DUBAI, 21st April 2025 (WAM) -- 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.

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 recognised across the industry. He was named Advertising Person of the Year at Dubai Lynx 2023 and earned the 2023 Loeries Marketing Leadership & 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 & 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, said, "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.

Simon Cook, CEO of Lions, commented, "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."

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.