Rapid changes and unforeseen challenges have become the norm, making our world more complex than ever before. Discover the critical role that PR and strategic communication play in building and protecting your organisation's reputation.

As the days count down to COP28 in the UAE, anticipation, preparation, and action take center stage. But there's an undercurrent, an unsung hero in sustainable change – effective communication. Now, more than ever, it's time for businesses, policymakers, and thought leaders to understand its value and leverage its power.

Discover the potent role of storytelling in business success, exploring how narratives can foster emotional connections, instil trust, and inspire action. Learn how to create compelling stories that resonate with audiences, using examples from giants like Apple, Nike, and Airbnb.

"Creativity is contagious, pass it on." This powerful quote from Albert Einstein reminds us of the endless potential of creativity and its ability to inspire and transform those around us. But what is creativity, and why is it so important? It's not just about being artistic or imaginative - creativity is a key ingredient in business success, driving innovation and inspiring growth.

When internal communication is clear, consistent, and strategic, it can motivate employees, build trust, and lead to better business outcomes. Better-connected teams lead to increased collaboration, productivity, and better decision-making, fostering a positive work culture that improves job satisfaction and overall business performance.

Effective speeches can inspire and motivate people to change their behaviour, support a cause, and ultimately drive results. A well-crafted speech connects with the audience emotionally and creates a lasting impression. Manara Global approaches speechwriting as a collaborative process, working closely with clients to understand their goals, values, and vision.

Building a strong reputation is key to success in Dubai's competitive business world. A positive reputation brings numerous benefits, such as customer loyalty, top talent attraction, higher prices, partnerships, and investor confidence. Investing in reputation management underpinned by a strong communications strategy can drive business success.

In the landmark UAE Year of Sustainability, our commitment to a greener future has never been more critical. As the world evolves, so do the expectations of consumers, urging companies to step up and integrate sustainability into the core of their business strategies.

With the World Economic Forum held in Davos this week, former Chief Press Officer to the UK Prime Minister and current Senior Advisor at Manara Global, Natasha Moor shares her perspective on the opportunity for political leaders.

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused an earthquake to economies and none more so than to global trade. With global trade estimates seeing a rapid decline for 2020 with nearly all regions expected to witness a double-digit decline, our Founding Partner, Robin Gordon-Farleigh, shares his assessment of global trade in the Covid era.

COVID-19 could act as a positive catalyst for change, that purpose has become ‘real’, how this crisis has impacted and changed for the better relationships with human-kind, and that there should be belief and hope for our future.

With the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the globe continuing causing countries to declare a state of national emergency whilst they manage the containment of the virus within their borders, people are experiencing disruption to their everyday lives. We look at the role of Government in communicating through this period of great challenge.

At Manara Global, we can help organizations with their communications to prepare for, manage and emerge from an outbreak impacting their organization, people and any disruption to services wherever they are in the world.

Writing in Arabian Business, our Founding Partner & Chair and Global Women in PR MENA Board member, Teri O’Donnell, states that it makes both economic and business sense to ensure flexible working is a 'table stake' when it comes to working.

This week, our Founding Partner Robin Gordon-Farleigh spoke about transforming the investor narrative into the currency of reputation to an audience of international investors at a conference focused on investment in South Asia.

Reputation matters. It is one of your strongest assets and makes a key contribution to your market value. Adversely, a poor reputation can be costly, negatively impacting your bottom line.

It is increasingly clear that the SDGs cannot be achieved solely through the actions taken at the Government level, they have to be achieved through the actions of a range of wider stakeholders with business being a key partner in the realization of the 2030 agenda.

Creativity and innovation are the heart and soul of any company or organisation that wants to remain relevant, competitive and effective. Like elsewhere, there is a growing appetite for creative ideas and solutions in the Middle East that can make you stand out from the crowd, reach people and be engaging.

Reproduced article that first appeared in The Times newspaper on 24 July 2019
In the theatre of Westminster the final curtain is about to come down on one of its main characters, Prime Minister Theresa May. I can safely predict a healthy dose of tears, smiles and applause as she walks out of that famous black door of No10 for the last time.

Last week, the founders of Manara Global hit the global trail and visited the UK for a series of client, partner and journalist meetings that spanned the Government, corporate, NGO and media sectors.

For any new corporate or political leader, the first 100 days will be the most vital – it can define your whole leadership tenure and their success in shaping the future. The most successful leaders know that this is when they take on great counsel to navigate the path of success – real leaders listen, they ask the right questions, they make the decisions that count.

Manara Global was honoured to host a dinner for the Executive Director of UK Government Communication. As the top government communicator in the UK leading over 4,000 professional communicators, his insights were invaluable.

Our Founders were honoured to attend the HM Queen Elizabeth II birthday celebration held at the British Embassy in Dubai.  Hosted by Andrew Jackson, British Consul General to Dubai and the Northern Emirates, with guest of honour present being H.E. Maryam bint Mohammed  Saeed Hareb Al Mehairi, UAE Minister of State for Future Food Security.  

Purpose brings a sense of meaning to an organisation, its raison d'être, linking with why it exists, its reason for being and how it operates. Purpose should form an organisations north star forming a fundamental motivation for the business which then navigates the journey that inspires the vision and the development of the strategy that will set the course to arrive at the end objective. 

Fashion designer, Christian Dior once said that “without foundations, there can be no fashion”. We believe in the value of building strategic communications that are built on the firm bedrock of strong foundations, supporting the strategic communications approach in delivering messages that resonate with their audiences.

Executive positioning is not only an important element of a strategic communications approach, it’s actually essential. Leaders are expected to do more than just run their organisations, they are expected to take a stand on an issue.

Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings. In an era of information overload, the value add is in using insights that cut through the information clutter which provide you with the most salient points that enable key decision making.

A media round up of the stories written about our launch last week. It was covered in PR Week, Arabian Business, The Holmes Report and Consultancy Middle East.