📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Executive Creative Director
🔹 Company: AKQA
🔹 Location: Dubai, Dubayy, United Arab Emirates
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time (Hybrid)
🔹 Category: Design Services
🔹 Date Posted: April 22, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (Hybrid with required in-office days)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Defining and leading the creative vision for AKQA MENA
- Overseeing creative teams across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt
- Driving new business growth through creative excellence and innovation
- Building and maintaining strong client relationships with senior stakeholders
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, leadership, and creativity to drive AKQA's success in the MENA region.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead the creative vision and output for AKQA MENA, ensuring delivery of pioneering, culturally resonant work across brand, storytelling, experience, business transformation, innovation, and product/service design.
✅ Inspire and mentor creative leaders and multidisciplinary teams across the region, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and ambition.
✅ Partner with senior clients and internal stakeholders to shape creative strategies that align with business goals and drive measurable impact.
✅ Lead high-profile, cross-functional projects across sectors including government, telecom, retail, automotive, and finance, ensuring best-in-class creative execution.
✅ Lead and drive new business growth by setting the creative vision for pitches, building persuasive narratives, and partnering closely with strategy and client leadership to convert opportunities into long-term client relationships.
✅ Champion AKQA’s creative reputation in the region by pushing for award-winning ideas and ensuring the highest standards in craft, design, and storytelling.
✅ Advocate for region-specific insight, ensuring our work is relevant, inclusive, and impactful in diverse MENA markets.
✅ Collaborate with regional and global leadership to align creative ambition with commercial objectives, resource needs, and talent development.
✅ Develop and evolve design systems and frameworks that drive consistency, scalability, and innovation across digital and physical experiences.
✅ Represent AKQA MENA as a thought leader—delivering keynote talks, contributing to industry panels and publications, mentoring emerging talent, and elevating our presence in both the creative and business communities across the region.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creativity, strategic thinking, and leadership to drive AKQA's success in the MENA region.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Degree in Design, Media, Communications, or a related field preferred, though equivalent experience is highly valued.
Experience: Significant experience in a senior creative leadership role (ECD or similar), with a proven track record of growing teams, work, and client relationships.
Required Skills:
- Proven experience leading large-scale, multi-market, and multi-disciplinary projects with global and regional clients.
- Proven ability to translate business challenges into visionary creative solutions, grounded in strategic insight and cultural relevance.
- Strong commercial acumen and entrepreneurial spirit, with experience supporting business growth through creativity and innovation.
- Expert communicator and storyteller, confident engaging C-Suite clients and rallying teams around a creative vision.
- Experience working in or with MENA markets is a strong advantage; cultural fluency and adaptability are essential.
- Business-level fluency in English is essential, with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively across written, verbal, and visual formats. Proficiency in Arabic is an advantage but not a requirement.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in brand storytelling, experience design, business innovation, and product/service development.
- Proven success in new business development and client relationship management.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a well-rounded creative leader with a strong background in various creative disciplines and a proven track record in growing teams and driving business growth.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: The salary range for this role is estimated to be between AED 400,000 - AED 600,000 per annum, based on experience and market standards for an Executive Creative Director role in Dubai.
Benefits:
- Competitive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, and performance-based bonuses.
- Opportunities for professional development and growth within the company.
- Flexible working arrangements, with a hybrid work model that includes required in-office days.
Working Hours: Full-time position with standard working hours, typically 40 hours per week. The role may require flexibility to meet project deadlines or client needs.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market research and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: AKQA is a global design and innovation company, specializing in creating beautiful ideas, products, and services that capture the imagination and connect to culture while driving meaningful returns for clients.
Company Size: AKQA is a mid-sized company with over 5,500 professionals across 30 countries. This size allows for a collaborative and entrepreneurial spirit while offering ample opportunities for growth and development.
Founded: AKQA was founded in 1995 and has since grown into a leading global design agency, employing professionals across various disciplines.
Company Description:
- AKQA is a design and innovation company that employs over 5,500 professionals across 30 countries.
- Named Digital Agency Global Network of the Year in Campaign’s 2023 Global Agency of the Year Awards, and a top 10 Most Loved Workplace in 2023 by Newsweek.
- AKQA was awarded the Cannes Lions Grand Prix for Digital Craft in 2023 and won 22 Cannes Lions, including Grand Prix for Design and Glass in 2024.
- In 2023 and 2024, AKQA was recognised with seven Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards. AKQA also won Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas in 2024.
Company Specialties:
- Design and Innovation
- Customer and Brand Experience
- E-commerce Optimisation
- Community and Influencer Engagement
- Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence
- Data Science
- Media Planning
- Media Buying
- and Search Marketing
Company Website: https://www.akqa.com/
ASSUMPTION: AKQA's global presence and reputation for creative excellence make it an attractive employer for talented professionals seeking to grow their careers in the design and innovation industry.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Executive Creative Director is a senior-level role, typically reporting directly to the regional or global leadership team.
Reporting Structure: This role oversees creative teams across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, with potential for further expansion in the MENA region.
Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid role, requiring a minimum of two days in the office per week, with the remaining days being flexible and remote.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow and develop the creative team and expand AKQA's presence in the MENA region.
- Opportunities to work on high-profile, cross-functional projects with global and regional clients.
- Chance to represent AKQA as a thought leader in the creative and business communities across the region.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities for the right candidate, with the potential to make a substantial impact on AKQA's success in the MENA region.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: AKQA's Dubai office is located in Dubai Media City, offering a modern and collaborative work environment.
Office Location(s): Dubai Media City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Geographic Context:
- Dubai is a major global hub for business, tourism, and culture, offering a diverse and multicultural work environment.
- The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates, with Dubai being the second-largest and most populous.
- The MENA region is a dynamic and culturally rich market, presenting unique opportunities and challenges for creative professionals.
Work Schedule: Standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility required to meet project deadlines or client needs.
ASSUMPTION: Dubai offers a vibrant and multicultural work environment, with ample opportunities for professional growth and development in the design and innovation industry.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission through the AKQA careers portal.
- Phone or video screening with the HR team to discuss the role and assess cultural fit.
- Creative challenge or presentation to showcase your creative vision and problem-solving skills.
- Final interview with the regional leadership team to discuss the role, team dynamics, and career growth opportunities.
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creativity and strategic thinking in response to creative briefs or challenges.
- Leadership and team management skills, with a focus on mentoring and developing talent.
- Communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage senior clients and stakeholders effectively.
- Cultural fluency and adaptability, with a deep understanding of the MENA market and its unique dynamics.
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
- Prepare a creative portfolio or presentation that showcases your creative vision and problem-solving skills.
- Research AKQA's creative work and company culture to demonstrate your understanding and enthusiasm for the role.
- Be prepared to discuss your approach to leading creative teams and driving business growth through creativity and innovation.
ATS Keywords: Executive Creative Director, Creative Leadership, Brand Storytelling, Experience Design, Business Innovation, Product Development, Client Relationship Management, Cultural Relevance, Team Mentorship, Strategic Insight, Commercial Acumen, Communication, Storytelling, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Design Systems, Thought Leadership, Market Insight, MENA, Dubai, Hybrid Work Arrangement
ASSUMPTION: AKQA's recruitment process is designed to assess candidates' creative vision, leadership skills, and cultural fit, with a focus on driving business growth and creative excellence in the MENA region.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
- Sketch, Figma, or other design software
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, JIRA, Trello)
- Communication and collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams)
ASSUMPTION: This role requires proficiency in industry-standard design software, as well as project management and communication tools to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Innovation: AKQA fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement, encouraging employees to push boundaries and challenge the status quo.
- Service: AKQA is committed to delivering exceptional client service, with a focus on understanding and addressing client needs effectively.
- Quality: AKQA strives for excellence in all aspects of its work, with a commitment to delivering high-quality, creative solutions that drive meaningful results.
- Thought: AKQA encourages critical thinking and strategic problem-solving, with a focus on driving business growth and innovation through creativity.
Work Style:
- Collaborative: AKQA values a team-based approach to problem-solving and creative development.
- Entrepreneurial: AKQA encourages employees to take ownership of their work and drive business growth through creativity and innovation.
- Adaptable: AKQA recognizes the importance of flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic and evolving work environment.
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with AKQA's values, and how have you demonstrated these values in your previous roles?
- How do you approach working with diverse teams and stakeholders in a multicultural environment like the MENA region?
- How do you balance creativity and commercial acumen to drive business growth and innovation?
ASSUMPTION: AKQA's culture values innovation, service, quality, and thought, with a focus on driving business growth and creative excellence through collaboration and entrepreneurship.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing and mentoring a large, multidisciplinary creative team across multiple locations in the MENA region.
- Balancing the demands of client work with new business development and thought leadership initiatives.
- Adapting to the unique cultural dynamics and market conditions of the MENA region.
- Navigating a hybrid work arrangement, with a minimum of two days in the office per week.
ASSUMPTION: This role presents unique challenges and opportunities for growth, requiring a strong leader with a deep understanding of the MENA market and a proven track record in driving business growth through creativity and innovation.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Executive Creative Director vs. Chief Creative Officer: While both roles focus on driving creative excellence, the Executive Creative Director role is typically more focused on regional leadership and day-to-day creative output, while the Chief Creative Officer role is more focused on strategic direction and global oversight.
- MENA region vs. global markets: The MENA region presents unique cultural and market dynamics, requiring a deep understanding of local nuances and a tailored approach to creative problem-solving.
- AKQA vs. other design and innovation agencies: AKQA is known for its commitment to innovation, quality, and thought leadership, with a strong reputation for delivering award-winning creative work.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to lead AKQA's creative vision in the dynamic and culturally rich MENA region, with the potential to make a significant impact on the company's global success.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a comprehensive brand strategy and visual identity for a major government initiative in the UAE.
- Creating an immersive customer experience for a leading retail brand, driving footfall and sales growth across multiple markets in the MENA region.
- Designing and implementing a user-centered design approach for a fintech startup, improving user engagement and driving business growth.
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the diverse range of creative challenges and opportunities presented by the MENA market, requiring a strong leader with a deep understanding of regional dynamics and a proven track record in driving business growth through creativity and innovation.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does AKQA support the growth and development of its creative teams in the MENA region?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days, and how will my success be measured?
- How does AKQA approach working with senior clients and stakeholders to drive business growth and creative excellence?
- What opportunities are there for growth and development within AKQA, both regionally and globally?
- How does AKQA balance the demands of client work with new business development and thought leadership initiatives?
ASSUMPTION: These key questions are designed to provide insight into AKQA's approach to creative leadership, team development, and business growth in the MENA region.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through the AKQA careers portal.
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
- Prepare a creative portfolio or presentation that showcases your creative vision and problem-solving skills.
- Research AKQA's creative work and company culture to demonstrate your understanding and enthusiasm for the role.
- Be prepared to discuss your approach to leading creative teams and driving business growth through creativity and innovation.
- Follow up with the AKQA HR team one week after submission to inquire about the status of your application.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
