Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Under the slogan "Pride of the Kingdom," the capital city of Riyadh witnessed the launch of the first edition of the Effie Saudi Awards 2026, the first local awards program in the Kingdom dedicated to honoring marketing effectiveness, in the presence of an elite group of brand leaders, creative agencies and decision-makers to celebrate campaigns that have achieved tangible business results and a real impact in the Saudi market.

The Effie Saudi Arabia Awards 2026 represent a significant milestone in the Kingdom's marketing sector, celebrating ideas that achieve real results by combining strategic excellence, creativity, and measurable commercial impact, reflecting the sector's rapid development and its alignment with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

The awards ceremony was preceded by the "Marketing Effectiveness" forum, which brought together a select group of experts and specialists to explore the future of marketing effectiveness in the Kingdom through a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and specialized debates.

The forum featured speakers and leaders from prominent public and private sector entities, including Google, Herfy, Anghami+, King Salman International Airport, the Saudi Tourism Authority, Samsung Saudi Arabia, Kantar, Accenture, the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, Saudi Ceramics, Al Othaim Entertainment, Lazurde, EVIQ, Gather In, and a number of other leading entities.

The discussions focused on the rapid shifts in Saudi consumer behavior, the growing role of creativity and digital culture in enhancing business performance, the impact of technology and artificial intelligence on marketing effectiveness, and the challenges facing brands in balancing short-term results with long-term sustainable growth.

In the evening, the Kingdom’s leading marketing and communications leaders and experts gathered to celebrate the most impactful and effective campaigns. A judging panel of more than 100 experts and specialists evaluated the entries according to the highest professional standards, resulting in the selection of campaigns that succeeded in achieving tangible business results and an exceptional marketing impact.

The most prestigious award of the ceremony, the Grand Prix, went to Sayar for her Time To Speak Up For Manhood campaign in recognition of her ability to achieve exceptional levels of marketing effectiveness and commercial impact.

The gold medal-winning campaigns also garnered attention from attendees thanks to their innovative ideas and ability to achieve exceptional results. Among the winning brands and organizations were Baladi+, the Tourism Development Fund, Barq, Sakan Foundation, and MDLBEAST, among others.

The silver medal category saw the recognition of a group of brands that successfully combined creative boldness with strategic focus, including Mobily, Sensodyne, Doritos, Mentos, Kudu, and Holsten.

As for the bronze medal winners, they distinguished themselves by their ability to build an effective connection with the public and achieve tangible results, most notably Liz and IKEA, along with a number of other brands.

The ceremony also honored the most distinguished entities and institutions within the special awards, as Habbar won the award for the best advertising agency in terms of effectiveness in Saudi Arabia, while OMD Emirates won the award for the best media agency in terms of effectiveness in Saudi Arabia, and the Vogue Group won the award for the best agency network in terms of effectiveness in Saudi Arabia, while Mobily was crowned with the award for the most effective brand in Saudi Arabia.

Commenting on the occasion, Sahar Rafiq, General Manager of Nordstalla, said :

" Today, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is home to one of the most ambitious marketing environments in the world. Through the Effie Saudi Arabia Awards 2026, we are proud to launch a platform that celebrates not only creativity, but also the effectiveness and real commercial impact behind that creativity. Today's winning campaigns represent a model of what can be achieved when bold thinking meets strategic excellence."

The inaugural Saudi Effie Awards 2026 was held with the support of a network of partners who contribute to promoting a culture of marketing effectiveness and professional excellence in the Kingdom.

The list of partners included YouTube, Max, Holsten, Saudi Arabia Interaction - Business, Akama, Spike Media, Holding Million, along with Sherpa Communications as a public relations partner, an emerging digital media partner, and Communicate as a media partner.

Nordstalla organizes the Effie Saudi Arabia Awards with the aim of establishing a sustainable platform that celebrates marketing effectiveness and inspires new standards of excellence in the Kingdom, in line with its ambitions and future vision .

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