Cannes Lions picks Khaled AlShehhi as first government sector juror in 72-year history

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has selected Khaled AlShehhi, Executive Director of Marketing and Communication at the UAE Government Media Office, to join its jury panel, making it the first time that a government sector representative from across the globe has been chosen for this role in the festival’s 72-year history.

The appointment of Khaled AlShehhi to the prestigious PR Lions Awards jury, reflects the festival’s recognition of the UAE’s achievements in shaping innovative, forward-thinking marketing communications. This also marks the first time that an Emirati national has been chosen as a juror for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Commenting on the appointment, Simon Cook, CEO of LIONS, said, “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 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced the selection of Khaled AlShehhi, Executive Director of Marketing and Communication at the UAE Government Media Office, as the first government sector representative worldwide to join the jury of this prestigious… pic.twitter.com/zr3lMRiXni

— UAEGOV (@UAEmediaoffice) April 21, 2025

“The UAE Government Media Office’s consistent success at Cannes Lions – winning for three consecutive years and the UAE’s ranking at eighth – within the global Top 10 – in the Cannes Lions Global Creativity Index highlight the remarkable strides the nation has made in recent years,” Cook added.

The UAE Government Media Office has earned more than 220 international accolades, including multiple Cannes Lions awards, a fourth-place global ranking in the Effie Index for effective marketing, and recognition as the 2022 Global Brand of the Year by the AME New York Festival.

AlShehhi has also been widely recognised across the industry. He was named Advertising Person of the Year at Dubai Lynx 2023 and earned the 2023 Loeries Marketing Leadership and Innovation Award, becoming the first Middle Eastern recipient in that show’s 45-year history. Among his other accolades are the 2022 Effie MENA Honorary Award and the 2022 World Media Group Award for Content Leadership and Innovation.

He also serves on the Board of the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) in the Middle East and North Africa, and is a member of the Strategic Council of the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA), actively contributing to the growth and development of the region’s communications industry.

Reacting to his appointment as a Cannes Lions juor, Khaled AlShehhi, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at the UAE Government Media Office, said, “It is a privilege to join the Cannes Lions jury, an opportunity that not only underscores our organization’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.”

AlShehhi 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.”

As a juror, he will join leading global professionals at Cannes Lions this June to evaluate groundbreaking PR campaigns, culminating in the Awards Show on 20 June 2025. This appointment stands as a testament to the UAE’s creative influence and its increasing leadership on the international stage.