Publsh Group redefines media landscape with innovative brand journeys

Publsh Group didn’t rise by following convention; they built a business model no one saw coming, fusing strategy, creativity, and culture into a single, agile ecosystem. The result is a media house that’s leading the conversation (and grabbing headlines).

Headquartered in Dubai, Publsh has evolved from a boutique PR agency into one of the UAE’s most talked about media engines. With the recent formal launch of Publsh Media Group, Sagar Chotrani, Co- Founder & CEO of Publsh Group and Kushal Desai, Co- Founder & Managing Director are engineering brand journeys, securing exclusive partnerships, and building platforms that scale.

Their impressive rise mirrors the region’s own momentum: the MENA media market is projected to grow from $17 billion to $20.6 billion by 2028, according to the Arab Media Outlook – Future Vision report. Excerpts from an interview with the co-founders of Publsh Group.

What defined 2025 for Publsh?

Sagar Chotrani (SC): Our leap from a PR & Communications agency to a full service media house. We’ve grown an amazing 400 per cent year-on-year for three years straight. We secured exclusive partnerships with ultra-premium destinations like J1 Beach and Yas Marina during race weekend. Over 50 clients trusted us with strategy and execution. This was a year of scale and transformation.

Did you enter unexpected territory?

SC: Absolutely. We unlocked new verticals, audiences, and formats. That’s why we formalised Publsh into three entities: Creative, Media, and PR & Comms. It gives us precision and agility. We are constantly motivated by His Highness’ Sheikh Mohammed’s vision — especially his words: “The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it, and execute it.” That’s exactly what we’re doing.

What’s on the cards for 2026?

Kushal Desai (KD): Deepening our UAE footprint. We’ve gone from two to 25 people in 18 months, so now it’s about refinement. We’re curating iconic collaborations, building ultra-selective platforms, and shaping a brand that’s instantly recognisable.

How do you position Publsh in a market full of global agencies?

KD: We’re not trying to fit in — we’re building something completely new. Yes, PR is our entry point, but media is where we scale. We’re creating an ecosystem: high-end media locations, creative collaborations, immersive events. We don’t just execute campaigns, we engineer brand journeys.

Are there new directions you’re exploring?

SC: Many! We’re expanding into experiential — full-scale events and activations across fashion, automotive, and beyond. From concept to execution, we want to own the full lifecycle. Think campaigns on water, land, and in the air.

How are clients responding?

KD: The feedback has been incredible. From day one, our philosophy has been simple: listen first, then build. We don’t tell clients what they ‘should’ to do — we ask, we understand, and we deliver what actually drives impact. That’s why our retainer base keeps growing — because we’re not just solving one problem, we’re solving the whole equation.

At its core, Publsh was designed to be a strategic partner, not a service provider. We’ve built a fully integrated model — a single, high-performance platform where companies access everything from PR and media strategy to creative execution and experiential activations. It’s seamless, agile, and tailored. Clients don’t have to juggle multiple agencies or brief five different teams. With Publsh, they get clarity, speed, and results all under one roof.

SC: And that’s what clients are responding to. They see us as an extension of their brand, not just a vendor. We’re in the room when decisions are made, not just when campaigns are launched. That level of trust is earned and it’s what drives us to keep evolving.

What are your learnings on leadership?

KD: Leadership is about people. You can’t lead from your own lens; you must lead from theirs. And it’s something you work on every single day, you never stop evolving.

SC: It’s also about risk. We left risk-free jobs to build something from scratch. Calculated risk is the fastest way to grow. That’s how you go from two people to 25. You bet on yourself and then build something worth betting on. For us, the sky is the limit; we have only just begun.