ABU DHABI — UAE strategic communications agency Manara Global has expanded from its base in Dubai to Abu Dhabi, as it embarks on its next phase of growth.

The agency, which was set up in 2019 by former Edelman and Freuds execs Robin Gordon-Farleigh and Teri O’Donnell, has opened a hub in the Masdar City sustainable urban community to support the agency’s existing government clients in the UAE capital.

Gordon-Farleigh (pictured, right), who will lead the new office, said the move reinforced Manara Global’s relationships with the Abu Dhabi and UAE government sector, as well as its momentum in the private sector, with several recent technology account wins, including G42 Cloud. The agency also works with clients outside of the Middle East, such as London Business School.

He said: “The hub in Masdar City marks a pivotal step in the agency’s wider expansion plans that envision further outreach across the region and internationally; we will be looking to further build out our staffing capabilities in the coming months. We are also looking to build out our services further to best support government entities with their aim to deliver world-class government communications.”

O’Donnell (pictured, left, alongside Masdar City Free Zone acting director Amier Alawadhi) said the expansion was “a strategic leap in our journey,” adding that the new location “empowers us to serve our clients more effectively while also resonating with our focus on sustainability and our purpose-led values.”

Another focus of the agency’s strategic plan is innovation, including new technology tools and expanding its insight and intelligence team Ma’refa (‘knowledge’ in Arabic).

Gordon-Farleigh said: “With our Ma’refa team, we have enhanced our capacity to deliver insightful and region-specific intelligence, with a nuanced focus on the UAE. This is a pivotal era, as we embrace cutting-edge technology solutions and position ourselves to lead, innovate, and drive meaningful impact in the field of strategic communications.”