The 17th edition of the MENA Effie Awards will be held on November 26 at Saraj Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, bringing together professionals from across the region’s marketing, advertising and communications industries.
Held under the umbrella of Riyadh Season and hosted by NordStella, the awards recognise marketing effectiveness, creative ideas and campaigns that deliver measurable business results.
According to the organisers, the awards have completed 16 editions, welcoming more than 20,000 industry professionals, recognising 1,500 winners and involving over 2,500 marketing experts in the judging process.
The awards programme evaluates different aspects of marketing campaigns, from objectives and execution to their overall impact, with a focus on recognising work that delivers tangible results.
The 2026 gala is expected to bring together finalists, previous winners, industry leaders and other marketing professionals from across the Middle East and North Africa.
Sahar Rafique, managing director of NordStella, said, “Every Effie celebrates an idea that worked and the people who made it happen. This year, bringing those people together in Riyadh holds particular meaning. It is a chance to recognise outstanding work, reconnect as a community, and stand alongside the colleagues and partners who keep our region and industry moving forward. That support matters, and we look forward to celebrating together”.
Established in MENA in 2009, the Effie Awards are part of the global Effie network, which has been recognising marketing effectiveness for over 56 years. The organisation runs more than 60 programmes across over 125 markets, including regional and national awards, and publishes the Effie Index, which ranks the most effective brands, marketers and agencies.
The awards recognise marketing efforts across businesses of different sizes, from established brands to startups, highlighting the role of effective marketing in driving business growth.
Table reservations for the event are available through the awards’ website.
The event is being held under the umbrella of Riyadh Season, with Max and Kraken Production House as Effieciate partners, Sherpa Communications as PR partner and Communicate as media partner.
