The Players
Meet the Players Behind Every Winning Move
The thinkers, creators, and communicators shaping stories across the region
Gambit Central
Jamal Al Mawed
Founder and CEO
Palestinian/British/Emirati hybrid with over 18 years’ experience handling the PR and Communications of multinational brands overseeing more than thirty countries, Jamal’s career before founding Gambit Communications took him to senior roles at leading brands such as Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and the Dubai Properties Group.
Gaurang Shah
Head of Finance
Senior Accountant with over two decades of experience in financial operations, Gaurang oversees the Finance department at Gambit Communications.
Chloe Henshaw
Talent Development & Human Resources Specialist
Originally from Ireland, Chloe brings extensive HR and recruitment experience to her role at Gambit, having worked with the country’s largest property developer, where she developed and implemented strategies to attract, retain, and engage top talent
Baiju Sinkarajan
Executive Chauffeur
Bringing two decades of professional chauffeuring experience to Gambit, Baiju supports the leadership team to ensure that they are always on time!
Olufunke Akinwumi
Senior HR & Admin Executive
With experience in everything from script editing to sales and customer service, Olufunke brings a wide range of capabilities to her role as HR & Admin Executive at Gambit Communications.
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Shahabin Kamarudheen
Senior Finance Executive
Indian finance professional with a background in accountancy and experience in agencies across media and FMCG sectors.
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Lakshmi Raikwal
Senior Finance Executive
Senior Finance Executive with 14+ years of experience in financial management and accounting. Proven expertise in financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance, with a strong focus on process optimization and automation.
Bassel Barakat
Senior Director
Bassel Barakat is a senior PR and media communications expert with over twelve years of experience advising regional and international brands across the Middle East.
Aiham Soufi
Arabic Content Manager
Arabic content professional on the Gambit team, Aiham has a proven track record in translation and editing with 6+ years of experience.
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FWD
Dalia Baddar
Associate Integrated Communications Director
Tech expert of the Gambit team, leading on Gambit FWD’s integrated comms needs across major clients such as Samsung, Acer, SanDisk, LEGO, Lexus and more.
Tony Sidgwick
Account Director
PR, Corporate Communications and content development specialist with over 15 years’ experience in the region on both client and media side, Tony heads up Gambit FWD leading on property, corporate and automotive practices at Gambit Communications.
Fadwa Sbai
Senior Integrated Communications Executive
Moroccan influencer queen, Fadwa is part of Gambit’s FWD team, overseeing brands such as LEGO, Geely and Lexus.
Mariam Bouraoui
Account Manager
Mariam plays a key role in Gambit FWD’s automotive and property PR teams, applying her bilingual abilities and strong interpersonal skills to drive results for brands such as Toyota, Lexus, Geely, Deyaar, Omniyat and Property Finder.
Mariem Elsayed
Junior Account Manager
A PR professional born and raised in the UAE, Mariem brings a passion for creativity and sharp storytelling to Gambit’s team, supporting key technology clients such as Samsung, Sandisk and Acer.
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Mohammad Chaaban
Senior Account Executive
A Palestinian born and raised in the UAE, Mohammed works on Gambit’s FWD team engaging with tech media and YouTubers on brands such as Acer, SanDisk and Samsung.
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Larine Yassine
Account Executive
Raised in Dubai with Palestinian-Lebanese roots, Larine is part of Gambit’s FWD team, specializing in the property and real estate sector working on major brands such as Deyaar, OMNIYAT and Property Finder.
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Lina Saeed
Junior Account Manager
Syrian PR professional born and raised in Dubai, Lina is part of Gambit’s FWD team, specializing in the property & real estate and automotive sectors. She joined Gambit following a stellar two years at the iconic Museum of The Future, as a team leader in the operations team.
Sarah Saoud
Integrated Communications Executive
Beirut-born and Dubai-based, Sarah is a marketing graduate from the American University of Sharjah with a minor in supply chain management. As part of Team FWD, she handles tech clients including Samsung, SanDisk and Acer.
Sally Shanableh
Junior Account Executive
Sally Shanableh is a Palestinian-Jordanian raised in Dubai. As part of Gambit FWD team, she brings creativity and capability to brands such as Lexus, Toyota, Geely, and Samsung.
Julie Yahfouf
Junior Account Executive
is a Dubai-born and raised Lebanese Magna Cum Laude graduate from the American University of Beirut with a degree in Media & Communications.
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Ahmad Ramadan
Account Executive
Graduate from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a BSc in Global Business Management, Ahmad works on Gambit’s FWD team handling automotive accounts.
Falah Al Zarei
Junior Account Executive
Half Emirati and half Tanzanian, Falah Al Zaraei was born and raised in the UAE and brings a thoughtful approach to storytelling and communications. As a member of Gambit Communications' FWD team, he works with technology clients such as Acer and SanDisk, supporting media relations, strategic communications, and impactful storytelling across the region.
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Atelier
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Alexandra Richards
Associate Account Director
Award-winning PR practitioner leading Gambit Atelier team on hospitality, luxury, lifestyle and culture clients including Essilor Luxottica, Marriott, Emirates Festival of Literature, Middle East Film & Comic Con and FIX Dessert Chocolatier (Dubai Chocolate).
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Aisha Almawed
Senior Account Executive
British-Palestinian raised in Dubai, with on-ground work experience in both UAE and UK, Aisha works on Gambit’s culture clients at Team Atelier supporting on the Emirates Festival of Literature, Middle East Film & Comic Con and FIX Dessert Chocolatier (Dubai Chocolate!).
Vivian Weichler
Junior Account Manager
Luxury & Fashion PR expert from Germany, Vivian brings years of experience handling high-end watch brands, eyewear and hotels to the Atelier team, where she currently manages culture clients such as Emirates LitFest and Middle East Film & Comic Con and hospitality brands such as The Ozen Collection and Leela Palaces.
Vanessa Olsson
Account Manager
Our hospitality and lifestyle queen, Swedish-born Vanessa brings an international perspective to her work on luxury clients across The Maldives, India and Indonesia, in sectors including hospitality, culture, entertainment and automotive.
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Kate Elizabeth Simmons
Account Executive
Originally from London, Kate is part of Gambit’s Atelier Team – supporting on major accounts including the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, Essilor Luxottica and FIX Dessert Chocolatier
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Mohammad Mardood
Account Executive
An Emirati national with expertise in government protocol and royal patronage, Mohammad is part of Gambit’s Atelier team, working on BMW, MINI, Ski Dubai and VOX Cinemas.
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Shade Shalak
Junior Account Executive
German-Libyan PR Executive in Gambit’s Atelier team, Shade brings an international outlook to her clients including BMW, MINI, Ski Dubai, VOX Cinemas, The Ozen Collection and more.
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Pulse
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Jana Al Jilani
Senior Account Manager
Palestinian-Jordanian PR professional helming the Gambit Pulse team, where she oversees a team of 10 on disruptive brands such as Red Bull, ASICS, lululemon, Porsche and the entire Majid Al Futtaim portfolio across retail, shopping malls and entertainment.
Alaa Arnaout
Integrated Communications Executive
Lebanese, born and raised in the UAE, Alaa is part of Gambit’s Integrated Communications team, where she works with key clients such as Uber, MAF Shopping Malls, MAF Lifestyle, and Marriott Bonvoy.
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Hana Sabri
Integrated Communications Executive
Honors graduate and valedictorian from the American University of Sharjah with a BA in Media Communications and Luxury Marketing, Hana is part of Gambit’s Integrated Communications team with impressive brands under her portfolio such as MAF Shopping Malls, MAF Lifestyle, Samsung, and Nike.
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Jana Bunni
Account Executive
Syrian-Dominican, UAE born and raised, Jana brings a creative and disruptive approach to her work on Gambit Pulse clients such as McLaren, Nike, Red Bull, lululemon and more.
Miette D’Souza
Account Executive
India-born and UAE-raised, Miette blends her passion for fashion and luxury with her PR career. As part of Gambit’s PR team, she handles clients such as Majid Al Futtaim Shopping Malls, MAF Lifestyle and Uber.
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Naya Mehanna
Junior Integrated Communications Executive
Lebanese graduate Naya is part of the Gambit Pulse team, bringing her skills to major lifestyle, entertainment, and retail clients including LEGO, Ski Dubai, Snow Abu Dhabi and VOX Cinemas.
Sara Al Dehni
Junior Integrated Communications Manager
Syrian superstar Sara is an integral part of Gambit’s Pulse team handling flagship clients including MAF Shopping Malls, Uber, Essilor Luxottica, lululemon and LEGO.
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Shahnaz Al Jumaily
Junior Integrated Communications Manager
Shahnaz is part of Gambit Pulse, overseeing influencer marketing and experiential on the Majid Al Futtaim Group portfolio of shopping malls, including iconic destinations such as Mall of the Emirates and the City Centre brands.
Anoud Hamzeh
Junior Account Executive
is a Palestinian-Jordanian fresh graduate from the American University of Sharjah with a degree in Mass Communication, specializing in Integrated Media Communications and a minor in Marketing.
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Sage
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Showkat Rather
Associate Account Director
Seasoned communications expert with a specialization in Environmental, Social and Governmental (ESG) communications, Showkat leads on all sustainability-related PR at Gambit, bringing his experience to clients such as Sharjah Sustainable City, Veolia, Aramex, Deyaar and more.
Suzana Saoud
Associate Account Director
The B2B PR Queen, Suzana heads up Team Sage at Gambit, overseeing sectors that require niche knowledge such as fintech, cybersecurity, finance, sustainability, and law, handling brands such as Amazon Payment Services, Help AG (Etisalat Cybersecurity), RAKBank, FTI Consulting, Addleshaw Goddard and AUS.
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Gazala Parker
Senior Account Executive
A Dubai-born and raised communications professional, Gazala works across the Gambit Sage team supporting with media relations, content development and integrated campaigns.
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Tala Maass
Senior Account Executive
Palestinian-German Superstar with an international
upbringing spanning UAE, Germany and The Netherlands, Tala
works on Gambit Sage team handling blue chip clients such as
Deloitte, Aramex and Amazon.
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Stephanie Bechara
Junior Account Executive
Lithuanian-Lebanese PR professional working in
Gambit’s Team Sage, handling B2B and corporate clients.
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Maryam Al Ansari
Junior Account Executive
Emirati born and raised, Maryam Al Ansari brings thoughtful storytelling to the world of PR. As part of Gambit’s Sage team, she works across accounts including Jumbo Group, AUS, Veolia, Help AG, Sharjah Sustainable City.
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Tala Chahal
Junior Account Executive
Awarded the Mohammed Bin Rashid School for
Communication Award for achieving the highest
academic standing in her class, as well as the Outstanding
Journalism Student Award.
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individual awardsAwards & Honors within Team
MENA PR Young Lions 2026
'Very Large Consultancy of the Year' and 'Very Large Independent Consultance of the Year' 2025
Campaign Middle East Best Agency in UAE & Independent PR Agency of the Year 2025
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ICCO Global Large Consultancy of the Year 2025
HOMEGROWN AGENCY OF THE YEAR
MEDIUM AGENCY OF THE YEAR
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‘PR Agency of the Year’ 2024 and ‘Independent Agency of the Year’ 2024
MENA PR Young Lions 2024 - Gold
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Culture CalloutWe hire and retain the best of the best - and we make work feel like play
We believe exceptional work starts with exceptional people. That’s why we invest in talent, nurture ambition, and create an environment where curiosity, collaboration, and creativity thrive. If you want to grow, push boundaries, and enjoy the journey along the way, you’ll feel right at home here.