UAE's Khaled AlShehhi makes history as first government official on Cannes Lions Jury
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has selected Khaled AlShehhi, Executive Director of Marketing and Communication at the UAE Government Media Office, to join its PR Lions jury.
This appointment marks the first time in the festival's 72-year history that a government sector representative has been chosen for the jury.
AlShehhi's selection comes as recognition of the UAE's contributions to marketing communications.
Cannes Lions appoints first-ever government representative from UAE to PR jury
The UAE Government Media Office has accumulated over 220 international awards, including multiple Cannes Lions, and ranks fourth globally in the Effie Index for effective marketing.
The office was also named Global Brand of the Year by the AME New York Festival in 2022.
'It is a privilege to join the Cannes Lions jury, an opportunity that not only underscores our organisation's achievements globally but also highlights the UAE's belief in the power of creativity to shape impactful government communications. For me, true creativity begins with a heart-racing insight, and it only grows stronger when you dare to bring it to life. if an idea doesn't shake you a bit, it's probably not bold enough to capture hearts and transform realities. I look forward to sharing our perspective and learning from the world's finest PR campaigns. I am grateful to work in an environment that consistently nurtures bold ideas and encourages pioneering strategies. This culture of innovation enables us to produce campaigns that resonate locally and globally, and I hope to bring those insights to the jury table,' AlShehhi said.
AlShehhi brings significant industry recognition to the role. He was named Advertising Person of the Year at Dubai Lynx 2023 and received the 2023 Loeries Marketing Leadership & Innovation Award, becoming the first Middle Eastern recipient in the award's 45-year history.
His other accolades include the 2022 Effie MENA Honorary Award and the 2022 World Media Group Award for Content Leadership & Innovation.
His industry involvement extends to board positions with the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) in the Middle East and North Africa, and membership in the Strategic Council of the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA).
'We are delighted to welcome Khaled AlShehhi to the PR Lions jury. His innovative work in government communications and ongoing commitment to creative excellence in the region and beyond, means he is well placed to represent the region on the global stage. The UAE Government Media Office's consistent success at Cannes Lions – winning for three consecutive years and the UAE's ranking at eighth in the Cannes Lions Global Creativity Index highlight the remarkable strides the nation has made in recent years,' Simon Cook, CEO of Lions added
Cook noted that the UAE Government Media Office has won Cannes Lions for three consecutive years, with the UAE now ranking eighth in the Cannes Lions Global Creativity Index.
AlShehhi will join global professionals in Cannes this June to evaluate PR campaigns, with the Awards Show scheduled for June 20, 2025.
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