According to Reuters, ZenithOptimedia has said that ad spending in the Middle East and Africa (MENA) is set to decline. This is due to political unrest, as ad spend is set to drop by 12.1% this year. Accordingly, ZenithOptimedia reduced its global forecast of advertising this year, saying that ad spend will grow 4.1% to $471bn, from the 4.2% previously predicted.

BBDO has topped the YoungGuns Top 10 rankings of the most Awarded Networks of the past decade, making it the number one network in the world for emerging and young creatives. Saatchi & Saatchi takes second place in the ranking, followed by Leo Burnett, DDB and TBWA to round out the top five.

Maurice Levy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Publicis Groupe opened Day 2 of the IAA World Congress by telling delegates from 45 countries how our new culture of ethical consumption will change traditional concepts of marketing.

Emirates Airlines has put up its $260 mln advertising accounts up for tender in a significant shift in its communications strategy. Campaign Middle East reports that Publicis, Omnicom, WPP and Interpublic, plus Chime Communications received the initial invitation, with the pitch process expected to commence at the end of July.