Dubai, UAE; January 30, 2012: Ali Al Ahmed, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of Etisalat, has been elected as the Vice President - UAE of the International Public Relations Association - Gulf Chapter (IPRA-GC). He is mandated with driving the organisation's growth in the UAE, with a focus on strengthening industry partnerships and further enhancing IPRA-GC's profile in the country.

Mr. Faisal Al Zahrani, President of IPRA-GC, said: "We are pleased to have on board Ali Al Ahmed, a veteran communications professional who brings strong insights of the industry across the board. IPRA-GC will benefit greatly from his experience of shaping and leading Etisalat's communications strategy."

Mr Ali Al Ahmed commented: "IPRA-GC has played a key role in promoting dialogue and industry partnerships. The organisation's focus on promoting the standards of the industry and bringing in global best practices will help in further driving the growth of the communications industry in the region, which has strong potential for further development. I am honoured to serve on the Board of IPRA-GC as Vice President of UAE."

As Etisalat UAE's Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Al Ahmed is responsible for ensuring an effective integration of the corporation's business units with its communications campaigns. He also provides strategic input for positioning the brand and its identity, with a consistent focus on a uniformed implementation through multiple channels of media. Prior to this role, Al Ahmed held the position of Etisalat Group Chief Strategy Officer where he served for two years and was responsible for identifying new growth opportunities and the development of effective business models.

Ali Al Ahmed's appointment has come at a crucial time when the IPRA-GC is organizing and hosting the 20th Public Relations World Congress (PRWC), for the first time in the Middle East, from March 13 to 15 in Dubai, under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the world's most influential professional association for senior international public relations executives, organises the PRWC which is a biennial event that brings together global PR professionals to brainstorm on the latest trends and challenges in the communications industry.

More than 500 delegates from across the world are expected to attend the Congress to be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Dubai. The theme for the event is "From the Arab Street to Wall Street: Communications in the Age of Dialogue". For more details on the Congress, log on to: www.prwcdubai.com

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