Dubai Media City, the region’s leading business community dedicated to the media sector, and Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan, the official representative of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the UAE, announced Arwa Al Jundi and Warsha J. Dhemani from Livingroom Communications as the winners of the 17^th UAE Young Lions Digital Competition during an award ceremony held at in5 Media in Dubai Production City. This is in line with Dubai Media City’s efforts to strengthen and support our region’s talented individuals and their creative ideas.

Majed Al Suwaidi, Managing Director of Dubai Media City, said: “Our vision is to support local talent through shaping platforms that enhance creativity. The media industry is ever-evolving, and we must develop advanced ways to stay ahead. Over the past nine years, Dubai Media City has remained one of the main partners of the UAE Young Lions competition, offering young and talented individuals a stage to demonstrate their creativity and jumpstart their careers through achieving a global impact. We congratulate our winners and wish them a successful participation in the 66^th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.”

The winners will take an all-expense paid trip to Cannes in France to represent the UAE at the 66^th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, set to run from 17 to 21 June 2019. The annual event explores the value of creativity and showcases new ideas, consumer insights and emerging technologies.

Supporting the leading humanitarian organisation, World Food Programme (WFP), the UAE Young Lions Digital Competition drew the participation of 16 teams comprising 32 nationalities this year. Each team included two members – an art director and a copywriter – both under the age of 30, working either for communications, advertising or digital agency, or on a freelance basis. The judging panel featured industry experts and professionals from the creative, advertising and communication organisations.

Ian Fairservice, Managing Partner and Group Editor-in-Chief at Motivate Media Group, said: “During the 17 years of hosting the UAE Young Lions competition, we have seen a wealth of inspiring work from some exceptional young professionals, and this year is certainly no different. I wish Arwa Al Jundi and Warsha J. Dhemani from Livingroom Communications the best of luck at Cannes. I am confident they will more than prove their worth as creative ambassadors of the UAE.”