Telum Talks To: The National

Communications network RAIYN has been launched in Dubai, led by Mazen Nahawi, Founder and CEO of CARMA and RAIYN, alongside four firm principals: Ahmad Itani, Founder and Chief Advisor, Cicero & Bernay; Louise Jacobson, Managing Partner, Brazen MENA; Sean Trainor, Chief Executive, Salient Communication Group; and Tarek Esper, Managing Director, SOCIALEYEZ.

The network brings together the four firms under a single accountable structure, designed to support organisations across MENA and beyond, aiming to strengthen their reputations, make better decisions, and deliver impactful outcomes.

Commenting on the launch, Mazen said, "The people of this region, nationals and expats, are best suited to speak on its behalf. That is the belief on which RAIYN is built. We have brought together the best practitioners in the region, combining creativity, sector expertise, AI mastery and cultural depth. Communications needs a new dawn. That dawn begins with trust. RAIYN is a promise to bring people together, to build respect and to put trust at the centre of everything our industry does."

RAIYN  brings together more than 700 professionals across strategic advisory, creative, digital and intelligence, and operates within News Group International (NGI). 

TawasulComms has appointed Amine Mneimne (pictured left) as Senior Director of Communications and Head of Technology and AI, based in Dubai. In this role, he leads the tech practice, focusing on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and emerging industries.

Amine has worked at firms including Cicero & Bernay, Landmark PR & Events, and most recently, Golin MENA. Throughout his career, he has advised multinational companies, global brands, and regional organisations across technology, telecommunications, energy, security, and finance.

"At TawasulComms, we are not building a bigger company. We are building a smarter one. In a rapidly changing media landscape, where artificial intelligence is reshaping industries and redefining communications, strengthening our Technology and AI capabilities is a strategic priority, and bringing Amine on board is an important step in that journey,” said Haian Nayouf (pictured right), Founder & CEO of TawasulComms.

“Technology and AI are redefining every aspect of modern communications, and I’m excited to be part of TawasulComms’ vision for the future. I look forward to supporting clients across sectors as they embrace innovation, digital transformation, and new opportunities created by emerging technologies,” commented Amine on his appointment.

Gulf-based communications consultancy firm Narrative Shapers and PR Academy, a UK-based PR training firm, have signed an agreement to collaborate on developing and rolling out training courses and workshops across the Gulf region.

The agreement covers a range of disciplines, from internal communications to crisis issues, strategic communications, change management, digital engagement, sustainability and artificial intelligence. Workshops will be provided over the course of one to two days and can be delivered either on-site or in the UK.

The team said that the purpose behind the partnership is to ensure that marketers and public relations practitioners understand the theory and can apply best-practice frameworks and approaches, with the aim of transforming how they practise communications for themselves, their organisations, and their countries.

“Having worked in the Gulf for over two decades in the fields of communications and marketing, I know how much I would have benefited from these training courses,” said Alex Malouf (pictured left), Founder and Managing Partner, Narrative Shapers.

“For the first time, in-house teams and executives will be able to benefit from the best possible learning delivered in the Gulf. Best practices, including local examples, will be anchored in theory, and attendees will be engaged in learning that is both engaging and informative as we help them to better tell the region’s stories both at home and abroad.”

“The Gulf region is one of the most exciting public relations markets today, and what stands out is the ambition to tell the region’s story on a global scale. What we are here to do is to provide Gulf-based professionals with the means and the tools to be able to best tell their stories through face-to-face training in partnership with Narrative Shapers,” said PR Academy Director, Ann Pilkington (pictured right).