logo
Dubai Lynx names Adidas as the 2025 Advertiser of the Year

Dubai Lynx names Adidas as the 2025 Advertiser of the Year

Campaign ME13-02-2025
Dubai Lynx, MENA's leading platform for creative excellence and effectiveness, has revealed Adidas as the Advertiser of the Year for 2025 today.
The accolade recognises brands that have set themselves apart through innovative marketing campaigns and a commitment to embracing outstanding creative work produced by their agencies.
The Advertiser of the Year Award will be presented to Eugene Karasev, Senior Brand Director, adidas EMC, at the Dubai Lynx Awards Ceremony, taking place at the Emirates Golf Club on Wednesday, 9 April.
Philip Thomas, Chairman, Dubai Lynx, said, 'The Advertiser of the Year Award recognises creative excellence, demonstrating the business value of creative communications. Adidas has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the power of creativity to engage consumers and inspire meaningful connections. Its campaigns not only push creative boundaries but also set benchmarks for effectiveness in the MENA region and beyond. Congratulations on this much-deserved win – we are delighted to recognise adidas's remarkable achievements.'
Ian Fairservice, Vice Chairman, Dubai Lynx, added, 'Adidas exemplifies what it means to be a bold and forward-thinking advertiser in today's dynamic landscape. Its ability to tell powerful stories through innovative marketing has resonated with audiences across the MENA region. It's an honour to celebrate its contributions to the creative community.'
Adidas has consistently demonstrated creative excellence across the region and globally, earning 43 Awards across Dubai Lynx and Cannes Lions over the past three years, including eight Grands Prix across seven categories.
Among its most acclaimed campaigns, 'Beyond the Surface', developed in collaboration with Havas Middle East, stood out for its outstanding filmmaking and cultural sensitivity, earning the Grand Prix in Film Craft at Dubai Lynx 2022.
Likewise, 'Liquid Billboard', also created in partnership with Havas Middle East, took home the Design Grand Prix at the 2022 Dubai Lynx Awards.
In 2023, Adidas reinforced its creative leadership, securing 11 Lynx Awards, including the Integrated Grand Prix for 'adidas X Ravi' and two Grands Prix – Entertainment and PR – for 'The Ravi Superstar' – a campaign that exemplified adidas's innovative storytelling. The campaign also won the Creative Strategy Grand Prix at Dubai Lynx in 2024.
Most recently in 2024, 'The Female Field' was awarded the Grand Prix in Glass: The Award for Change, recognised for its powerful impact on gender representation. These achievements reflect adidas's ongoing commitment to pushing creative boundaries and delivering culturally resonant campaigns in the MENA region.
Speaking about the Award, Eugene Karasev, Senior Brand Director, adidas EMC, commented: 'At adidas, we believe that through sport we have the power to change lives. We are very proud to be named the Advertiser of the Year at Dubai Lynx and treat it as a testament to the bold ideas and community impact we strive to create.'
Karasev added, 'Over the years, Dubai Lynx has provided a platform to celebrate the region's creative excellence, and we're proud to be recognized among brands that are shaping the future of marketing and communication. This award is dedicated to everyone who has helped push the boundaries of sport, culture, and storytelling with adidas.'
The presentation of the 2025 Dubai Lynx Advertiser of the Year Award will take place during the Dubai Lynx Awards Ceremony at the Emirates Golf Club on Wednesday 9, April.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Adidas says tariffs will add $231mln to second-half costs
Adidas says tariffs will add $231mln to second-half costs

Zawya

time3 days ago

  • Zawya

Adidas says tariffs will add $231mln to second-half costs

Adidas said on Wednesday higher U.S. tariffs would add around 200 million euros ($231 million) to its costs in the second half, having impacted its second quarter results by "double-digit" millions of euros. Highlighting the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's volatile trade policies, Adidas said uncertainty was holding it back from increasing its annual guidance despite reporting stronger than expected second-quarter profit. "We still do not know what the final tariffs in the U.S. will be," CEO Bjorn Gulden said in a statement. Another unknown is the indirect impact on consumer demand if the tariffs cause "major inflation", he added. Shares in Adidas were down 2.6% in premarket trade. The stock is already down 16% since the start of the year. The U.S. earlier this month announced a 20% levy on many Vietnamese exports and a 19% tariff on goods from Indonesia. Vietnam and Indonesia, Adidas' two biggest sourcing countries, made up 27% and 19% of the company's products respectively as of 2024. Like many other sportswear companies including Puma, Adidas has frontloaded product purchases into the U.S. to try and beat tariffs, driving its inventories up 16% to 5.26 billion euros at the end of June. Net sales, adjusted for currency swings, rose 2.2% to 5.95 billion euros ($6.9 billion) in the quarter, lower than analysts' average estimate of 6.2 billion euros, according to data compiled by LSEG. But quarterly operating profit reached 546 million euros, ahead of analysts' expectations for 520 million euros, a sign that Adidas is selling more products at full price. Adidas' gross margin increased by 0.9 percentage points to 51.7% in the quarter, as reduced discounting and lower product and freight costs mitigated the impacts from currencies and tariffs. Adidas is also having to contend with a stronger euro and weaker dollar, which hit sales by around 300 million euros in the quarter through June. (Reporting by Linda Pasquini in Gdansk and Helen Reid in London; Editing by Matt Scuffham and David Holmes)

Cannes Lions 2025: Natalie Shardan shares insights from the jury room
Cannes Lions 2025: Natalie Shardan shares insights from the jury room

Campaign ME

time3 days ago

  • Campaign ME

Cannes Lions 2025: Natalie Shardan shares insights from the jury room

Great brand experiences don't just show up – they stay with you. They stir something, shift something and leave something behind. Judging the Cannes Lions in Brand Experience and Activation this year was a powerful reminder of that. In a room full of bold opinions and sharp minds from around the world, we sifted through hundreds of campaigns in search of that rare magic – ideas that went beyond flash to deliver feeling; ideas rooted in local truth yet expressed with a clarity that transcended borders. The kind of work that doesn't just speak to people but speaks for them. Work that feels unmistakably human. Ideas that left a mark in the Cannes Lions jury room For me, what separates a campaign worthy of a Gold Lion is the magic formula of emotion and culture – combined with the ability to drive meaningful action. A winning campaign doesn't just show up in people's lives; it earns its place, leaves a mark and makes the brand unforgettable. The best work also proves that creativity is a business driver. We looked for ideas that didn't compromise one for the other – that used creativity to unlock relevance, resonance and results. This year, several ideas rose to the top. 'Caption with Intention' stood out as a campaign that deservedly won the Grand Prix across multiple categories. What struck me was its simplicity and brilliance – an idea hiding in plain sight. By introducing a dynamic subtitle system, it completely reshaped the viewing experience for the deaf community. It's a powerful example of how a strong creative idea can influence an entire industry and redefine how we consume content. 'Price Packs' for PENNY, by our German colleagues, also left a strong impression. It was a campaign that proved how bold ideas can drive real business results. The campaign used its creativity to champion price stability – making the brand a beacon of trust at a time when it really mattered. Not an easy campaign to execute, but the agency and client pushed it through and the results spoke for themselves. Then came ideas such as 'Acko Tailor Test', which turned a common habit into a moment of health awareness, as well as 'The Kimberly Price' and 'The Gulf of Mexico Bar' – rooted in deep cultural context. These ideas demonstrated how simplicity, bravery and a deep understanding of people's behaviour can turn even small moments into something powerful. Purpose matters What surprised me this year was how many brands embraced ideas that went beyond performance metrics and leaned into cultural impact. The best campaigns didn't just sell – they stood for something. They refused to treat digital and physical spaces as separate silos, creating seamless ecosystems where every touchpoint felt connected and intentional. It was less about being 'omnichannel' and more about making connections feel truly human. In contrast, one thing became very clear: too many campaigns still confuse visibility with value. A flashy activation can win attention and clicks, but if it doesn't carve out a meaningful role for the brand in people's lives, it won't last. True brand experience is about resonance, not just reach. In the jury room, we were wary of ideas that felt retrofitted for the category – ideas where brand experience was just a superficial layer, rather than its core. Risk of playing if safe Judging this category at Cannes Lions reminded me why we do what we do. In an age of automation and data overload, creativity still matters – now more than ever. The power of a simple, sharp idea to move people, shift perceptions and drive real‑world results is still our biggest industry asset. If you want bold activations, you can't be risk‑averse. The best brand experiences are strategic, but they also dare to be human. Let go of the safe approach. Play the long game. People remember how you made them feel – not your click‑through rate. For brands and marketers across the Middle East, this is an invitation. An invitation to lean into bold ideas, stay rooted in culture and create connections that matter. And that's how we win, long after the campaign is over. By Natalie Shardan, Managing Director, Serviceplan Middle East

Cannes Lions 2025: Evidence-based, coalition-built, transparent and human
Cannes Lions 2025: Evidence-based, coalition-built, transparent and human

Campaign ME

time4 days ago

  • Campaign ME

Cannes Lions 2025: Evidence-based, coalition-built, transparent and human

Cannes Lions 2025 felt less like a festival of fireworks and more like a stress test of truth. Serving on the PR jury, I spent long nights debating whether ideas deserved a Lion once the gloss was stripped away. That perspective shaped seven lessons I carried home, and each one speaks to where brand storytelling is heading next. Being believed is now worth more than being seen. On day one, Apple's Tor Myhren warned that AI will not save advertising unless humans raise the standard. Later, our jury dropped a high-gloss submission the moment its impact numbers proved to be guesses. The work that climbed to Gold arrived with proof the public would recognise as real. In an era of deepfakes and automated hype, authority must be earned the hard way. Authority grows fastest when you bring credible partners on board. Dove's 'Real Beauty' campaign won the Grand Prix in the Glass: The Lion for Change category at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2025 because NGOs, creators and media figures all shared ownership of the message. India's Lucky Yatra, this year's PR Grand Prix, paired Indian Railways with broadcasters and a lottery mechanic that turned humble train tickets into national news. The biggest spend wasn't media; it was relationship-building. Everyone praises diversity but few show it working in real time. Our jury did. We came from five continents and every corner of communications, so each case was cross-examined for cultural nuance, ethical red flags and lived experience I could never see alone. Early debates felt slower until they didn't. By the time we reached the Grand Prix shortlist, the work had survived every angle of attack. When the chair of the jury called for a show of hands – 10 hands rose in 10 seconds. Many voices didn't create gridlock; they created confidence. If you want fast, decisive calls, fill the room with people who see the world differently. Creators underscored the same truth. In government, you never put a spokesperson on stage without a clear brief. The rule now applies when you hand your story to an influencer. The Social and Creator Grand Prix, 'Vaseline Verified', proved it. TikTok dermatology voices received the brand's lab results up front and freedom to film in their own style – sometimes playful and sometimes clinical. Safe hacks earned a 'Verified' stamp while dangerous myths were debunked by the same creators. Because the message arrived through trusted voices, followers believed it instantly and spread it widely. Credibility that you can't buy was amplified to millions in minutes. The same demand for openness echoed on the sustainability stage. Ad Net Zero used Cannes to publish its latest carbon-measurement framework and called on brands to release emissions data as openly as financials. Gulf regulators and mega-projects are moving toward full carbon disclosure in supplier tenders; marketing briefs won't lag far behind, so this 'radical transparency' will reach our tender desks sooner than many expect. Elsewhere, analysts conceded that a single universal metric for marketing is fantasy; brands must embrace multiple measures and show their working. Sunlight is expanding, and anything opaque –whether carbon footprint, fees or research methods – will soon look suspect. The Design for Behavioural Change Lion also earned the spotlight. Lucky Yatra used the chance to win a trophy, showing how it altered commuter habits. Another winner, 'Caption With Intention', rewired video captions so deaf viewers could feel suspense, humour and irony. Ideas that change what people do – not just what they remember – now set the creative bar. Pure PR success came from ideas born for conversation, not media spend. Nordea Bank's 'Parental Leave Mortgage' let parents pause repayments during leave and spread through press coverage without a hero film. In the jury room we pressed every contender with three questions: Is it culturally urgent? Can it move without paid support? Will it survive fact-checking tomorrow? Campaigns that cleared that bar soared; those that relied on rented attention faded. So, what should marketers in our region take from Cannes? First, prove impact before you proclaim it, because audiences now inspect the footnotes. Second, invite unlikely partners – creators, regulators, even rivals – because coalitions unlock reach that money cannot buy. Third, design ideas to shift behaviour, not merely impressions; when habits change, headlines follow. Judging Cannes was a reminder that creativity and public trust are now inseparable. Ideas succeed when they act like good policy: evidence-based, coalition-built, transparent and human. That was the standard we applied at two in the morning in the jury room, and it is the same standard audiences apply in daylight. By Khaled AlShehhi, Executive Director of Marketing and Communication, UAE Government Media Office

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store