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DUBAI/WAM
H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance, today met with Mark Read, CEO of WPP, one of the world’s largest marketing and communications services groups. During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Maktoum outlined the UAE’s strategic vision to consolidate its status as a global hub for the media and creative economy, highlighting its dynamic business environment, advanced infrastructure, and future-focused mindset as key drivers attracting the world’s top advertising and marketing services firms. The meeting also discussed the role of the UAE’s regulatory landscape and rapid adoption of emerging technologies in cultivating a thriving ecosystem where creativity, talent, and innovation can flourish.
The discussions underscored the important role played by Dubai’s media industry and creative economy in advancing the emirate’s broader economic strategy outlined in the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
The meeting highlighted that as the emirate continues to build an innovation-driven future, marketing and communications services companies like WPP play a crucial role in enabling global, regional and local brands to grow, connect with their markets, and create value. It was noted that Dubai’s strategic initiatives to become a future-ready economy, leveraging smart solutions and digital transformation across sectors, combined with the city’s diverse talent pool, openness to innovation, and business-enabling services, make it an ideal base for global marketing services companies. H.H. Sheikh Maktoum reaffirmed that Dubai and the UAE continue to support WPP in further expanding its already significant presence in the country and the region. WPP, which reported revenues of £14.7 billion in 2024, is the parent company of some of the largest agency networks in the world, including Ogilvy, VML, GroupM, and AKQA. As of 31 December, 2024, WPP had a workforce of over 108,000 people across more than 100 countries. WPP’s operations span four main areas: communications, including advertising, branding and public relations; customer experience; commerce solutions such as retail and shopper marketing; and technology services focused on data, analytics and digital transformation.
The meeting was attended by Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs; Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET); Malek Al Malek, Chairman of TECOM Group; and Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), part of DET.