ANNOUNCEMENT
11 FEBRUARY 2025
– Marlow Global partners with KBS Strategies, an Abu Dhabi-based integrated strategic communications agency
– The partnership aims to support local and international industry leaders, governments, and sovereign wealth funds, providing tailored solutions for complex global challenges
– An MoU was signed between Kawthar Bin Sulayem, Founder and CEO of KBS Strategies, and Simon Wolfe and Alisa Helbitz, Managing Partners at Marlow Global
– As part of this collaboration, Kawthar Bin Sulayem will join the Marlow Global board as a Senior Adviser
Marlow Global is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with KBS — an Abu-Dhabi based strategic communications firm — to enhance our joint offerings across the GCC and African markets. This collaboration brings together the expertise and resources of both firms to deliver solutions to address global challenges across sectors, including infrastructure, energy, shipping, logistics, artificial intelligence, and aviation.
With a strong focus on sustainability, the evolving energy landscape, and the political climate, our partnership will provide comprehensive strategies to support both local and international stakeholders in navigating complex markets and unlocking new opportunities in the Gulf and beyond. Kawthar Bin Sulayem, Founder and CEO of KBS Strategies, will join Marlow Global’s board as a Senior Adviser.
Kawthar Bin Sulayem said: “At KBS Strategies, we are passionate about connecting global stakeholders with the GCC and African markets, ensuring they bring genuine value to entities across both regions. KBS distinguishes itself through a profound dedication to the vision and goals of the Abu Dhabi and UAE Governments, delivering strategies that are globally informed yet precisely tailored to meet the unique needs of international organisations. Partnering with Marlow Global marks a milestone for KBS as one of the first Emirati agencies to offer geopolitical communications as a dedicated service. This collaboration leverages Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s strong presence in global markets, empowering local companies to expand internationally and enabling new opportunities through strategic investments. Together, we aim to create lasting benefits for entities across the GCC, Africa, Europe, and the United States, equipping them with the expertise to navigate complex global markets with precision and resilience.”
She added: “In today’s interconnected world, where economic stability and growth are significantly impacted by international relations, expert geopolitical communication is paramount. This partnership enhances our ability to keep stakeholders informed and empowered, fostering cooperation and sustainable development on a global scale. We are proud to contribute to elevating the UAE’s global standing by offering unparalleled expertise and strategic advisory services to our partners and clients.”
Simon Wolfe, Managing Partner at Marlow Global, said: “This partnership with KBS Strategies is an exciting development in our long-term commitment to the UAE, strengthening our offering for our clients in Abu Dhabi and globally. It will allow us to better align with the interests and perspectives of outward investment from the UAE to many of the markets in which we are concerned. Marlow Global exists to help protect politically exposed investments and to foster better economic and corporate diplomacy. Both of which build business resilience for our clients, and hopefully lead to lasting impacts both economically for our clients but also the countries in which they invest.”
He added: “We see global growth predominantly coming from the global south, and the UAE is clearly becoming the leading hub through which trade is increasing and strategic investment outflows are the most significant. The UAE’s global diplomatic leadership role, its focus on future energy, technology and concern with international issues such as food security, infrastructure investment and development make it an obvious choice to build on our profound connection to the country.”
About KBS Strategies
KBS Strategies, founded in 2010 by CEO Kawthar Bin Sulayem, is an Abu Dhabi-based integrated strategic communications agency with over a decade of experience operating in the UAE, GCC, and the Middle East. The company specialises in areas such as strategic advisory, business intelligence insights, international affairs advisory, and reputation and crisis management for a diverse array of industry-leading private sector companies and Federal and governmental entities.
KBS distinguishes itself through a profound dedication to the vision and goals of the UAE and its capital of Abu Dhabi, offering strategies that are not just globally informed but finely tuned to the specific needs, culture, and aspirations of the nation and the Emirate. Its deep-rooted commitment ensures that every project undertaken aligns seamlessly with the UAE and Abu Dhabi’s strategic plans, contributing directly to the Emirate’s economic, cultural, and social goals. KBS crafts tailored solutions and forges strategic partnerships that capitalise on the unique opportunities presented by Abu Dhabi and the broader UAE, orchestrating collaborations that transcend conventional boundaries, amplify reach, target new audiences, and drive strategic objectives forward both locally and globally.
About Marlow Global
Marlow Global is a geopolitical advisory firm.
We advise clients at critical junctures in their business — whether they are experiencing a crisis, entering a new market, dealing with a regulatory intervention, or fending off a competitive attack. We run international political, legal, media, and public affairs campaigns, with particular expertise in challenging geopolitical environments. We are seasoned international lawyers and political campaign strategists with extensive experience working with complex political, legal, and social issues.
Marlow’s commitment to the UAE is long-term and values-driven, focused on trust, discretion and partnership. The UAE’s unique position as a vital cog in the global supply chain, as well as its own values-driven leadership makes it one of the most important partners for emerging and frontier markets.
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