Publicis Groupe’s operations in the Middle East and Africa delivered double-digit organic growth in 2025, emerging as one of the strongest regional contributors to the French advertising giant’s full-year performance.
According to the company’s full-year results released on Tuesday, the Middle East and Africa region saw net organic revenue rise by 10.8 percent, significantly outpacing the group’s overall organic growth rate of 5.6 percent. Growth in the region was powered by broad-based demand across its media, creative, data and technology offerings, with all major practices reporting increases.
Publicis did not disclose specific executive comments tied solely to the Middle East and Africa in its formal results statement, but regional leaders have previously highlighted the rapid expansion of digital advertising, data-driven services and integrated marketing solutions as key drivers of momentum.
Globally, Publicis reported a solid finish to 2025 with fourth-quarter organic net revenue growth of 5.9 percent, helping lift full-year figures above company forecasts. The group delivered €14.54 billion ($17.15 billion) in net revenue for the year, up 4.2 percent on a reported basis, while total revenue climbed 8.5 percent to €17.4 billion. Free cash flow before working capital changes rose more than 10 percent to €2.03 billion.
Chairman and Chief Executive Arthur Sadoun said the results underscored the strength of Publicis’ strategic pivot toward artificial intelligence, data services and new addressable markets. He reiterated the company’s confidence in its growth model as it enters its second century, noting that every region delivered “solid results at a time when our main competitors are expected to be negative overall.”
Publicis forecast organic growth of between 4 percent and 5 percent in 2026, which would mark its seventh consecutive year of outperformance. The group also expects to maintain a best-in-class operating margin rate slightly above the 18.2 percent recorded for 2025, and free cash flow of around €2.1 billion.
Despite the upbeat results, Publicis’ share price fell sharply in Paris trading after the outlook disappointed some investors. Analysts said concerns around the sustainability of growth in an increasingly competitive landscape, particularly in artificial intelligence and technology spending, weighed on sentiment.
Publicis was the first of the major global advertising holding companies to report full-year 2025 results, with peers such as WPP, Omnicom and Interpublic expected to release their figures in the coming weeks.
