The Dubai International Advertising Festival, now in its 3rd year, is the premier awards and must-attend event for the advertising and communications industry in the MENA region. Taking place at The Palladium, a new state-of-the-art venue in Dubai Media City, Dubai Lynx offers an amazing learning programme that provides the MENA region with world-class speakers, the latest global industry thinking, local insights and an array of new networking opportunities where delegates can meet and engage with their peers.

Over two days, 15 and 16 March, 32 renowned speakers – international creatives and clients – from 25 companies will present 16 seminars that will offer insight and inspiration and four workshop sessions providing delegates with the opportunity to enjoy a more in-depth and hands-on learning experience in small and more collaborative groups.

This year’s speakers include:

Ahmed El-Azizi, Vice President Marketing of PepsiCo MEA

Barry Cupples, CEO of Omnicom Media Group Asia Pacific

Carter Murray, Chief Marketing Officer, Worldwide Account Director Nestlé, Publicis Worldwide

Chuck Porter, Co-Chairman of Crispin Porter + Bogusky

David Nobay, Creative Chairman, Droga5 Australia

John Hunt, Worldwide Creative Director of TBWA\ Worldwide

Mark Fiddes, Executive Creative Director, Draftfcb London

Mark Tutssel, Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett Worldwide

Prasoon Joshi, Executive Chairman; Regional Executive Creative Director, Asia Pacific of McCann Worldgroup, India

Additionally, delegates at Dubai Lynx 2010 will have the chance to be motivated by some of the most creative advertising from across the globe at an exhibition of winning pieces from Cannes Lions 2009, Eurobest 2009, Spikes Asia 2009 and of course view the Dubai Lynx 2010 Shortlist.

Dubai Lynx registration opens on Sunday 14 March at 1pm followed by the first of the new networking events.

At 5pm at The Palladium, The National presents Art & Copy, the regional premier screening of the powerful new film about advertising and inspiration, which will be introduced by The National’s founding editor, Martin Newland.

Directed by Doug Pray, Art & Copy reveals the work and wisdom of some of the most influential advertising creatives of our time such as Dan Wieden, Lee Clow and Hal Riney, among others, whose work has profoundly impacted our culture by grabbing the attention of millions with their brilliant campaigns but yet are virtually unknown outside their industry. Art & Copy is a dynamic exploration of art, commerce, and human emotion.

On Monday 15 March, at the end of the first day of seminars and workshops, delegates can catch up with old acquaintances and make important new contacts at a reception hosted by Guardian News held at The Palladium, the venue of the Festival.

The Dubai Creative Club is hosting an exclusive party on Tuesday 16 March for all Dubai Lynx delegates at the new Media One hotel located close to the Festival venue, offering an amazing opportunity for MENA’s creative community and international attendees to meet, share ideas and have an enjoyable evening after the 2nd day of seminars and workshops.

The 2010 Dubai Lynx winners will be revealed at the famous Dubai Lynx Awards Ceremony and Dinner, the highlight of the year for the MENA’s advertising community which takes place at The Palladium, the evening of Wednesday 17 March. Discover which campaigns have earned awards and join in the celebration with 1,300 like-minded industry peers. The awards ceremony will be presented this year by TV presenter and head of programming and production of Al AAn TV, Roula Debes.

“We are very excited about this year’s Dubai Lynx programme. It’s an intense agenda with some hot topics presented by a host of world-class speakers. We’ve also injected the fun element by introducing some equally important networking opportunities central to this business,” said Steve Lane, Dubai Lynx Festival Director.

- Ends -

The 3rd Dubai International Advertising Festival, the leading competition and awards for advertising creative excellence in the Middle East and Africa, will be held 14 – 16 March 2010 at The Palladium, Dubai, UAE. The Lynx Awards will take place on 17 March 2010.

Presented by Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival together with their regional partners, Motivate Publishing, the Dubai International Advertising Festival is held with the support of Dubai Media City (DMC) and in association with the UAE Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA). The 3rd Dubai International Advertising Festival will bring to the Middle East and Africa a series of high profile seminars, workshops, exhibitions and screenings aimed at giving creative inspiration, learning and networking opportunities to the advertising and allied industries in the region. The Lynx awards, which are part of the Festival, will honour creative excellence in TV/Cinema, Print, Outdoor, Radio, Direct Marketing, Media, Interactive, Craft and Integrated advertising. High-profile international jurors will award the coveted Dubai Lynx trophy to establish the definitive standard for creative excellence in the Middle East and Africa region.

For further information, please contact:

Amanda Benfell, PR & Press Manager

Dubai International Advertising Festival

Greater London House, Hampstead Road, London NW1 7EJ, United Kingdom

amandab@canneslions.com Tel: +44-20-7728 4040; Fax: +44-20-7728 4044

www.dubailynx.com

Steve Lane, Festival Director

Dubai International Advertising Festival PO Box 502100, Dubai, UAE

stevel@dubailynx.com Tel: +971 4 3755 649; Mobile +971 50 552 7781

www.dubailynx.com