GALA 2025 drew agencies from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, Vietnam, China, India, the United States and Brazil.
Agencies from the Middle East and Africa were among the leading winners at the Global Agency Leadership Awards (GALA) 2025 in Bangkok, selected from more than eighty contenders across thirty markets. The event recognised standout performance in creativity, innovation and measurable marketing impact.
Havas and Kotiva were named Fastest Growing Agency, with Havas cited for strong regional expansion and Kotiva for its data-led digital performance approach. Assembly and UM took home Launch of the Year for a market rollout that delivered both insight-led planning and measurable brand lift. Skyscale Media, Magna and Strike Ads were awarded Top Performing Agency for consistent return on ad spend across digital channels, while Berth Technologies was named Rising Star for its real-time, metrics-driven growth strategy.
The wins were presented at The Peninsula Hotel Bangkok, where agencies and global networks exchanged perspectives on AI-driven creativity, cultural localisation and the next phase of data-led performance.
David Do Rosario, SVP Digital & Commerce, Havas, said the award validated “how our teams across the UAE and Saudi Arabia approach the work: grounded in insight, disciplined in execution and accountable to real outcomes”.
Mohammed Shareef, Associate Director – Client Services, Skyscale Media, said the Top Performing Agency win highlighted that “our focus on insight, strong execution, and real results truly pays off… and proves that our region can perform at a global standard”.
GALA 2025 drew agencies from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, Vietnam, China, India, the United States and Brazil, with winners selected by an independent jury of media, strategy and digital specialists.
This year’s theme, AdTech Reimagined: Making Advertising Work Again, centred on AI-powered creativity, cultural localisation and the ethical use of data, with sessions exploring how agencies can move beyond vanity metrics and build more meaningful customer journeys.
The strong showing from MEA agencies comes as digital activity accelerates across the region. Internet penetration in the UAE and Saudi Arabia is now at 99 percent while social media ad spending in MENA is projected to reach $ 7.66 billion by 2030, driven by high mobile usage and rising demand for personalised content.
The wins for Havas, Kotiva, Assembly, Magna, Strike Ads, UM and Berth Technologies reflect how MEA agencies are responding to these shifts with advanced tools, disciplined optimisation and data-led thinking that deliver measurable returns for clients.
