Saad El Zein

Head of Strategic Communications

Before joining Stratcom in June 2024, Mr. Saad El Zein served as Assistant to the President for Special Projects at LAU, a post he had held since October 2016. In this capacity, he was the president’s liaison with university, LAU medical centers, government, and community leaders.

He assisted in public relations, outreach and community initiatives, and provided support to university stakeholders on matters related to his field of expertise, namely marketing, advertising and public relations. Among many other projects, he was instrumental in the branding of the LAU medical centers, the launch of the LAU Mobile Clinic and the first and major startup incubator at LAU, the Fouad Makhzoumi Innovation Center. He also contributed to the establishment of the LAU Health Clinics and the integration of the LAU community with the medical centers.

Mr. El Zein has been president of the university’s Dubai & Northern Emirates alumni chapter for 14 years and his membership in the chapter spans more than 25 years.

Soon after graduating with a BS in Business (Management) from LAU in 1989, Mr. El Zein joined Leo Burnett in Dubai, and in 1995 established Leo Burnett’s regional branch in Damascus. He subsequently assumed a series of increasingly high positions in Publicis Dubai, Madco Intermarkets, Abraj Property Development, and Baynounah Media Group in Abu Dhabi.

In 2011 he partnered with the advertising agency AGA ADK to establish The Network, a communication group in Dubai.

Mr. El Zein is the founder of the Lebanese Association for Development and Empowerment (ADEL). He was formerly Vice President/MENA Area Director of the International Advertising Association, a board member of the Lebanese Business Council in Dubai, and a member of the Emirati Lebanese Friendship Association and the Young Arab Leaders UAE Chapter.