Turki Al-Sheikh is 2024’s Most Influential Figure

Advisor Turki Al-Sheikh was the first recipient of the MENA Effie Awards, which took place for the first time in their fifteenth edition at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh. The event happened amid the various parties and activities that Riyadh Season has to offer.

Turki Al-Sheikh’s Influence

Last February, advisor Turki Al-Sheikh topped the list of the 50 influential individuals in the martial arts and combat world. Under his patronage, Al-Sheikh organised the historic fights that the world watched and waited for, earning him this award for the most influential personality of the past ten years.

In addition to increasing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s tourism-related profits, Turki Al-Sheikh has made a variety of contributions to the entertainment industry.

Who among us hasn’t heard or watched the incredible happenings throughout the Riyadh season? How many creative individuals has Turki Al-Sheikh invited to participate in his sponsored events, opening opportunities for them to express their creativity?

How many sports have received support from the Entertainment Authority led by Turki Al-Sheikh to establish Saudi Arabia as the global venue for these competitions?

The Kingdom hosted the MENA Effie Awards in recognition of its inventiveness and originality in marketing, advertising, and advertising campaigns that travelled throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

In addition to notable and significant personalities in the media and cultural sectors, 650 experts in the fields of marketing, advertising, and communications attended this occasion, giving it a new cultural depth and a distinctively Saudi flair.

A creative competition with 850 competitors selected more than 90 creatives to get honours in 40 categories. The jury’s thorough and impartial assessment of the most impactful and innovative advertising campaigns led to this triumph. As a result, the winners elevated the standard in the marketing industry by surprising everyone with more inventive and outrageous concepts.

First-Ever MENA Effie Awards in Saudi Arabia

Eng. Ahmed Arafa, CEO of the Marketing and Communications Sector at the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), stated in a speech: “This year, we are glad to host the prestigious MENA Effie Awards ceremony as part of the Riyadh Season activities, which serves as a global platform for attracting the most significant and noteworthy events from across the world.”

He added: “This event is a significant milestone for us during the Riyadh season, particularly because it is the first of its kind in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It further illustrates the Kingdom’s ambitious objectives and ambition to hold significant international events on its land.” He highlighted the significance of the Riyadh season as a gathering place for creative trailblazers from around the world, in addition to its value as a season for entertainment.

Remarkably, the season has evolved into a dynamic forum for worldwide ideas and experience sharing thanks to Turki Al-Sheikh’s assistance. This solidifies the Kingdom’s standing as a top location for fostering innovation and growth across various industries, including marketing.

At the conclusion of his speech, he noted, “We anticipate that this event will mark the start of more extensive collaboration with several regional and worldwide partners, as this ceremony reaffirms our continued dedication to organising events that greatly benefit attendees and further the sector’s growth in all respects.”

Read more: KSA’s Golden Residency: A Chance for Creative and Talented in the Cultural Sectors

Top Performers in the Industry

Going back to the winners and prizes, the Egyptian Gulf Bank, in collaboration with People of the Internet Agency, took home the Grand Prix, while the other prizes ranged from gold to silver. In response to this recognition, the winners said: “Winning the Effie Award proves that our efforts have finally paid off.”

The Silver Award winners were recognised for their audacious concepts and their deep understanding of the purpose of their marketing initiatives. In contrast, the gold award winners illustrated the value of creative narrative and inventive leadership.

Almarai, Rani, Basata, Yas Island, and others all produced unique creative campaigns. The Bronze Award winners remarked, “We are proud to win this campaign because it represents our brand’s values. Garnier is centred on the genuineness, which is what we emphasise in our advertisements.”

This year, Leo Burnett Dubai was recognised as the best advertising agency and most influential agency network, Zenith Dubai was recognised as the best media agency office, People of the Internet was named the “Most Influential Independent Agency,” and Saudi Arabia’s BigTime Creative Shop was named the fastest-growing agency in the Middle East and North Africa.

Ken Segal, who helped put the iPad name on tablets, made a special appearance and talked about his experience with the famous “Think Different” campaign that had previously won an Effie Award. Zeina Emad, an artist, added energy to the ceremony and her lovely voice filled the hall, completing the evening’s grandeur.

Notably, the event happened as part of the Riyadh Season and in collaboration with SMC, as well as well-known sponsors Ferrero, Chupa Chups, and Tim Hortons. MKV Digital served as a social media partner, and Communicate as a media partner.

Turki Al-Sheikh’s accomplishments helped make Saudi Arabia a popular destination for entertainment worldwide

According to a brief overview of Advisor Turki Al-Sheikh’s accomplishments this year, the construction of the Al-Hosn Studios, which took a record 120 days, was not the only noteworthy accomplishment. The advisor also helped to establish Saudi Arabia as the world’s premier boxing destination, as evidenced by the attendance of international boxing stars at the Riyadh Season championship bouts.

In addition to the plays he supports during the Riyadh season, which helped bring many long-lost Arab stars back to the spotlight, Advisor Al-Sheikh has shown a great deal of interest in the literary and poetic fields by supporting young talent in the Golden Pen Awards, where numerous young creators compete. Following that, Al-Husn Studios will print, publish, and adapt the winning novels into films and television series.

Advisor Turki Al-Sheikh has also helped establish the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a venue for the most significant cultural and artistic festivals and events. The Joy Awards ceremony honours notable Arab and international artists and acknowledges the work of up-and-coming artists and filmmakers.

As entertainment is a craft that only young people who aspire to the best can master, Al-Sheikh is working tirelessly to make Saudi citizens happy in the first place and to make his nation a global destination in all fields. To this end, he supports the Entertainment Leaders Program, which aims to develop the knowledge and skills of workers in the industry so they can participate in the creative scene that we currently see on screens and social media.

Global Recognition and Future Prospects

Advisor Turki Al-Sheikh has reached an agreement with several international celebrities to bring back international concerts during the Riyadh season. Martin Lawrence’s stand-up comedy show served as a prime instance, starring the star of the popular Bad Boys film series and a musical performance by one of the world’s most renowned soundtrack music geniuses, the German “Hans Zimmer.”

Since the Kingdom became the first nation in the world to host the Electronic Sports Cup, Advisor Turki Al-Sheikh was the one who was interested in these kinds of sports. Electronic sports have taken over the world in international championships that culminated in the Falcons team being crowned the kings of these sports.

These are a few of the accomplishments of Advisor Turki Al-Sheikh, who captivated the world with his works. Although the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s entertainment industry has received harsh criticism, it cannot erase the accomplishments that have made Saudi Arabia a world-renowned destination for entertainment.

Read more: The General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia provides $18.6m to support SMEs