How Mohanned Kattan Is Shaping Saudi Arabia’s Next Era Of Advertising

In an era where storytelling, technology, and culture intersect to shape modern brands, Mohanned Kattan has emerged as one of the influential voices redefining Saudi Arabia’s media and advertising landscape. As the Founder and CEO of Kattan Media, he represents a new generation of leaders who understand that impactful communication goes beyond campaigns—it builds cultural relevance, drives economic growth, and inspires the next wave of creative talent.

Kattan’s path into the media world was almost inevitable. Raised in a family closely connected to broadcasting, he developed an early fascination with the power of media to inform, influence, and connect people. His father’s legacy and his brother’s presence in the broadcasting industry introduced him to the mechanics of media at a young age, shaping a perspective that would later define his professional journey.

His early career included collaborations with some of Saudi Arabia’s most recognized radio stations, including Mix FM, Panorama FM, and MBC FM. These experiences provided him with a deep understanding of audience behavior and the evolving dynamics of regional media. He later played an important role at ICOM, the Kingdom’s first media agency, where he further expanded his expertise in media strategy and communication planning.

Kattan’s leadership trajectory accelerated when he assumed the role of CEO at OKAZ Digital, where he spearheaded initiatives that strengthened digital media engagement and strategic content development. Alongside his corporate responsibilities, he has also remained closely connected to academia, serving as an advisor to three Saudi universities. Through these roles, he actively contributes to shaping the next generation of media professionals in Saudi Arabia.

Today, Kattan Media stands as a reflection of his entrepreneurial vision. Based in Jeddah, the agency has grown into a forward-thinking marketing and media company known for creating campaigns that merge creativity with measurable performance. Its philosophy centers on delivering strategic solutions tailored to each client rather than relying on standardized approaches.

Kattan believes that understanding the cultural fabric of Saudi Arabia is essential to building successful campaigns. This insight allows the agency to craft narratives that resonate with local audiences while maintaining global marketing standards. With a multidisciplinary team bringing more than a century of combined industry experience, Kattan Media integrates digital marketing, influencer partnerships, media planning, and creative development into cohesive brand strategies.

One of the agency’s most successful initiatives came through its collaboration with the Ministry of Culture for the Biennale 2024. By leveraging carefully selected influencers and digital storytelling, the campaign expanded the event’s online reach while strengthening its presence within the art community. The strategy resulted in significant engagement growth and contributed to higher event attendance, demonstrating the power of targeted influencer engagement in cultural promotion.

Another campaign that highlighted the agency’s strategic capabilities was its partnership with Saudi Telecom Company during the COVID-19 pandemic. As lockdowns disrupted traditional retail channels, Kattan Media designed an influencer-driven digital campaign that kept consumers engaged while promoting online services. The initiative delivered a remarkable 40 percent increase in online sales, illustrating how agile digital strategies can sustain business growth during challenging market conditions.

Despite these successes, Kattan views influencer marketing as only one piece of a broader vision. His long-term strategy is to position Kattan Media as a fully integrated agency capable of offering comprehensive marketing services—from strategic planning and creative execution to media buying and campaign analytics. This expansion reflects a renewed momentum following the pandemic, during which the agency temporarily focused primarily on influencer campaigns.

The agency’s new positioning, “It’s About Time,” signals this evolution. For Kattan, the phrase reflects both timing and transformation—representing the return of integrated services and a renewed commitment to helping brands stay ahead in an increasingly competitive environment.

Technology also plays a central role in his strategy. Artificial intelligence, in particular, is reshaping how marketers analyze data, personalize communication, and optimize campaigns. Kattan embraces AI as a powerful tool that enhances decision-making and efficiency while emphasizing that human creativity and cultural understanding remain irreplaceable elements of successful marketing.

Localization is another priority. In a market where the majority of the population speaks Arabic, effective communication requires more than translation—it requires cultural fluency. Kattan Media addresses this need through a multilingual team capable of delivering campaigns in Arabic, English, French, and Turkish, ensuring that messaging resonates authentically across diverse audiences.

Beyond business strategy, Kattan is deeply committed to mentorship and talent development. His work with universities reflects a belief that the future of the industry depends on empowering young professionals with both technical expertise and creative confidence.

Recognized among Saudi Arabia’s top social media influencers for three consecutive years, Mohanned Kattan continues to shape conversations around media innovation, creative storytelling, and the future of advertising in the region.

As Saudi Arabia advances toward its Vision 2030 goals, leaders like Kattan are helping redefine how brands communicate in a modern, digitally driven society. Through vision, innovation, and cultural insight, he is building not just campaigns—but a new blueprint for the Kingdom’s evolving advertising industry.