 winners included J. Walter Thompson Dubai, UAE who won the Grand Prix for Good for its ‘I Can Teach You Too’ campaign for Dubai Cares; Leo Burnett Beirut, Lebanon who won the Promo and Activation Grand Prix for its ‘Merry Balconies’ campaign for Proctor and Gamble and Impact BBDO, Dubai who won Agency of the Year.

“There is an ever-increasing demonstration of globally-recognisable excellence at Dubai Lynx,” says Terry Savage, Chairman, Lions Festivals. “But what’s also apparent is the surge of a distinctly, proudly regional tone. We celebrate what sets MENA apart as well as what allows it to compete on the world stage.”

Stylist to host social media awards

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APP Media Group will host the first Stylist Arabia Social Media Awards UAE, on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. The awards will recognise digital innovators in the UAE, with categories highlighting global influencers in the fields of fashion, beauty, food and travel. The event will also include a special award for Stylist’s Social Media Influencer of the Year, as well as a Rising Social Media Star of the Year.

Nominees will be shortlisted by a panel of experts, including Stylist‘s own social media guru and Fashion Director, Esther Quek; Conde Nast Traveller ME Editor in Chief, Rhea Saran and Architectural Digest’s ME Editor in Chief, Manuel Arnaut. Once shortlisted, the nominees, their followers and Stylist readers will vote for their winner via the Stylist Social Media Awards website. Winners will be announced at the gala event.

“Social media in the region has revolutionised the fashion and style landscape in the UAE, highlighting and localising the latest trends with personalised creativity,” says Sue Holt, Executive Director, APP. “We are delighted to recognise and reward these online content creators as contributors in the industry and encourage growth for influencers to expand their reach online.”

Architectural Digest celebrates first anniversary

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Held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Architectural Digest – part of APP Group – is celebrating its first anniversary in the Middle East. To underline the occasion, the publication will be curating a charitable auction under the theme ‘One of a Kind’ featuring the work of some of the leading product designers and artists from the Middle East, which will be sold with revenue donated to Dubai Cares. The event will be held in the Annex Burj Khalifa and sponsored by real estate company Wasl Properties, luxury watch brand Audemars Piguet and high-end furniture company Ethan Allen.

“Architectural Digest is celebrating its first anniversary in the Middle East with a charitable design exhibition that aims to give back to the great community that has embraced this publication since its first issue,” says Manuel Arnaut, Editor In Chief, Architectural Digest. “I would deeply like to thank the 13 designers and artists that donated their work. These pieces will be sold through a silent auction that aims to support Dubai Cares. And of course, a very special word of gratitude goes to Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), for her patronage and overall support of Architectural Digest and this exhibition in particular.”

UAE Minister of Tolerance to speak at Stylist Event

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The new UAE Minister of Tolerance, HE Sheikha Lubna bint Khaled al Qasimi, is to make a keynote speech at the Stylist Arabia International Women’s Day event to be held on March 7, 2016 at the Beach Lounge, Jumeirah Beach Hotel. Sheikha Lubna will unveil the magazine’s first ever Stylist 50 list of the UAE’s Most Inspirational Women and will present awards to five specially selected women for outstanding achievement. Drawn from various sectors, including business, finance, arts, science, philanthropy, entertainment and sport, The Stylist 50 list features both Arab and expatriate women living in the UAE.

“Sheikha Lubna is without doubt one of the UAE’s most inspirational women of the past few decades, with a truly outstanding career at the highest levels of both business and government,” says Kerry McDermott, Editor, Stylist Arabia. “Her presence at the event is a huge honour for all the women who will be attending and will be all the more significant as it is on the even of International Women’s Day.”

BBC Good Food ME winners announced

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The sixth annual BBC Good Food Middle East Awards 2015 took place on Monday, February 15, 2016 at the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort and Spa, Dubai Marina. With over 350 people from the industry in attendance, the awards were voted for by consumers and recognised restaurants and culinary brands across a range of categories, with winners including Ripe Market for Favourite Health Food Store/Market, Samantha Wood of Foodiva for Best Food Blogger and Marina Social for Best New Restaurant – Dubai.

“Our awards are all about celebrating the best in food from across the region and recognising the tremendous growth seen in the Middle East’s F&B sector over the past year,” says Sophie McCarrick, Editor, BBC Good Food Middle East. “I’d like to congratulate not only the winners, but also all of our finalists, for making the event a great success! I’m really looking forward to another exciting year of development ahead.”

The full list of winners can be viewed at www.bbcgoodfoodme.com/awards/2015

 

Dubai Lynx to partner with Twitter

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The Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity has formed a joint partnership with Twitter, which will see the launch of the first Twitter Live Young Lynx Competition. Building on the young talent opportunities available at Dubai Lynx, the competition celebrates the best real-time campaign by a brand or its agency, leveraging the speed of social and digital. The Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity takes place between March 6 and March 8, 2016, culminating in an awards ceremony where the winners of Twitter Live will be honoured, on March 9, 2016.

“Social networks are an integral part of our industry today and Twitter is truly a global platform,” says Emma Farmer, Festival Director, Dubai Lynx. “The Twitter Live Young Lynx Competition is an exciting competition which harnesses the instantaneousness and worldwide appeal of Twitter. This generation have grown up with a fresh perspective of how to communicate in an innovative and creative manner and reflect the ever-changing digital landscape. As an International Festival of Creativity, this is what drives Dubai Lynx to continue to invest in diverse young talent.”

Frederique Covington, International Marketing Director, Twitter, adds “From its beginning, Twitter is the first service that people open to see what’s happening in the world right now, direct from the source and live, as it unfolds. As such, the potential for the creative industry to leverage the power of live is limitless. We are excited to partner with the Dubai Lynx Festival to recognise and grow the amazing creativity in the region.”

Entry submission open for Digital Awards

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Entry submission is now open for the MENA Digital Awards (MDA’s), an awards show aimed to honor digital efforts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Coupled with the Digital Media Forum (DMF), the awards will recognise excellence in the use of digital technologies and media by honoring the people and brands leading the communication industry.
Categories for the MDA’s cover all forms of technical and creative digital work, across the communications industry, with winners being determined by a panel of international digital experts who will assess both results and impact of entries. Entry is open to all members of the digital industry, covering clients, agencies and producers, with a number of new awards categories under the heading of Digital Assets.