Forbes has ranked the top 40 marketing agencies from around the world. The ranking is based on 12 performance indicators, with a focus on brand activations, marketing campaigns and measurement. We rated many of the traditional agencies as well as a number of fast-rising stars. Here are the top five agencies from Dubai.

The Orphan Group

The Orphan Group is credited with helping to pioneer marketing digital campaigns for iconic brands such as L’Oreal and Red Bull. The firm boasts an incredible track record of delivering massive results for its clients, having implemented creative marketing campaigns across diverse industries including beauty, fashion, travel, beer and coffee. We were particularly taken with the work The Orphan Group did for L’Oreal, which involved transforming the Parisian fashion power house into a digital brand. The agency used a communications agnostic approach, partnering with Google to develop and execute a digital marketing strategy that combined SEO, PPC and display advertising. The campaign included a website redesign, mobile app development and a social media roll-out. We were also impressed with the work The Orphan Group did for the German electronics brand Red Bull, which saw the agency develop a new logo, mascot and web banner as well as drive sales of its products in Germany. Overall, we think The Orphan Group is a contender to take the top spot.

DDB Worldwide

DDB adverts are known for their memorable slogans, such as “It’s what’s inside that counts” and “See the difference you can make.” The agency is currently regarded as one of the top 10 agencies in the world, having carved out a niche for itself by combining creativity with technology. DDB’s marketing software Canva was used to create branded websites, social media banners, email templates and landing pages, along with a complete online store for client Jeeva Jeeson, a leather goods company. We think DDB is a serious contender to take the top spot.

MGM

MGM is one of the longest-standing agency networks in the industry, having originally established itself in Chicago in 1941. The agency operates in over 150 countries, with 220 offices around the world. In terms of creativity, the hub of the network is the Chicago Office, which is responsible for many cutting-edge campaigns, earning the agency the nickname “The Innovation Office.” We were particularly impressed with the work of Chicago Office and the agency’s senior strategist Chris Brogan, who was ranked the #2 marketer in the world by LinkedIn. The Chicago office’s work for State Farm involves re-branding the company as an innovation-focused brand. The efforts of the agency’s Chicago Office have earned it the reputation of a creative hub within the agency network, so it’s no surprise that it claims to be the most productive advertising agency in the world.

Wplus

Wplus is one of the leading marketing agencies in the Nordics, delivering marketing services for some of the biggest brands in the region. One of its most notable campaigns is the “Hello Fresh” advertising and marketing campaign, seen in airports, train stations and on billboards across the country. The UK-based company has also worked with household names such as Unilever, L’Oreal and Heinz to promote their products. We think Wplus is a brand to keep an eye on, as it’s one of the most established agencies in the region.

EcomMERC

EcomMERC is an integrated marketing agency with offices in London, San Francisco and Dubai. The agency works with brands across various industries, including technology, travel and lifestyle. The marketing tech firm Marketo was one of its clients, paying $30 million to have its products featured in a series of ads across the globe. Overall, it was a busy year for EcomMERC as it expanded its offering and became a full-fledged agency.

Grey Worldwide

Grey Worldwide is one of the world’s leading advertising and marketing group, operating in 180 countries and employing over 100,000 people. Overall, it’s a global operation, with offices in 94 countries and territories. We were particularly impressed with the work of its office in Mumbai, which was responsible for the #3 ranked brand campaign in the world, for client ICICI Bank, a large financial services provider in India. The agency also carried out a large brand renovation for the mobile banking brand BankBazaar, resulting in over 100 stores being rebranded. Overall, we think Grey is one of the best-known and trusted agencies in the world.

Chiat Day

Chiat Day is one of the leading creative ad agencies, specialising in digital marketing and brand strategy, with offices in London, New York and Milan. The agency was established in 1984 and is best known for its work with renowned luxury brands, such as Burberry, Dior and Ralph Lauren. We were particularly taken with the work Chiat Day did for the French fashion house Dior, which involved creating a series of limited-edition pop-up shops, in-house restaurants and billboards around the world. Overall, we think Chiat Day is one of the most successful creative ad agencies, boasting many awards and recognitions along the way.

KCD,LA

KCD,LA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan’s K.C.D group, which owns numerous fashion and beauty ad agencies around the world. KCD,LA operates in over 20 countries and is most recognised for its work with luxury fashion brands including Gucci and Louis Vuitton. We were particularly taken with the work it did for Gucci, which saw it create a pop-up bar, a fashion house within a shopping mall, in partnership with the Italian fashion brand. The agency also redesigned the logo and brand guidelines, as well as built a Gucci website from scratch.

InMobi

InMobi is the global leader in mobile marketing, with over 400 employees across 20 offices around the world. The firm provides a suite of inbound marketing services to over 300 clients, including brands like Sony, HP, Subway, Pepsi and Adidas. One of InMobi’s biggest clients is the American Express Company, which pays for all of the agency’s web design and development costs, along with offering its tech and design teams as part of its in-house marketing team. The design firm Colchester Studio was also responsible for the redesign of the American Express brand, along with InMobi.

Weidenhielm

Weidenhielm is a digital marketing agency originally from Gothenburg, Sweden, that now has offices in Stockholm, London and New York City. Weidenhielm works with global brands, including Microsoft, Skandia, Heineken, Red Bull and Volkswagen. The agency also developed a fully integrated campaign for tech giant Microsoft, promoting the firm’s Surface Hub and Teams platforms. The creative for the campaign, called “Dare to Compare,” saw the agency use humour to highlight the many benefits of the Surface Hub, including its size, portability and connectivity. Overall, we think Weidenhielm is a serious contender, considering it was only founded in 2012 and is still a fairly new agency.

Hootsuite

Hootsuite is a marketing platform used by marketers around the world to engage with users on social media. The company was started in Canada in 2005 and is now owned by international media group, the New York based Social+Capital Partnership. Hootsuite has over 300 employees and is known for its tagline, “Where marketing meets social media.” We were particularly taken with the work Hootsuite did for the American Express Company, which saw the agency develop an integrated, cross-platform marketing plan, across web, social and mobile. The plan included a content campaign, a digital marketing strategy and a social media marketing strategy.

Mentice

Mentice is one of the most established digital marketing agencies, operating out of offices in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds. Our data shows that the agency is now in its 21st year of operation, so it must be doing something right! The agency’s strength lies in its people, with over 100 professionals boasting expertise in marketing, technology and creative. Overall, we think Mentice is a serious contender to take the top spot.