Clockwork, a Bahrain-based experiential marketing and brand activation agency with an office in Riyadh, said it won Gold and Silver at the inaugural Dragons of MENA Awards ceremony held in Dubai on 29 October 2026.
According to the agency, it received a Gold Dragon for its Life with Al Salam campaign for Al Salam Bank, which won Gold in the Event or Experiential category. Clockwork also said it earned a Silver Dragon for its BNP Paribas Bahrain Jazz Fest 2025: Building Bridges campaign, which it reported won Silver in Nation, City & Place Impact.
Clockwork said the awards were judged by international panels evaluating strategy, concept, execution, and results. It also stated that it won against regional competition and was among only two agencies to win in both the Gold and Silver categories.
Black Dragon category mention
The release further states that Clockwork received the category’s Black Dragon for Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship: The Championship Village, described by the company as a notable mention for campaigns with high impact.
Clockwork’s Managing Director Jude D’Souza, who is also listed as the founder of Bahrain Jazz Fest, said the wins were a milestone for the team and reflected the potential of Bahrain’s independent creative industry internationally. The campaign details shared by the agency included programme formats, target audiences, and partnerships as described below.
Life with Al Salam for Youth City 2025
Clockwork said the Gold-winning Life with Al Salam campaign was developed for Al Salam Bank and deployed during Youth City 2025 to help children aged eight to 15 learn about everyday financial decisions.
The agency said it created an Arabic and English team-based simulation game delivered through custom arcade-style kiosks. It reported that participants made choices related to saving, spending, borrowing, managing finances, and handling unexpected costs.
Jazz Fest 2025: Building Bridges
For the Silver-winning campaign, Clockwork said it expanded the ninth BNP Paribas Bahrain Jazz Fest into a month-long programme of performances and community activities across Bahrain.
It added that the 2025 finale, held in strategic partnership with the Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), welcomed more than 15,000 attendees. The company said the festival brought together international and Bahraini musicians, cultural partners, schools, and local businesses, and it involved 31 Bahraini microbusinesses as market and food vendors.
Upcoming anniversary edition
The release also stated that the festival will return for its 10th anniversary edition beginning 1 November 2026, with a grand finale at the Royal Golf Club on 4 December.
Clockwork did not provide additional judging breakdowns beyond the category results described in its announcement.
