Rixos Hotels has appointed Brazen MENA as the strategic Public Relations partner for the launch of Rixos Obhur Jeddah, Saudi Arabia?ÇÖs first true all-inclusive family and lifestyle resort. The appointment follows a competitive pitch process and marks a milestone moment for both brands as Rixos makes its highly anticipated debut in the Kingdom.Located on the shores of Obhur Bay, Rixos Obhur Jeddah represents a bold new chapter in experiential travel, combining elevated hospitality with a vibrant, family-first approach. The resort blends contemporary elegance with Arabian hospitality and features 250 accommodations, a private beach, curated dining concepts, world-class wellness facilities, and Jeddah?ÇÖs only dedicated kids?ÇÖ club.Brazen MENA will lead launch communications for the flagship property, with a remit spanning strategic media relations, content development, influencer engagement, and storytelling around the brand?ÇÖs signature ?Çÿall-inclusive, all-exclusive?ÇÖ philosophy. The agency will spotlight the resort?ÇÖs cultural relevance and its role in shaping Saudi Arabia?ÇÖs evolving tourism landscape.The win further strengthens Brazen MENA?ÇÖs growing portfolio in the Kingdom and reinforces the agency?ÇÖs track record in delivering high-impact, locally relevant campaigns for the region?ÇÖs most exciting hospitality brands.Louise Jacobson, Managing Partner at Brazen MENA, commented:?Ç£This is a hugely exciting win for the agency. Rixos Obhur Jeddah isn?ÇÖt just a resort ?Çô it?ÇÖs a game-changing destination that speaks to where Saudi tourism is heading. Our expertise in lifestyle, hospitality, and market-first openings puts us in a prime position to help bring the launch to life and create lasting impact.?ÇÖ?ÇÖMohammed Al-Khatib, General Manager of Rixos Obhur Jeddah, added:?Ç£We are delighted to partner with Brazen MENA at this pivotal moment for the Rixos brand in Saudi Arabia. As a milestone launch, it was essential to find a PR partner who understands the market and brings bold, creative storytelling. Brazen MENA stood out for their strategic thinking, local insight, and passion for lifestyle-driven communications ?Çô we?ÇÖre excited to bring this destination to life together.?ÇÖWith offices in Dubai and Riyadh, Brazen MENA continues to build on its bold new brand platform ?Çô B Ahead, B Brazen, driving greater Visibility, Reputation and Impact across the region.

Brazen MENA, a leading PR agency in the Middle East with offices in Dubai and Riyadh, today announced a bold new rebrand as it celebrates its milestone: 10-year anniversary. The rebrand sees the launch of the agency?ÇÖs new, brand platform ?ÇÿB Ahead, B Brazen?ÇÖ and reflects Brazen MENA?ÇÖs evolution from PR agency to reputation consultancy and the best female owned in the Middle East* . With a view to driving greater Visibility, Reputation and Impact for its clients, ?ÇÿB Ahead, B Brazen?ÇÖ reflects a future-facing, client-first positioning, built around clear service specialisms. Created especially for the challenges brand?ÇÖs face in today?ÇÖs world ?Çô from fragmented attention, rising scepticism, and pressure to deliver ROI ?Çô the new positioning has been shaped in line with today?ÇÖs consumer who expects more; they?ÇÖre selective, sceptical and constantly choosing who to trust.  As such, brands must earn attention, shape narrative and prove value. ?ÇÿB Ahead?ÇÖ is Brazen MENA?ÇÖs solution ?Çô and serves to help clients move faster and think sharper, whilst staying one step ahead.The rebrand launches in silo with the agency?ÇÖs redefined, three-powered service model: B Social, B Lifestyle, B Corporate ?Çô specialised offerings ultimately designed to move the needle on visibility, sentiment and business results:  B Social ?Çô Strategy-led, insight-driven, social-first campaigns that convert attention into action. B Lifestyle ?Çô Consumer and culture-connected campaigns for lifestyle and experience-led brands. B Corporate ?Çô Reputation-first communications that build trust, credibility and influence across sectors.Managing Partner, Louise Jacobson, who is also a Provoke Innovator 25 ?Çô EMEA, and a Global Women in PR MENA Board Member comments: ?Ç£For the last decade, Brazen MENA has enjoyed numerous accolades. In that time, we?ÇÖve looked after 400+ brands across consumer, corporate and government sectors, won 70+ industry awards, and built long-term client partnerships based on our values of trust, performance and relevance.  ?Ç£The 10 year mark is not just an exciting milestone, but also a turning point ?Çô a chance not just to reflect, but a reset for what?ÇÖs next. We know the challenges brands face in today?ÇÖs complex, consumer driven world ?Çô and ?ÇÿB Ahead B Brazen?ÇÖ enables us to pinpoint them head on.  ?ÇÿB Ahead?ÇÖ is not just a brand line ?Çô it will serve as the lens for every strategy, every campaign and every result. Combined with our redefined, three-powered service offering, we?ÇÖre confident this rebrand will propel us forward for the next decade as we continue to expand across the GCC and beyond.?Ç¥Operating across the GCC with offices in Dubai and Riyadh servicing clients in the UAE, Qatar, KSA and the UK, Brazen MENA offers deep regional insight and bilingual team delivery. With proven results in building strategies for global and local brands, delivering press office, influencer and content execution across Gulf markets, the agency is not only the region?ÇÖs top 10 PR consultancies, but also recognised as the number one female-owned PR agency in the region.*

PRCA MENA ?Çô the regional arm of the world?ÇÖs largest professional PR association ?Çô has announced the winners of the PRCA MENA Young Lions PR Competition 2025: Raneem Saleeh and Youssef Yammine from Burson, for their powerful and purpose-driven campaign titled ?Ç£Believe in your 2.5%.?Ç¥The winning team clinched the top spot after a competitive final round held on 15 April, where six shortlisted teams presented their ideas to a distinguished jury comprising industry leaders from across the MENA region. Their campaign stood out for its strategic creativity, thoughtful storytelling, and strong alignment with this year?ÇÖs humanitarian theme.The jury for the final round included:?Çó Ahmad Itani, Chair of PRCA MENA Advisory Board and Founder & CEO, Cicero & Bernay Communication Consultancy?Çó Laureline Schwarz, Head of Global Corporate Communication, PR, Public Relations, Al-Futtaim Automotive?Çó Louise Jacobson, Managing Partner, Brazen MENA?Çó Raefah Makki, Head of Individual Giving & Campaigns, UNHCR?Çó Sophie Simpson, Managing Director & Founder, Ruder Finn AttelineThis year?ÇÖs brief was developed in collaboration with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and challenged participants to craft a compelling campaign that raises awareness and drives advocacy for displaced communities across the region.As winners, Raneem and Youssef will go on to represent the MENA region at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France this June.Conrad Egbert, Head of PRCA MENA, commented:?Ç£It was a tough decision for the jury; each campaign was impactful, innovative, and deeply rooted in purpose. Congratulations to Raneem and Youssef from Burson for their exceptional work?Çöwe can?ÇÖt wait to see them shine at Cannes.?Ç¥Raefah Makki, Head of Individual Giving & Campaigns at UNHCR, added:?Ç£This year?ÇÖs partnership with PRCA MENA was a significant step in leveraging the power of communication to amplify the voices of displaced people. ?ÇÿBelieve in your 2.5%?ÇÖ captured that vision beautifully, and we are excited to see how it resonates on a larger stage.?Ç¥The 2025 competition saw participation from 46 young professionals representing 12 leading agencies across the region, including: Action Global Communications, BPG Group, Burson, Cosmopole Consultancy, Current Global MENAT, Gambit Communications, Houbara Communications, Memac Ogilvy, Saatchi & Saatchi Qatar, Seven Media, The Romans, Weber Shandwick MENAT.

The Official Representative of the Cannes Young Lions PR Competition PRCA Mena has revealed the six teams that have made it onto the shortlist. Last week 23 teams, each consisting of two PR professionals from the region, aged 30 or under, had a pressing 24-hours to respond to a brief set by this year?ÇÖs humanitarian partner, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.The brief challenged participants to develop a campaign that would raise awareness, increase downloads and drive donations for UNHCR?ÇÖs Refugee Zakat Fund Mobile App?Çöan innovative platform designed to make Zakat giving more accessible, transparent, and impactful. The brief stated, ?Ç£our challenge remains increasing awareness of our RZF app, downloads and number of users who donate through the app.?Ç¥The final shortlist includes:?Çó BPG Group ?Çô Rua Youssef & Rayana El Masri?Çó Burson ?Çô Raneem Saleeh & Youssef Yammine?Çó Cosmopole Consultancy ?Çô Nithin Narayanan & Meena Shahin?Çó Gambit Communications ?Çô Tala Maas & Hana Sabri?Çó Seven Media ?Çô Neimat ElKarib & Tala Abu Eid?Çó The Romans ?Çô Cham Alatrach & Katie Bell-WrightOn 15 April 2025, the shortlisted six teams will present their ideas to the esteemed Mena jury with the winners announced on 16 April 2025. The winning team will go on to officially represent Mena in June at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity that will be held in the south of France.This year?ÇÖs esteemed jury includes:?Çó Ahmad Itani, Founder & CEO of Cicero & Bernay Communication Consultancy ?Çó Laureline Schwarz, Head of Global Corporate Communication, PR, Public Relations, AlFuttaim Automotive ?Çó Louise Jacobson, Managing Partner at Brazen MENA ?Çó Raefah Makki, Head of Individual Giving & Campaigns, UNHCR?Çó Sophie Simpson, Managing Director & Founder of AttelineConrad Egbert, Head of PRCA Mena, said:?Ç£We?ÇÖre absolutely blown away by the level of creativity and passion that each team has demonstrated in this year?ÇÖs competition. A huge thank you to our esteemed jury for committing their precious time and effort to us and to the UNHCR for partnering with us on such a meaningful brief. Best of luck to the finalists?Çöwe look forward to your pitches.?Ç¥PRCA Mena continues to champion the region?ÇÖs rising talent, offering young professionals unparalleled opportunities to shine on the global stage.

Brazen MENA has been selected as CFI?ÇÖs strategic partner for all public relations needs following a competitive pitch. As an award-winning agency, with accolades such as the MEPRA Home-Grown Agency of the Year, Brazen MENA has been entrusted with increasing awareness of CFI?ÇÖs global trading services, empowering traders, and highlighting its wide array of financial products and advanced trading platforms.A pioneering financial services provider, CFI prides itself on delivering exceptional value to traders worldwide. With over 25 years of experience, CFI offers access to more than 15,000 financial instruments and is regulated by over 12 international authorities, ensuring a secure and trusted trading environment. Brazen MENA?ÇÖs role will be to strengthen CFI?ÇÖs brand presence and expand its recognition in global financial markets.With a commitment to superior trading conditions, CFI provides commission-free trading, zero-pip spreads, ultra-fast execution, and world-class support. Brazen MENA will focus on promoting CFI?ÇÖs advanced platforms, educational resources, and market-leading tools that make trading more accessible, flexible, and reliable.In addition, Brazen MENA will oversee all media and influencer communications, working to further promote CFI?ÇÖs powerful offerings, from expert trading education to the cutting-edge tools that help traders make smarter, more informed decisions.Ziad Melhem, CFI Chief Marketing Officer, comments: ?Ç£At CFI, strategic communication is essential to strengthening our brand and engaging traders globally. Brazen MENA?ÇÖs creativity and expertise make them an ideal partner to help us enhance our messaging and reinforce our commitment to innovation, transparency, and trader empowerment. We look forward to a strong collaboration that drives meaningful impact.?Ç¥Louise Jacobson, Managing Partner of Brazen MENA, added: "We're thrilled to be leading PR for CFI, a pioneering financial services provider with a strong legacy of delivering exceptional value to traders worldwide. With Lewis Hamilton as their global brand ambassador, CFI embodies precision, performance, and a winning mindset?Çövalues that align perfectly with our approach at Brazen MENA. This partnership reinforces our expertise in the corporate and finance space, and we're excited to enhance CFI?ÇÖs brand presence and expand its recognition in global financial markets. With our smart, creative, and results-driven strategies, we?ÇÖre set to deliver high-impact results."

Multi-award-winning PR agency Brazen MENA is enhancing its regional growth strategy through a series of new hires and promotions. These additions bolster the team, solidifying Brazen MENA?ÇÖs position as a top-tier PR and social media powerhouse across the GCC.With seven promotions and eight new hires, Brazen MENA is accelerating its presence in key markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, setting the stage for even greater success.Among the promotions, Middle East PR Association?ÇÖs Young Communicator of the Year, Khyati Megchiani has been promoted from Account Manager to Senior Account Manager. Additionally, Aarzoo Chogl?? has grown from Account Director to Senior Account Director, while Ada Teodoro steps up from Senior Account Manager to Junior Account Director. Rising star Kristina Fernandes takes on the title of Junior Account Manager, having served as Senior Account Executive, while Aya Khaddam and Devi Prakash both move from Account Executive to Senior Account Executive. Finally, Edhielou Cabillan assumes the role of Senior PR Coordinator.Brazen MENA has injected fresh energy into its team with the appointment of Catherine Salter as Social Media Manager, leading ?ÇÿSocial B?ÇÖ, the agency?ÇÖs refreshed social media offering with clients such as DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai - Jumeirah Beach. Hibba Khan joins as People & Culture Executive, supporting Brazen?ÇÖs commitment to nurturing its dynamic team culture. Meanwhile, L??a Allam joins as Growth Director, Sharanya Paulraj as Junior Account Director, Salma Elsaadany as Account Manager, Lana Alomar as Senior Account Executive, and Chirag Harjani and Gazala Parker as Account Executives, taking the team to 28.Boasting a client roster that includes industry heavyweights such as Dubai Economy & Tourism, Atlantis Dubai, Daimler, and Marriott International, Brazen MENA has cemented its reputation as one of the region?ÇÖs leading lifestyle PR agencies. The agency's momentum is further amplified by the opening of its new Riyadh office, a key milestone in its GCC expansion plan, which enhances its regional footprint. With client relationships in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and ongoing success in the UAE, Brazen MENA is poised for continued regional growth.Louise Jacobson, Managing Partner at Brazen MENA, shared her excitement: ?Ç£At Brazen MENA, the team always comes first, and we are deeply committed to nurturing homegrown talent. I?ÇÖm incredibly proud to have awarded so many well-deserved promotions this year as well as significantly expanded the team. With the opening of our Riyadh office, we?ÇÖre entering a pivotal phase in our expansion, and I?ÇÖm confident that with the right people in place, we will continue to grow and thrive across the region. This is just the beginning of what?ÇÖs to come.?Ç¥

The MENA chapter of Global Women in PR (GWPR), a global membership organisation connecting women in senior PR and communications roles, is welcoming Radwa Allabban, Founder and Managing Director, Place Communications and Purti Simon, Vice President, Teneo as board members this Women?ÇÖs History Month.Radwa brings 20+ years of experience to her position, and invaluable knowledge from her time setting up and running her own agency, which she launched in 2011. Purti is a multidisciplinary communications professional with over 10 years in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. She was listed as one of India?ÇÖs top 30 PR professionals under 30 and led the APACMEA delegation for the International Women?ÇÖs Forum to Boston.Purti said: ?Ç£I am delighted to be formally appointed as a Board Member for the regional chapter following my involvement with the organisation for many years. GWPR MENA is steadfast in delivering its promise of an equitable PR industry where women are seen and valued. I am grateful to join the league of committed Board Members, each trailblazers in their own right, to advocate and equip female leaders at a time when companies are losing them in droves for a variety of systemic reasons. Looking ahead, I hope to bring more impetus to building a healthy pipeline of women leaders and providing them opportunities that help them thrive in the workplace.?Ç¥Radwa said: ?Ç£In a region experiencing constant change, the role of PR and Communications has never been more important. Global Women in PR MENA is not just another networking group - it's the only platform in the region for senior female communicators to come together and have honest conversations about the challenges and opportunities we face, and most importantly to take concrete actions to address them. We don't just talk, we act. We exist to support, showcase and lift up current and future female leaders in our industry.?Ç¥Rachel Dunn, GWPR MENA Co-Chair and Communications Director at Microsoft Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa, said: ?Ç£Radwa and Purti are two of the most well-respected female leaders in the communications industry here in the region and we are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming them as GWPR MENA Board Members. Their combined knowledge, insights and experience will be invaluable in offering guidance and shaping the experiences of women in the industry. Their arrival at a time when women around the globe are marking Women?ÇÖs History Month is particularly fitting, and we look forward to getting straight to work.?Ç¥GWPR MENA is currently celebrating its largest ever membership of female senior communications professionals in the UAE, at 80 members. The six-strong board members also includes Co-Chair, Loretta Ahmed, Founder and CEO of Houbara Communications, Naamat Baradhy, Regional Communication Advisor at First Abu Dhabi Bank, and Louise Jacobson, Managing Partner of Brazen MENA.In its latest step to strengthen its commitment to connecting senior female communicators, GWPR MENA recently launched ?ÇÿThe Conversation Series,?ÇÖ a platform to have honest conversations about the challenges and issues faced by women in the industry, and discuss ways to overcome them. The series is the latest addition to GWPR MENA?ÇÖs robust calendar of monthly events, webinars, and community platforms including an active and supportive messaging group.GWPR MENA continues to connect and attract women in leadership within the communications industry across the region, offering membership to those in senior leadership positions within the PR and Communications industry, both agency and ?Çÿin-house?ÇÖ or who are freelance consultants with significant PR experience of 10 years and above.