30 July 2026 – Dubai Lynx, MENA’s leading platform for creative excellence and effectiveness, has announced Elda Choucair, CEO, Omnicom Media Middle East and Africa (MENA), as its 2026 Advertising Person of the Year. One of Dubai Lynx’s highest honours, the Award recognises an individual who has made a significant contribution to MENA’s advertising industry in the past year.
Speaking about the Award, Philip Thomas, Chairman, Dubai Lynx, commented: “We are delighted to honour Elda Choucair with this year’s Award. Elda has not simply built successful businesses – she has helped build an industry. She has championed creativity as a force for growth, invested generously in developing talent, and consistently raised the bar for our profession across the Middle East. Her leadership has inspired countless people and has had a lasting impact on the region’s creative community. She is a thoroughly deserving recipient of this honour.”
Since being appointed CEO in 2021, Choucair has led Omnicom Media MENA through a period of sustained growth and transformation, strengthening the group’s position as one of the region’s leading media networks. Under her leadership, the business has evolved beyond traditional media, expanding into data, commerce, influencer marketing and sport through specialist capabilities, while introducing a connected operating model across MENA. At the 2025 Dubai Lynx Awards, Omnicom Media MENA achieved a historic milestone as Hearts & Science, OMD and PHD claimed the top three positions in the Media Network of the Year rankings, underscoring the group’s leadership in creativity and effectiveness across the region.
Alongside building Omnicom Media MENA into a media powerhouse, Choucair has helped shape the wider advertising industry across MENA. A passionate advocate for creativity, inclusion and talent, she has championed the next generation through Omnicom Media’s apprenticeship programmes and Digital and Marketing Academies across Dubai and Saudi Arabia, while also helping shape industry standards through leadership roles with the Advertising Business Group, IAB GCC, Endeavor and the Unstereotype Alliance, convened by UN Women. Her leadership and influence have also been recognised through her inclusion in Campaign Middle East‘s Power List
2025, and Forbes Middle East‘s Most Powerful Businesswomen list and Global Meets Local series.
On receiving the honour, Elda Choucair, CEO, Omnicom Media, MENA commented: “Receiving this recognition from Dubai Lynx is incredibly special; it comes from an industry that has shaped twenty-five years of my career. Leading Omnicom Media MENA across 12 markets has taught me great work is never a solo act; it’s built on teams, clients and partners who push each other to think bigger. This Award reflects all of them as much as it does me. As our industry continues to evolve, I hope we keep investing in creativity, in talent and in giving the next generation every opportunity to build what’s next.”
Ian Fairservice, Vice Chairman, Dubai Lynx, added: “Few leaders have had as lasting an impact on our industry as Elda Choucair. She combines exceptional commercial leadership with a genuine commitment to developing people, advancing creativity and giving back to the wider industry. Her influence can be seen not only in the success of her business, but in the strength and ambition of the region’s creative community. We are proud to recognise her as Dubai Lynx’s 2026 Advertising Person of the Year.”
The presentation of the 2026 Dubai Lynx Advertising Person of the Year Award will take place during the Dubai Lynx Awards Ceremony at the Emirates Golf Club on 8 October. For further information on the Awards Ceremony, please visit www.dubailynx.com.
About Dubai Lynx
Dubai Lynx is MENA’s leading Awards for creative excellence and effectiveness, in the Middle East and North Africa. Presented by Informa, organisers of Cannes Lions, together with their regional partners, Motivate Media Group, the Dubai Lynx, is held in association with the UAE Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) and with the support of Dubai Media City (DMC). The Awards serve as the definitive benchmark for creative excellence, marketing strategy and effectiveness in MENA.
About Motivate Media Group
Motivate Media Group operates across the GCC and MENA region with a diverse portfolio of media interests comprising magazines, digital, social, video, exhibitions & events, cinema and books.
A leading publisher in the Gulf since 1979, its portfolio includes market-leading magazines, eight websites and over 300 book titles. Motivate’s digital and video division is an established content provider for some of the region’s largest companies and the Motivate events team expertly stage some of the GCC’s major award ceremonies, festivals and activations.
With a staff of more than 200 experienced and dedicated professionals, Motivate is committed to providing editorial excellence, and a corporate mission to develop integrated communication channels that entertain, inform and enrich.
About LIONS
LIONS is the global platform that champions creativity and marketing effectiveness for growth. We help businesses grow through creative marketing that matters.
We know that creativity can and should be applied across the full marketing mix. Creativity is an impactful business driver – and when it’s integrated with a culture of effectiveness, it’s a competitive advantage.
Backed by over 150 years of experience and evidence, Cannes Lions, WARC, Effie, Contagious and Acuity – provides the global marketing industry with the definitive benchmarks, intelligence, training and tailored advice needed to grow.
LIONS is part of Informa PLC. www.lions.co
About Informa
Informa PLC is a leading international B2B events, digital services and academic research group.
We champion specialists. Through hundreds of market-leading brands, we connect people with knowledge so they can learn more, know more and do more.
We operate in over 30 countries and serve businesses and professionals working in over a dozen specialist markets.
Informa is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100. www.informa.com