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DEKUPLE Enters Middle East Through New Venture with Industry Veterans Hubert Boulos and Ramsey Naja

by Ghada Azzi

June 18, 2026

French communications, marketing and data group DEKUPLE has expanded into the Middle East through the creation of Das Kapital Dekuple Group, a new communications consultancy headquartered in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

DEKUPLE Group has entered the Middle East through a new venture with industry veterans Hubert Boulos and Ramsey Naja.

The agency is 51% owned by DEKUPLE and builds on Das Kapital, the consultancy launched by Boulos and Naja in 2024. The partnership gives the French communications, data and marketing group a foothold in the Gulf, adding the Middle East to its existing operations across Europe, North America and China.

According to the company, the agency will focus on supporting both international brands entering the Middle East and regional businesses seeking growth opportunities across Gulf markets. Plans are also underway to gradually extend operations across key GCC countries.

Bertrand Laurioz, Chairman and CEO of DEKUPLE Group, commented: "Welcoming new entrepreneurs into the Group is always a long-term process and marks the beginning of a shared entrepreneurial journey built on trust and sustained growth ambitions. Despite a challenging geopolitical environment in the Middle East throughout 2026, we continued the discussions and projects initiated with Hubert Boulos and Ramsey Naja prior to recent events. We remain confident in the long-term growth potential of several emerging markets across the region. Our strengths lie in the consistency of our strategy, our technological leadership, and our ability to connect our various areas of expertise to deliver a unique performance-driven offering. We believe these capabilities will be particularly valuable in shaping the Middle East of tomorrow.”

DEKUPLE reported a 50% increase in business activity outside France during the first quarter of 2026, underlining the growing importance of international markets to the group's future growth plans.

“This transaction is also fully aligned with our roadmap: by 2030, we aim to reach €400 million in revenue, with 30% of both revenue and headcount generated international,” Laurioz added.

The venture brings together DEKUPLE's capabilities in data, technology and AI with Das Kapital's strategic and creative expertise in the region.


The People Behind Das Kapital

Hubert Boulos is one of the region's most experienced strategists. After serving in senior leadership roles at Publicis Conseil in Paris, he relocated to Dubai in 2006 and went on to lead strategic planning functions across BBDO and J. Walter Thompson. In 2013, he was named President of DDB Middle East before co-founding Das Kapital in 2024.

Ramsey Naja has been a prominent creative force in the Middle East advertising industry for more than two decades. His career has spanned agencies in London and the region, including senior creative leadership roles at J. Walter Thompson and DDB. He partnered with Boulos to launch Das Kapital in 2024.

According to the agency, its client portfolio already includes brands and organisations across FMCG, banking and institutional sectors. Work led by the founders has included assignments for Pepsi, Wendy's, CMA CGM, DKNY and Doha Bank.

"The strength of this region lies in its remarkable capacity to adapt," said Naja. "Gulf countries have navigated recent crises—from the Global Financial Crisis and the Arab Spring to the COVID pandemic—and have consistently emerged stronger. I believe this resilience will once again prove decisive in the very near future."

The announcement comes as agencies worldwide continue to adapt their business models and service offerings in response to accelerating AI adoption and changing client expectations. it also reflects a broader trend of international groups entering the Gulf through partnerships with established regional talent, combining global technology capabilities with local market expertise.