Khaled AlShehhi From UAE Government Media Office Appointed As First Government Juror At Cannes Lions Festival

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has appointed Khaled AlShehhi, Executive Director of Marketing and Communication at the UAE Government Media Office, to its jury. This marks a historic moment as he becomes the first government sector representative globally to join this esteemed panel. The festival, established 72 years ago, recognises the UAE's innovative contributions to marketing communications.

AlShehhi's selection underscores the UAE's dedication to creative excellence in public-sector communications worldwide. The UAE Government Media Office has garnered over 220 international awards, including multiple Cannes Lions accolades. It also achieved a 4th-place global ranking in the Effie Index for effective marketing and was named the 2022 Global Brand of the Year by the AME New York Festival.

Simon Cook, CEO of Lions, expressed enthusiasm about AlShehhi joining the PR Lions jury. "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 professionals from around the world in Cannes this June to assess groundbreaking PR campaigns. The event will culminate with an Awards Show on 20 June 2025. This appointment highlights the UAE's growing influence and leadership on a global scale.

Khaled AlShehhi has received widespread recognition within his industry. He was honoured as Advertising Person of the Year at Dubai Lynx 2023 and received the Loeries Marketing Leadership & Innovation Award that same year. Notably, he became the first Middle Eastern recipient in that award show's 45-year history.

Among his other achievements are receiving the 2022 Effie MENA Honorary Award and being recognised with the World Media Group Award for Content Leadership & Innovation in 2022. He also plays an active role on various boards, including serving on both PRCA's Board in MENA and MEPRA's Strategic Council.

Commitment to Creativity

Khaled AlShehhi shared his thoughts on joining this prestigious jury: "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."

He further added: "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."

This appointment reflects not only AlShehhi's personal achievements but also highlights how far-reaching UAE's creative influence has become internationally.

With inputs from WAM