Emma Heley, MD at Thinking Hat Media: "After years of visiting Dubai and learning about the region’s comms landscape, we saw a real opportunity to offer something different, a strategic, story-led approach that bridges creativity and commerce. Global agencies have done incredibly well there, but we’re seeing growing demand for boutique players who bring agility, personality and founder-led relationships to the table.

"As a journalist-driven agency, storytelling is in our DNA. We know how to craft narratives that cut through the noise and connect with audiences worldwide and that’s exactly what we plan to bring to the UAE and wider Middle East. Dubai marks a new chapter; one that’s bold, global, and driven by the same fearless creativity that’s defined our first decade."

Ashley Rudd, co-founder of MODA PR: "Over the past twelve months, MODA PR has refined its position as a leading force in personal PR for experts, entrepreneurs and standout talent across the entertainment space. As the global landscape evolves, Dubai has emerged as the international stage for exactly that level of influence, ambition and visibility, making it the natural next step in our expansion.

"The opportunity in Dubai is impossible to ignore. It offers a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, an entertainment scene accelerating at pace, and a culture that genuinely values profile, authority and impact. It also reflects the shift we are seeing across the industry, with expats, founders and talent seeking to build not only a presence in Dubai but a multi market footprint.

"We approached this move with intention rather than impulse, so the launch was not simply a landing. It was a statement.

"This expansion completes our global coverage trifecta. The UK remains our heritage and home. Our US presence in NYC and LA gives us direct access to the entertainment capitals of the world. Dubai has become our strategic gateway into the Middle East. Together, these markets allow us to elevate our clients across continents with impact and authority."

Antony Rettie, founder and director of AKA Communications: "There’s no doubt about it, Dubai’s hospitality scene has exploded in recent years, so opening an AKA office there, and expanding into the wider GCC via our Dubai office was a strategic no-brainer for us.

"The region has matured into a world-beating hotel and restaurant hotspot, attracting some of the biggest global players alongside heavyweight investors. But, anyone serious about operating at the top end of the market understands that you cannot grasp the rhythm of a place from a distance, you have to be right there in the thick of the action.

"That’s why we took the time to build local insight, deepen strategic partnerships and strengthen our digital and influencer capabilities before we opened our doors. And I’m happy to say that today our Dubai office supports a growing portfolio of upscale hospitality brands.

"Over the course of my career, I’ve been lucky enough to work in some of the world’s most visionary cities. Having started out in hospitality PR in 2003, I spent a substantial part of the 2010s in New York, before returning to London to launch my own agency.

"I can tell you now, the buzz in Dubai matches, and even exceeds, all of this. I’ve never seen so many top class concepts open in such a short space of time. This is the place to be and we’re thrilled to be here."

Kerry Parkin, founder of The Remarkables: “Our move into the UAE isn’t a trend play, it’s the natural next step. My connection with the region goes back more than a decade: I began working there in 2014 with Costa, then was headquartered in Dubai with Nokia from 2016, and later with Zip between 2020 and 2022. The UAE has been a defining part of my career, so expansion there has always been a question of when, not if.

"Given the scale of our global network, the UAE is a huge opportunity for us particularly as our AI offer grows. With such a significant AI and tech ambition in the region, it’s the most logical place for us to deepen our footprint. We’re currently in a number of active pitches and will open our first office in the new year. This is not an up-root and transplant exercise. The UAE is a remarkable country with very particular cultural nuance. How, where and why you show up there needs to be incredibly well considered."

Lewis Davey, founder and creative director at Idea Farm: “I visited Dubai 12 months ago and it was initially the obvious stuff that drew me in - the weather, lifestyle. But forget all that. There’s a vibrant creative sector with lots of talented people and agencies setting up shop here. 

"[Dubai] presents a massive opportunity to offer our white label creative service to the growing list of agencies that have a presence here. What started as a personal decision, quickly became a work decision. I’ve spent the last year building connections (something that is massively valued here) to give us a springboard to launch in the UAE. 

"I love ideas and hustling, which Dubai rewards, so it's an opportunity to grow Idea Farm, but also grow as a person. After 16 years of coming up with whacky ideas in the UK, creatively it does feel like a bit of blank canvas in a fresh market. We’ve made a noisy start, leading a series of viral campaigns for GymNation including a self-defence retreat for Londoners to stand up to phone thefts."