The “Animalis” edition of the World Branding Awards saw 92 brands from 35 countries named “Brand of the Year” in a ceremony held at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. The “Animalis” edition of the awards focused on pet and animal brands.
Animal Planet, FURminator, Hill’s Prescription Diet, Kong, Orijen, Pedigree, Petplan, Purina Pro Plan, Red Dingo, Tetra and Whiskas were announced as global winners. Equi-Trek (UK), Evidensia (Sweden), Fressnapf Maxi Zoo (Germany) and Horze (Finland) were also championed.
National tier winners from the UAE were Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo for Animal Education — Public Aquarium, and Dubai Kennels and Cattery, in the Travel Services — Relocation category.
Four NGOs — the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (Indonesia), The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (Kenya), The Jane Goodall Institute (United States) and Wildlife Friends Foundation (Thailand) — were also recognized for their work.
The awards celebrate the achievements of some of the greatest brands around the globe. Winners are judged through three streams: brand valuation, consumer market research, and public online voting. Each was named “brand of the year” in their respective categories.
The awards are organized by the World Branding Forum, a global non-profit organization dedicated to advancing branding standards for the good of the branding community as well as consumers. It organizes and sponsors a range of educational programs, and has joint collaborations with leading universities and museums. The forum also publishes branding news on its website that reaches a global audience of over 4 million visitors.
“The Animalis edition of the awards pays tribute to the achievements of pet and animals brands from around the world. Consumer votes count toward 70 percent of the final score, so winning brands have to have built a strong relationship with their customers in order to win,” said Richard Rowles, chairman of the World Branding Forum.
“Over 60,000 pet and animal lovers from around the world voted for more than 800 brands from 35 countries. Winning brands have had to work hard to stand out from the tough competition,” said Peter Pek, chief executive of the forum.
UAE brands among winners of ‘World Branding Awards’
UAE brands among winners of ‘World Branding Awards’
ALJ Motors champions Toyota SUVs’ off-road legacy
Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, the authorized distributor of Toyota vehicles in Saudi Arabia since 1955, has launched the second edition of its off-road initiative — an immersive driving experience designed to engage guests and showcase the real-world capabilities of Toyota’s SUV lineup in the Kingdom’s desert terrains. The activation takes place on weekends, starting initially in Riyadh and continuing through Jeddah, before concluding in Dammam on Jan. 24.
The multi-city activation is designed to engage guests through Toyota’s SUV lineup in fun and exciting ways, offering a hands-on opportunity to experience vehicle performance, control, and versatility. The lineup features a wide range of Toyota SUV models, including the Land Cruiser HEV Max, a hybrid vehicle built for performance. Beyond the off-road drives, the activation offers a welcoming weekend setting with supporting activities suitable for families and younger guests, creating a well-rounded experience for visitors of all ages.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition, which welcomed more than 4,500 participants and attracted over 10,000 attendees, the second edition continues to focus on meaningful guest engagement through interactive and experiential driving activities while emphasizing safety, trust, and enjoyment. Through this approach, ALJ Motors champions Toyota’s off-road legacy while creating an experience that further connects guests with Toyota’s renowned SUV lineup.
Shahad Nassier, managing director of marketing communications at ALJ Motors, said: “Following the strong response to the inaugural season, the return of this off-road experience allows us to continue engaging our guests in an authentic and exciting way. In this second edition, we have further refined the driving routes and elevated the overall experience to better serve our guests and their families. By bringing Toyota’s SUV lineup into real desert environments, we provide an opportunity for guests to experience vehicle performance firsthand, while reinforcing the values of reliability and capability that have long defined Toyota’s presence in the Kingdom.”
The experiential initiative deepens guest relationships, supports informed vehicle choice, and reflects ALJ Motors’ ongoing role in delivering reliable and diversified mobility solutions across the Kingdom, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
Guests interested in participating in the off-road experience can register for the upcoming activations in Jeddah on Jan. 9-10, followed by Dammam on Jan. 16-17 and 23-24, through ALJ Motors’ official social channels.
