Associate Creative Director

Discovered MENA; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A fast-growing marketing and advertising agency in Dubai is seeking an Associate Creative Director / Art Director to lead and inspire a creative team. The ideal candidate will possess over 10 years of experience in creative leadership within an agency, with a portfolio demonstrating award-winning work. This role requires a blend of strategic thinking and hands-on execution to deliver integrated campaigns for government entities and various brands, while maintaining a deep understanding of MENA trends. Competitive salary and benefits offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Tax-Free benefits

Qualifications

• 10+ years of creative leadership experience within an agency setting.
• Portfolio showcasing award-level creative thinking across digital and brand content.
• Proven experience leading campaigns for government entities or Free Zones.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team to elevate creative quality across all outputs.
• Develop original campaigns that resonate with regional audiences.
• Oversee multi-platform campaigns and collaborate with strategy and copy teams.

Skills

Creative leadership

Excellent communication

Collaborative mindset

MENA cultural insight

Job description

ACD Art Director - Creative Agency

Location: Dubai | Salary: Competitive (Tax-Free) + Benefits

About the Opportunity

We are looking for a visionary and hands-on Associate Creative Director / Art Director to join a fast-growing marketing and advertising agency in Dubai. Our client partners with a prestigious and diverse portfolio, including government entities, Free Zones, and innovation-led brands. This is a rare chance to shape the creative direction of an ambitious agency, driving work that competes for top regional awards such as Dubai Lynx and Cannes Lions.

The Role

As an ACD Art Director, you will be both a strategic leader and a hands-on creator. You will define the agency’s creative standards while mentoring a multidisciplinary team to produce award-worthy work. This role blends high-level strategic thinking with practical execution, from developing compelling decks to crafting campaign mockups.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, inspire, and mentor a team of designers and art directors, elevating creative quality across all outputs.
• Develop original, strategically grounded campaigns that resonate with regional audiences.
• Oversee multi-platform campaigns, including digital, social, branding, and experiential executions.
• Collaborate with strategy and copy teams to deliver holistic, integrated creative solutions.
• Present bold ideas confidently to senior stakeholders and clients.
• Manage creative resources and identify skill gaps to future-proof the team.
• Anticipate production challenges and provide decisive solutions to keep projects on track.

Candidate Requirements

• 10+ years of creative leadership experience within an agency setting.
• A portfolio showcasing award-level creative thinking across digital and brand content.
• Proven experience leading campaigns for government entities or Free Zones, with deep cultural insight.
• Strong understanding of MENA trends, formats, and emerging technologies.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to defend bold, creative ideas under pressure.
• Collaborative mindset, working seamlessly across departments to deliver integrated results.