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Global Advertising Revenue Set To Exceed $1 Trillion By 2025: Tech Giants Lead The Way

According to a recent report from GroupM, global advertising revenue is projected to surpass $1 trillion by 2025, marking a significant milestone for the industry. Technology companies are expected to drive much of this growth, with digital advertising continuing to dominate the market.

The key players in this surge are tech giants like Google, Meta, ByteDance, Amazon, and Alibaba, which are expected to account for more than half of the global advertising revenue. GroupM estimates that digital advertising will account for 73% of the total ad revenue by the end of 2024, and further growth is forecasted at 12.4% globally in 2024, with a steady 10% increase in 2025.

Despite challenges in developed markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom, the ad market continues to outpace nominal GDP growth. GroupM forecasts a 9.5% global growth in advertising revenue by the end of 2024, higher than the initially expected 7.8%.

In the United States, political advertising is set to reach an all-time high, with revenues expected to hit $15.1 billion in 2024, nearly a third more than in 2020. The U.S. is projected to remain the world’s largest advertising market, with an estimated $379 billion in revenue by 2025.

While digital advertising thrives, traditional media continues to face difficulties. Print advertising revenue is expected to fall by 4.5% by the end of 2024, with further declines of 3% anticipated in 2025. Similarly, while audio advertising remains steady, television advertising growth is projected to be modest, registering just 2.4% combined growth over the 2024-2029 period.

The advertising landscape is rapidly changing, with artificial intelligence (AI) playing an increasingly important role. GroupM notes that the industry’s future success will depend on teams with dynamic, data-driven skill sets that leverage AI to stay ahead in a competitive market.

However, this growth comes with new challenges. The rise of digital ads is accompanied by increasing scrutiny and stricter regulations, creating a more complex environment for advertisers.

As advertising continues to evolve, the dominance of digital platforms, particularly the tech giants, marks a significant shift in the industry’s structure. With global advertising revenues set to exceed $1 trillion, the sector is witnessing a revolution, driven by innovation in digital technologies and the growing reliance on data and artificial intelligence.

Forbes Middle East Unveils 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen Of 2025

Forbes Middle East has unveiled its much-anticipated 2025 ranking of the region’s top businesswomen, spotlighting influential leaders reshaping industries and driving meaningful transformation. The list was based on business size, individual accomplishments, leadership impact, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Top Spot For Hana Al Rostamani

For the third consecutive year, Hana Al Rostamani, Group CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank (UAE’s largest bank by assets), claims the top position. In addition to retaining her position in the Forbes Middle East ranking, she was also featured on Forbes’ 2024 list of the World’s Most Powerful Women, securing the 60th position globally. Under her leadership, the bank achieved an impressive $3.5 billion in net profits and $334.8 billion in assets in the first nine months of 2024.

Rising Stars In The Top 10

Shaikha Khaled Al Bahar of NBK Group and Shaista Asif, cofounder and Group CEO of PureHealth Holding, take the second and third spots respectively, completing the top three.

The top 10 remains largely unchanged from last year, with Tayba Al Hashemi of ADNOC Offshore, Alisha Moopen of Aster DM Healthcare GCC, and Suzanne Al Anani of Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) making their debut in the top 10. In total, 27 new leaders have joined the list this year.

A Diverse And Powerful Group Of Women

This year’s list features 100 women from 32 sectors and 29 nationalities, underlining the diversity of talent driving the region’s progress. The banking and financial services sector leads with 25 entries, followed by healthcare and technology with nine each, and venture capital with five. Remarkably, 40% of the top 10 women are from the banking and financial services sector. Notably, Shaista Asif (PureHealth Holding) and Alisha Moopen (Aster DM Healthcare GCC) are the only non-Arab women in the top 10.

UAE Leads With 46 Leaders

The UAE continues to dominate, with 46 of the women on the list hailing from the country, solidifying its status as a global business hub. Egypt follows with 18 influential women, and Saudi Arabia claims nine entries. Egyptians lead in representation, followed by Emiratis and Lebanese women.

Empowering Women Through Initiatives

Several of the leaders have focused on upskilling and creating opportunities for women. Susana Rodriguez Puerta launched the ‘sAIdaty’ initiative in collaboration with the Dubai Business Women Council, aimed at providing 500 female council members in the UAE with AI skills. Similarly, Lamia Tazi of SOTHEMA collaborated with the Foundation for Research, Development, and Innovation in Science and Engineering to provide scholarships to PhD students from low-income backgrounds.

Click here for the full list.

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