Creative Strategist- Dubai

YKONE; Dubai; On-site; AED 250,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

YKONE in Dubai is seeking a Creative Strategist to join our growing team. You will translate client briefs into strategic, culturally relevant directions across campaigns, social and influencer work.

From research to narrative, you’ll craft frameworks, narratives and decks, collaborating across departments to deliver integrated solutions for luxury, beauty, fashion and hospitality brands in the Gulf.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three to four years of agency experience.
• Experience across luxury, beauty, fashion, hospitality or tourism is an advantage.
• Arabic language skills and regional experience are highly valued.

Responsibilities

• Translate client briefs and business challenges into clear strategic opportunities.
• Uncover relevant cultural, consumer and category insights across the Middle East.
• Develop strategic territories, campaign platforms and creative propositions.
• Build compelling narratives and structure persuasive pitch and strategy decks.
• Write briefs that give creative teams a strong and inspiring springboard.
• Collaborate with creative, social, influencer, events and client-services teams to develop integrated solutions.
• Contribute actively to ideation, challenging expected answers and pushing ideas further.
• Work closely with art directors and designers to ensure the strategic story and visual execution work seamlessly together.
• Keep the agency connected to emerging behaviours, conversations and cultural shifts shaping audiences across the Gulf.
• Present strategic thinking clearly and confidently to internal teams and clients.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Cultural instincts

Excellent writing

Storytelling

Collaborative

Commercial awareness

Arabic language

Job description

YKONE is a global creative and influencer marketing agency operating at the intersection of culture, content and influence.

From our Dubai office, we lead projects across the Middle East, with a particular focus on the UAE and Saudi Arabia. We partner with some of the world’s most recognised brands across luxury, beauty, fashion, retail, hospitality and tourism- developing strategies, campaigns, experiences and content designed to create meaningful cultural impact.

As we continue to grow our creative capabilities in the region, we are looking for a Creative Strategist to join our Dubai team, ideally by October.

The role

Sitting at the heart of our creative team, you will help transform client challenges into clear, culturally relevant and compelling strategic directions.

You will work across new-business pitches and existing client accounts, shaping the thinking behind integrated campaigns, social and influencer strategies, brand platforms, content ecosystems and live experiences.

This role requires someone who can move confidently from research and insight to strategy and creative direction—and articulate that thinking through sharp narratives and persuasive presentations.

What you will do

• Translate client briefs and business challenges into clear strategic opportunities
• Uncover relevant cultural, consumer and category insights across the Middle East
• Develop strategic territories, campaign platforms and creative propositions
• Build compelling narratives and structure persuasive pitch and strategy decks
• Write briefs that give creative teams a strong and inspiring springboard
• Collaborate with creative, social, influencer, events and client-services teams to develop integrated solutions
• Contribute actively to ideation, challenging expected answers and pushing ideas further
• Work closely with art directors and designers to ensure the strategic story and visual execution work seamlessly together
• Keep the agency connected to emerging behaviours, conversations and cultural shifts shaping audiences across the Gulf
• Present strategic thinking clearly and confidently to internal teams and clients

Who we are looking for

• A sharp and curious strategic thinker with strong cultural instincts
• An excellent writer who can turn complex thinking into clear, compelling narratives
• A natural storyteller with a strong appreciation for design and visual communication
• Someone who understands the difference between an observation, an insight and a genuine strategic opportunity
• Comfortable moving between disciplines—from a two-day brand experience to an always-on social strategy or long-term brand platform
• Commercially aware and able to connect creative thinking to a client’s business objectives
• Collaborative, proactive and confident working in a fast-paced agency environment
• Deeply curious about the Middle East and how its audiences, communities and cultures are evolving
• A minimum of three to four years of relevant agency experience
• Experience across luxury, beauty, fashion, hospitality or tourism is an advantage
• Arabic language skills and regional experience are highly valued