Firm Expands To New Markets Across Africa

X3M Ideas, a pan-African creative advertising powerhouse, said it is set to replicate its success across the globe with an initial expansion to the United Arab Emirates.

With the fifth largest economy in the middle east after Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt, a gross domestic product (GDP) of $501 billion (AED 1.84 trillion) in 2022, and a metaverse strategy that will add 40,000 jobs and $4 billion to the economy in five years, Dubai poses a lucrative business hub for growing organisations across the globe.

The strategic move is inspired by the multinational agency’s dedication to advancing global efforts to actualise Africa’s potential as an economic powerhouse while encouraging global investments into the high-value markets through unique operation models.

With the robust growth Dubai has experienced since the pandemic first hit in 2019, X3M Ideas joins over 45,000 newly licenses businesses in Dubai from January to June this year, an annual jump of almost 25 per cent, reflecting strong business sentiment.

Founder of X3M Ideas, Steve Babaeko said: “It is no longer possible to ignore the potential the United Arab Emirates possesses for businesses.

“With the growing number of African businesses in the Middle East and Dubai’s overall trade with Africa surging above 10 per cent in recent years, it is important to capitalise on the shift in attention to boost revenues for individual and collective development on the continent.”

He stated that “with this expansion, we are poised to help an exponentially greater number of people and clients across different spheres of the world understand the uniqueness of Africa and the UAE and also provide solutions to the challenges that may hinder business growth in both markets.”

Currently operating out of Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia, X3M Ideas will also begin operating in Congo Brazzaville and Kenya this year.

The creative agency also laid out plans to expand into the United Kingdom and United States markets in the coming months, as it aims to foster more partnerships, collaborations and investments to advance Africa’s growth.

Founded in August 2012 to redefine how advertising is done in Africa, X3M Ideas has hired over 200 staff in 10 years, while recording 16 per cent year-on-year growth since 2017.

The agency has also recorded a 65 per cent total growth value between the year 2021 billing and billing up to May 2022. Its new expansions which will provide access to a new pool of potential employees, clients, and markets will further position it for accelerated growth in the next decade.

Renowned for its through-the-line business approach, X3M Ideas’ groundbreaking business practice and creativity have attracted multiple prestigious honours, including ‘Best Agency in Sustainability’ at 2020 Brandcom Awards.

With a renewed focus on conquering new markets across the globe, the creative agency built on ingenious ideas is committed to building on its achievements and becoming a top 10 global creative solution provider by 2025.