Cannes: The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced the selection of Khaled AlShehhi, Executive Director of Marketing and Communication at the UAE Government Media Office, as the first government sector representative worldwide to join the jury of this prestigious festival, established 72 years ago.
According to Emirates News Agency, this appointment to the prestigious PR Lions awarding jury reflects the Festival's recognition of the UAE's achievements in shaping innovative, forward-thinking marketing communications. The UAE Government Media Office has earned over 220 international accolades, including multiple Cannes Lions awards, a 4th-place global ranking in the Effie Index for effective marketing, and recognition as the 2022 Global Brand of the Year by the AME New York Festival.
Khaled AlShehhi's selection highlights the nation's commitment to creative excellence and effective public-sector communications on the global stage. AlShehhi has also been widely recognized across the industry. He was named Advertising Person of the Year at Dubai Lynx 2023 and earned the 2023 Loeries Marketing Leadership and Innovation Award, becoming the first Middle Eastern recipient in that show's 45-year history. Among his other accolades are the 2022 Effie MENA Honorary Award and the 2022 World Media Group Award for Content Leadership and Innovation.
He also serves on the Board of the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) in the Middle East and North Africa, and is a member of the Strategic Council of the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA), actively contributing to the growth and development of the region's communications industry.
Khaled AlShehhi, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at the UAE Government Media Office, expressed his honor at joining the Cannes Lions jury, noting that it underscores the UAE's belief in the power of creativity to shape impactful government communications. He emphasized the importance of bold ideas in capturing hearts and transforming realities, and expressed his eagerness to share insights and learn from the world's finest PR campaigns.
Simon Cook, CEO of Lions, commented on AlShehhi's innovative work in government communications and his commitment to creative excellence. The UAE Government Media Office's consistent success at Cannes Lions, including winning for three consecutive years and the UAE's ranking at eighth in the Cannes Lions Global Creativity Index, highlights the remarkable strides the nation has made in recent years.
AlShehhi will join leading global professionals in Cannes this June to evaluate groundbreaking PR campaigns, culminating in the Awards Show on 20 June 2025. This appointment stands as a testament to the UAE's creative influence and its increasing leadership on the international stage.