Weber Shandwick

UAE, Kuwait, Qatar

Weber Shandwick MENAT has had a “game-on” year, characterised with a great run of new business and a focus on bold, earned-first storytelling. In a dynamic and fast-evolving region, the agency – under the long-time ledaership of MENAT CEO Ziad Hasbani – has continued to redefine what strategic communications can achieve, solving business challenges, creating cultural moments, and delivering measurable impact for its clients.

With a 92% client retention rate and an 83% satisfaction score for solving strategic challenges, the agency’s approach is built on deep regional insight, creativity, and data-driven intelligence. Last year, it secured over two dozen major new clients, including Google Cloud, Ikea, Hilton, Dubai Municipality, and Boehringer Ingelheim, joining long-standing partnerships with Mastercard, General Motors, and Ericsson. Its ability to drive tangible business outcomes saw it win two out of every three pitches, fuelling 17% new business growth across the Middle East. 

Weber Shandwick MENAT’s creative approach has shaped some of the year’s most impactful campaigns. To prove Snapchat’s relevance in Saudi Arabia’s fashion industry, it created the region’s first AR fashion exhibition at Riyadh Fashion Week, sparking months of conversation. For Yas Island Abu Dhabi, it turned a tourism campaign into a cultural phenomenon with the ‘Chief Island Officer’ series, driving a 40% increase in international media coverage and global brand association with ‘joy’. And its ‘Global Stories, Local Lens’ campaign for Media City Qatar used a striking artistic installation at the Venice Film Festival to double the number of companies joining its ecosystem in just three months.

Beyond commercial success, the agency has reinforced its commitment to thought leadership and social impact. It launched InfluAnswer Arabia, the first-ever study amplifying the perspectives of digital content creators across nine MENA markets, reaching 15.2 million people. It also strengthened its role in driving diversity and leadership opportunities for women, extending its Think Equal partnership and hosting dedicated industry workshops. Community engagement remained central, from mentoring high school students to supporting humanitarian relief efforts and providing pro bono work for The Little Wings Foundation.

Internally, Weber Shandwick MENAT’s vibrant culture continues to set it apart, earning it recertification as a Great Place to Work. The agency is 56% female at director level and above, and 95% of employees express pride in working there. With an 8% increase in headcount, the agency has invested heavily in talent development, launching its first MENAT Innovation Lab and expanding AI training and Harvard Business School programmes. — MPS