Executive Creative Director

AKQA Media; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Executive Creative Director to lead creative teams across the MENA region. This pivotal role involves defining the creative vision, inspiring talent, and driving innovative solutions that resonate culturally and commercially. You'll oversee high-profile projects, advocate for award-winning ideas, and collaborate closely with senior clients to achieve impactful results. If you are passionate about creativity and have a proven track record in brand storytelling and experience design, this opportunity offers a chance to shape the future of creative excellence in a dynamic market.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Flexible Working Hours

Professional Development Opportunities

Team Building Activities

Wellness Programs

Qualifications

• Significant experience in senior creative leadership roles.
• Expert communicator with a strong commercial acumen.
• Proven ability to lead large-scale, multi-market projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative vision and output for AKQA MENA.
• Inspire and mentor creative leaders and multidisciplinary teams.
• Drive new business growth by setting the creative vision for pitches.

Skills

Brand Storytelling

Experience Design

Business Innovation

Creative Leadership

Communication Skills

Education

Degree in Design

Degree in Media

Degree in Communications

Job description

At AKQA, we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful ideas, products, and services. With a collaborative and entrepreneurial spirit, we design adaptive digital services and experiences that capture the imagination and connect to culture, while driving meaningful returns for our clients.

As Executive Creative Director at AKQA MENA, you will be the most senior creative leader across the region, overseeing our creative teams in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. You will define the creative vision and lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver work that transforms brands, businesses, and customer experiences. With a proven track record in brand storytelling, experience design, business innovation, and product and service development, you will elevate AKQA’s creative reputation while helping grow our business in a dynamic and culturally rich region.

Your leadership will inspire best-in-class work, nurture talent, and build lasting partnerships with senior clients and stakeholders. You will play a pivotal role in new business development, driving creative excellence across every touchpoint—from digital platforms and immersive experiences to integrated campaigns and transformative strategies.

You will embody and contribute to AKQA’s founding values—Innovation, Service, Quality, and Thought—while helping shape the next chapter of our creative legacy across the MENA region.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Lead the creative vision and output for AKQA MENA, ensuring delivery of pioneering, culturally resonant work across brand, storytelling, experience, business transformation, innovation, and product / service design.
• Inspire and mentor creative leaders and multidisciplinary teams across the region, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and ambition.
• Partner with senior clients and internal stakeholders to shape creative strategies that align with business goals and drive measurable impact.
• Lead high-profile, cross-functional projects across sectors including government, telecom, retail, automotive, and finance, ensuring best-in-class creative execution.
• Lead and drive new business growth by setting the creative vision for pitches, building persuasive narratives, and partnering closely with strategy and client leadership to convert opportunities into long-term client relationships.
• Champion AKQA’s creative reputation in the region by pushing for award-winning ideas and ensuring the highest standards in craft, design, and storytelling.
• Advocate for region-specific insight, ensuring our work is relevant, inclusive, and impactful in diverse MENA markets.
• Collaborate with regional and global leadership to align creative ambition with commercial objectives, resource needs, and talent development.
• Develop and evolve design systems and frameworks that drive consistency, scalability, and innovation across digital and physical experiences.
• Represent AKQA MENA as a thought leader—delivering keynote talks, contributing to industry panels and publications, mentoring emerging talent, and elevating our presence in both the creative and business communities across the region.

QUALITIES AND EXPERIENCE

• Significant experience in a senior creative leadership role (ECD or similar), with a proven track record of growing teams, work, and client relationships.
• Deep experience across the full creative spectrum, from brand storytelling and marketing to experience, innovation, and service design.
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale, multi-market, and multi-disciplinary projects with global and regional clients.
• Proven ability to translate business challenges into visionary creative solutions, grounded in strategic insight and cultural relevance.
• Strong commercial acumen and entrepreneurial spirit, with experience supporting business growth through creativity and innovation.
• Expert communicator and storyteller, confident engaging C-Suite clients and rallying teams around a creative vision.
• Experience working in or with MENA markets is a strong advantage; cultural fluency and adaptability are essential.
• Business-level fluency in English is essential, with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively across written, verbal, and visual formats. Proficiency in Arabic is an advantage but not a requirement.
• Degree in Design, Media, Communications, or a related field preferred, though equivalent experience is highly valued.

We provide an extensive range of benefits. To find out more click here .

We believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.