Dubai Lynx announces first shortlists for 2025
7 April 2025 - Dubai Lynx, MENA’s leading platform for creative excellence and effectiveness, has announced its first round of shortlists for the 2025 Awards. The shortlists, now available on The Work, recognise outstanding creativity and innovation across multiple categories. All shortlisted pieces of work will now compete to be awarded MENA’s most prestigious creative communications accolade.
Ian Fairservice, Vice Chairman, Dubai Lynx, commented: “Every year, Dubai Lynx celebrates the extraordinary talent driving the creative economy in the region. The first wave of shortlists sets the stage for what promises to be an exceptional awards season, spotlighting work that challenges conventions and redefines brand storytelling.”
The 2025 Awards has seen a remarkable surge in brand participation, with entries from brands up by 122% year-on-year, reflecting the region’s growing creative ambitions. The newly introduced ‘Use of Humour’ category saw 3% of all entries submitted, highlighting a renewed appetite for humour and levity across the region.
Marian Brannelly, Global Director of Awards, LIONS, said: “The Dubai Lynx Awards continue to be a benchmark for creative brilliance in the MENA region. This year we’ve seen a remarkable 122% year-on-year increase in brand entries, reflecting the growing creative ambitions of marketers in MENA. It’s also exciting to see humour making a comeback, with 3% of all submissions entered into the new 'Use of Humour' category. We congratulate all those who have been shortlisted so far and look forward to unveiling the rest of the shortlists.”
“This year’s Dubai Lynx Awards shortlists represents an exceptional calibre of work that captures the innovation driving the region’s thriving creative economy,” said Majed Al Suwaidi, Senior Vice President of Dubai Media City part of TECOM Group PJSC. “Our strategic partnership with Dubai Lynx cements the vital role of Dubai Media City’s vibrant ecosystem in nurturing such talent and strengthening Dubai’s position as a global centre of excellence, in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’. We look forward to recognising the region’s most creative minds at the Dubai Lynx Awards Ceremony.”
The Dubai Lynx Debrief, taking place tomorrow Tuesday 8 April, 9am GST at Dubai Knowledge Park, will offer a comprehensive analysis of the key trends, insights and award-winning creativity emerging from this year’s entries from Dubai Lynx Jurors. The Debrief brings together leading industry experts to examine the region’s most impactful work, providing valuable takeaways for brands, agencies and marketers looking to navigate the evolving MENA communications landscape. Further information on registering for the event is available here.
The Film shortlist will be announced Tuesday 8 April, 9am GST and the Entertainment, Glass: The Award for Change, Healthcare and Integrated shortlists will be announced Wednesday 9 April, 9am GST.
Winners will be announced at the Dubai Lynx Awards Ceremony taking place at the Emirates Golf Club on Wednesday 9 April, bringing together the industry to celebrate the region’s outstanding achievements. For further information on the Awards Ceremony, please visit www.dubailynx.com.
ENDS
Contacts:
Camilla Lambert
PR Director
LIONS
Camillal@canneslions.com
Tash Naidoo
Senior PR Manager
LIONS
Tashn@canneslions.com
Kamille Marchant
Director
Dubai Lynx
Kamillem@dubailynx.com
Shortlists:
The following shortlists are now live on The Work: Audio & Radio, Brand Experience & Activation, Creative Commerce, Creative Effectiveness, Creative Strategy, Design, Digital Craft, Direct, Film Craft, Industry Craft, Media, Outdoor, PR, Print & Publishing and Social & Influencer.
Press Portal:
press.canneslions.com
Awards enquiries:
awards@dubailynx.com
Notes to editors:
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, 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.
www.dubailynx.com
About LIONS
As The Home of Creativity, LIONS is the destination for those in the business of creativity. As the definitive benchmark of creative excellence and with unparalleled access to insight on how it works, LIONS provides those on the journey to creative excellence all they need, at whatever stage they are at and wherever they are. Our annual five-day Festival, Cannes Lions, is the meeting place for the global creative marketing community and a celebration of the world’s most excellent and effective work.
www.lionscreativity.com
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.
Motivatemedia.com
Ian Fairservice, Vice Chairman, Dubai Lynx, commented: “Every year, Dubai Lynx celebrates the extraordinary talent driving the creative economy in the region. The first wave of shortlists sets the stage for what promises to be an exceptional awards season, spotlighting work that challenges conventions and redefines brand storytelling.”
The 2025 Awards has seen a remarkable surge in brand participation, with entries from brands up by 122% year-on-year, reflecting the region’s growing creative ambitions. The newly introduced ‘Use of Humour’ category saw 3% of all entries submitted, highlighting a renewed appetite for humour and levity across the region.
Marian Brannelly, Global Director of Awards, LIONS, said: “The Dubai Lynx Awards continue to be a benchmark for creative brilliance in the MENA region. This year we’ve seen a remarkable 122% year-on-year increase in brand entries, reflecting the growing creative ambitions of marketers in MENA. It’s also exciting to see humour making a comeback, with 3% of all submissions entered into the new 'Use of Humour' category. We congratulate all those who have been shortlisted so far and look forward to unveiling the rest of the shortlists.”
“This year’s Dubai Lynx Awards shortlists represents an exceptional calibre of work that captures the innovation driving the region’s thriving creative economy,” said Majed Al Suwaidi, Senior Vice President of Dubai Media City part of TECOM Group PJSC. “Our strategic partnership with Dubai Lynx cements the vital role of Dubai Media City’s vibrant ecosystem in nurturing such talent and strengthening Dubai’s position as a global centre of excellence, in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’. We look forward to recognising the region’s most creative minds at the Dubai Lynx Awards Ceremony.”
The Dubai Lynx Debrief, taking place tomorrow Tuesday 8 April, 9am GST at Dubai Knowledge Park, will offer a comprehensive analysis of the key trends, insights and award-winning creativity emerging from this year’s entries from Dubai Lynx Jurors. The Debrief brings together leading industry experts to examine the region’s most impactful work, providing valuable takeaways for brands, agencies and marketers looking to navigate the evolving MENA communications landscape. Further information on registering for the event is available here.
The Film shortlist will be announced Tuesday 8 April, 9am GST and the Entertainment, Glass: The Award for Change, Healthcare and Integrated shortlists will be announced Wednesday 9 April, 9am GST.
Winners will be announced at the Dubai Lynx Awards Ceremony taking place at the Emirates Golf Club on Wednesday 9 April, bringing together the industry to celebrate the region’s outstanding achievements. For further information on the Awards Ceremony, please visit www.dubailynx.com.
ENDS
Contacts:
Camilla Lambert
PR Director
LIONS
Camillal@canneslions.com
Tash Naidoo
Senior PR Manager
LIONS
Tashn@canneslions.com
Kamille Marchant
Director
Dubai Lynx
Kamillem@dubailynx.com
Shortlists:
The following shortlists are now live on The Work: Audio & Radio, Brand Experience & Activation, Creative Commerce, Creative Effectiveness, Creative Strategy, Design, Digital Craft, Direct, Film Craft, Industry Craft, Media, Outdoor, PR, Print & Publishing and Social & Influencer.
Press Portal:
press.canneslions.com
Awards enquiries:
awards@dubailynx.com
Notes to editors:
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, 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.
www.dubailynx.com
About LIONS
As The Home of Creativity, LIONS is the destination for those in the business of creativity. As the definitive benchmark of creative excellence and with unparalleled access to insight on how it works, LIONS provides those on the journey to creative excellence all they need, at whatever stage they are at and wherever they are. Our annual five-day Festival, Cannes Lions, is the meeting place for the global creative marketing community and a celebration of the world’s most excellent and effective work.
www.lionscreativity.com
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.
Motivatemedia.com
