• Dubai will host key industry event that brings hundreds of global PR professionals from March 13-15, 2012

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Dubai, UAE- September 29, 2011: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the 20th Public Relations World Congress of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the world's most influential professional association for senior international public relations executives.

Slated to be an intense brainstorming session covering all aspects of the public relations industry, the Public Relations World Congress 2012 will be held in Dubai from March 13-15, 2012.

The bid for the UAE to host this prestigious event was led by the IPRA-Gulf Chapter (IPRA-GC), which had recently hosted the second Annual International Public Relations Conference in Abu Dhabi during April 13-14, 2011, attended by nearly 200 PR industry professionals and media executives from around the world.

The last edition of the Public Relations World Congress was held in 2010 in Lima, Peru, and attended by industry representatives from 39 countries, while the 2008 Public Relations World Congress was held in Beijing, China. In both instances, the event brought significant media and industry attention to the host country with the world's foremost communications professionals and media experts attending the sessions. The first ever Congress was held in Brussels, Belgium in 1955.

Mr Richard Linning, IPRA President 2011 said: "UAE's hosting of the Public Relations World Congress 2012 has the resounding support of IPRA. It not only marks the growing importance of Public Relations in the Middle East region and the evolution of local PR practice and practitioners, but also underlines the UAE's ability to host truly global events."

Mr. Faisal Al Zahrani, President of IPRA-GC said: "We are delighted that IPRA has selected the UAE as a host country for the Public Relations World Congress 2012. This is the first time that this event will be held in the Middle East and marks the evolution of the region as a key player in the PR industry internationally. The Congress will establish Dubai as the PR capital of the Middle East, bringing the finest minds in communications to the city."

Mr Sunil John, Chief Executive Officer of ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller, member of the Global Leadership Team of IPRA and Vice President for Educational Programmes of IPRA-GC, has been appointed as Chairman of the Organising Committee of the 20th Public Relations World Congress in Dubai.

The Congress will witness several prominent keynote speakers addressing a variety of topics that will help government representatives, corporate entities, educators, the media and PR professionals gain a better understanding on the shifts in the sector including the impact and reach of social media.

The IPRA-GC executive board, besides Mr Al Zahrani and Mr John, also includes: Mr. Sultan Al Bazie (Executive Vice President); Mr.Jassim Al Shuwaikh (Managing Director); Mr. Nasser Al Jessmi (Vice President - UAE); Mr. Khaled Al Khulaifi (Vice President – Kuwait); Dr. Fahad Al Shihabi (Vice President – Bahrain); Mr. Hassan Al Saleh (Vice President – Oman); Mr. Jassim Fakhroo (Vice President – Qatar); Ms. Sarah Al Ayed (Vice President for the Western Region of Saudi Arabia); Mr. Homoud Al- Ghobaini (Vice President for the Central Region of Saudi Arabia); Ms. Etedal Al Ayyar (Vice President – Membership); Mr. Ahmed Abed Shaikh (Vice President of Media Relations) and Mr. Salah Al Dhahri (Treasurer).