According to the World Media Group (WMG), Khaled AlShehhi, Executive Director of Marketing and Communication for the UAE Government Media Office, has won the World Media Award (WMA) for Content Leadership & Innovation for 2022.
The award recognizes an individual who demonstrates brand bravery, creativity, and innovation through creating exemplary content-driven campaigns. WMG said in a press release that AlShehhi would receive his special award at this year's WMA celebration in September.
In addition to receiving his award, AlShehhi will also receive the final category awards at an exclusive live ceremony on Thursday, September 8 2022 at the Ham Yard Hotel in London. This year's Grand Prix Award winner will also be announced on the night, joining previous winners London & Partners, Malaria No More UK, Shell, Sonos and Tata Motors.
In a statement, the global group praised the way the UAE Government Media Office approaches communications, stating: "AlShehhi has been at the helm of many award-winning creative campaigns, including transforming the Burj Khalifa into the world's largest donation box to benefit COVID victims.
AlShehhi has transformed the way a government entity approaches communications by making creative excellence its core function, not just campaign effectiveness. The UAE media office behaves like a brand, not like an institution."
"This unique creative approach" is demonstrated by AlShehhi's ground-breaking initiatives to support the Middle East's first mission to Mars, including a projection stunt and a passport stamp made from Martian ink for visitors arriving in the UAE.
The statement added: “Likewise, ‘A winter through my eyes’, a short video showing the beauty of UAE from the perspective of a blind person, pushes the boundaries of traditional tourism content.”
HSBC's Hamish Goulding and McCann Worldwide's Ritu Lakhanpal, along with The World Media Group's Belinda Barker, agreed AlShehhi had reinvigorated government communication by incorporating creativity into his leadership to deliver an impact and effectiveness not often seen in government.
World Media Group's members nominated exceptional candidates for the 2022 Content Leadership & Innovation Award. "Their campaigns displayed innovation, creativity, and brand bravery, so it was a tough decision," said Barker.
As well as demonstrating creativity, boldness, and pushing boundaries in a field that can usually be dry, Khaled AlShehhi impressed our judges with the sheer breadth and depth of his campaigns."
"I am delighted to receive the award for Content Leadership & Innovation from the World Media Awards," AlShehhi said.
"I have been striving to transform the way the UAE Government communicates by creating original, innovative, and creative content that positively impacts the lives of people locally, regionally, and globally, so it is an honour for me, and my team, to be recognized by our peers."