General Manager at Al Mana Media Qatar takes pride in running one of the fastest growing media and advertising agencies in the country by finding innovative ways to communicate his clients’ brands to the widest possible audience in a cost effective and ti

How much has advertising really changed over the years?

It has changed in a dramatic way, especially with online/digital dominating the communication scene. All the classical advertising vehicles HEROS are no longer the main players. However, they became the main players’ supporters such as social media platforms, online campaigns… In other words, it feels as if the media scene is going viral!

How has the profile of your agency changed?

It changed in relation to the type of services being offered; from an Outdoor / Offline MBU agency to almost a Full Fledged Advertising Agency covering almost all aspects of the business. Media planning and buying (on/offline, outdoor/broadcast), to creative services and Digital Printing (this was the big and successful introduction to our profile, as we expanded the business, which turned out to have been a major success).

How has the local market been affected?

Personally, I still cannot see the negative effects on the Qatari market. However, if there is such an effect, I see it from a positive perspective as the country continues to develop in a positive way. What are some of the challenges you're facing? In my humble opinion, the major challenge in Qatar remains the unfair and unethical competition between the local and international/ regional agencies based on prices and rates rather than creativity and quality, which in great part is due to the way clients continue to conduct business matters.