Dubai Lynx, MENA’s leading platform for creative excellence and effectiveness, has announced Elda Choucair, Omnicom Media Middle East and Africa (MENA) CEO, 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.
Choucair has been recognised for using creativity to drive growth, supporting talent development, and making a lasting contribution to the Middle East’s creative industry.
“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,” said, Philip Thomas, Chairman, Dubai Lynx. “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, highlighting 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 List2025, 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 bu…