--- source_url: "https://www.gulfpr.org/agencies/memac-ogilvy?utm_source=openai" title: Memac Ogilvy — Gulf PR Atlas mirrored_at: 2026-08-10T15:04:36.322Z host: www.gulfpr.org cited_in_42a: true mirror_canonical: "https://index.42a.ai/www.gulfpr.org/agencies/memac-ogilvy__q__utm_source_openai" --- > **Original source:** https://www.gulfpr.org/agencies/memac-ogilvy?utm_source=openai [Home](https://www.gulfpr.org/)/[Agencies](https://www.gulfpr.org/agencies)/Memac Ogilvy [WPP](https://www.gulfpr.org/holding-companies/wpp)Featured profile ## Memac Ogilvy Headquarters Dubai, UAE Founded — Regional offices 10 Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh Headcount 250+ as of 1 Jan 2025 What to know Memac Ogilvy is the regional arm of Ogilvy and one of the longest-tenured WPP shops in the Gulf. Founded as Memac, the agency partnered with Ogilvy decades ago and has run as the network's integrated MENA presence ever since — advertising, PR, and influence under one roof, with the PR practice trading on Ogilvy's global brand-building DNA more than on a public-affairs heritage. The PR practice covers ten markets and is structured under Ashraf Shakah as president of Ogilvy PR MENA, with country MDs in the major hubs. Ghassan Maraqa runs the broader MENA group across disciplines, and the leadership chain ladders up to Matt Buchanan in Ogilvy EMEA. The firm has been visible on Al-Futtaim IKEA and an increasingly Saudi-weighted government roster — Ministry of Culture, Green Riyadh, World Defense Show, Expo 2030 — alongside its long-running Qatar Foundation partnership. The 2024 MEPRA Awards were a coronation. Memac Ogilvy won twenty-seven titles, took Large Agency of the Year, and shortlisted sixty-seven entries — the highest count of any firm in the region. Qatar Foundation alone delivered eleven wins for the partnership, five of them Gold, including the inaugural Best Artificial Intelligence category for the _Bytes of AI_ content series. Where it leads: integrated work where PR sits next to creative and social on the same brand, and Saudi government mandates that demand creative-first storytelling alongside earned-media discipline. Where the boutiques still take share: pure-play corporate reputation work for sensitive regional clients who prefer not to sit inside a network roster. At a glance Practice areas 9 Clients tracked 6 Signature campaigns 2 Recent awards 4 Recent moves 2 Last reviewed 12 May 2026 Practice mix PRACTICEMIX - Consumer30% - Corporate25% - Digital15% - Influencer10% - Public Affairs10% - Healthcare5% - Other5% Approximate share of practice areas; based on public positioning and category disclosure. Office footprint CasablancaCasablancaCairoCairoBeirutBeirutJeddahJeddahRiyadhRiyadhKuwait CityKuwait CityManamaManamaDohaDohaAbu DhabiAbu DhabiDubaiDubai Cities with a wholly-owned office. Affiliate-only markets are not shown. Leadership Name Role Appointed Ghassan Maraqa CEO, MENA — Ashraf Shakah President, Ogilvy PR MENA — Saad Abu Touq Managing Director, PR — UAE — Matt Buchanan President, Ogilvy EMEA — Footprint ### Practice areas CorporateConsumerPublic AffairsInfluencerDigitalHealthcareReputationGovernmentTechnology ### Regional offices - Dubai - Abu Dhabi - Riyadh - Jeddah - Cairo - Doha - Beirut - Manama - Kuwait City - Casablanca Known clients Publicly announced relationships only. Inclusion does not imply current engagement. ### Defence / Events - World Defense Show ### Education / Foundation - Qatar Foundation ### Government - Ministry of Culture (KSA) ### Government / Events - Expo 2030 Riyadh ### Government / Sustainability - Green Riyadh ### Retail - Al-Futtaim IKEA Signature work ### Bytes of AI 2024 For Qatar Foundation Long-running content series that translated Qatar Foundation's research and policy work on artificial intelligence into accessible regional storytelling. Won Gold at the 2024 MEPRA Awards in the inaugural Best Artificial Intelligence category. MEPRA Gold 2024 — Best Artificial Intelligence ### Likea 2024 For Memac Ogilvy KSA (regional consumer brand mandate) Saudi-led PR program that took home double MEPRA Gold for Best PR Campaign and Best vs Budget Campaign — a recognition of integrated work delivered under tight regional production parameters. MEPRA Gold 2024 — Best PR CampaignMEPRA Gold 2024 — Best vs Budget Campaign Recent awards - 2024MEPRA — Large Agency of the YearAgency - 2024MEPRA Awards — 27 wins total (5 Gold with Qatar Foundation alone)Agency total - 2025PRovoke EMEA — Top 10 Middle East AgenciesRegional ranking - 2024MEPRA Awards — 67 entries shortlisted (most of any agency)Industry recognition Recent moves - 1 Jun 2024Hire Al-Futtaim IKEA appointed Memac Ogilvy to lead PR and influence, while also renewing the broader creative partnership — a consolidation win that took the brand's earned-media work in-network. [Source](https://news.mepra.org/al-futtaim-ikea-appoints-memac-ogilvy-to-lead-pr-and-influence-renews-creative-partnership/) - 1 Jan 2024Hire Regional leadership overhaul with appointments of country leads and a regional director, formalizing the country-by-country MD structure under Ashraf Shakah's MENA PR presidency. [Source](https://www.prweek.com/article/1680542/memac-ogilvy-appoints-regional-director-country-leads-leadership-overhaul) Sources 1. 01[MEPRA Awards 2024 — Memac Ogilvy results — PR Week](https://www.prweek.co.uk/article/1898174/memac-ogilvy-gambit-weber-shandwick-home-2024-mepra-awards) 2. 02[Qatar Foundation + Memac Ogilvy MEPRA 2024 — Doha News](https://dohanews.co/qatar-foundation-and-memac-ogilvy-shine-at-mepra-awards-2024-with-11-wins/) 3. 03[Al-Futtaim IKEA appoints Memac Ogilvy](https://news.mepra.org/al-futtaim-ikea-appoints-memac-ogilvy-to-lead-pr-and-influence-renews-creative-partnership/) 4. 04[PRovoke — Top 10 Middle East Agencies 2025](https://www.provokemedia.com/events-awards/agencies-of-the-year/the-best-agencies-in-emea-2025/the-10-best-agencies-in-the-middle-east/memac-ogilvy) 5. 05[Memac Ogilvy regional leadership team](https://campaignme.com/memac-ogilvy-announces-new-regional-leadership-team/) Last reviewed 12 May 2026 Related agencies [All agencies](https://www.gulfpr.org/agencies)[Other WPP agencies](https://www.gulfpr.org/agencies?holding=WPP)