Creative Director. Film Maker.

Live events. Brand campaigns. Film direction.

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100+
Global
Events
12+
Years
Experience
2x
GWR
Record
About
Youssef Akef, Creative Director and Film Maker in Dubai. Also credited as Youssef Kamal Akef.

The Work.

From Idea to Execution.

I'm Youssef Akef. Creative Director and Film Maker based in Dubai. Twelve years, often credited as Youssef Kamal Akef, across government ceremonies, world-record festivals, and immersive cultural experiences in the UAE, KSA, Egypt. Every project a different brief. The same standard every time. A story to be told.

What I do varies by project, but at the core: I develop the concept, lead the direction, and carry and protect the vision through to execution.

Guinness World Record x 2 Largest Flower Bouquet · Largest Palm Leaf Sentence Al Ain, UAE
UAE Golden Visa, Creative Category UAE
Young Achiever of the Year, 2018, 2019 & 2025 Shortlisted Nominee · MESE Awards First freelancer ever nominated
Lecturer, EMDI Institute of Media & Communication Events, Marketing & Advertising Dubai
I. Develop

The idea before anyone else can see it. Finding the narrative inside the brief.

II. Direct

On the ground. In the edit. On set. The same word covers all three because the job is the same. Make it right.

III. Deliver

Being there when it counts. Protecting the vision to the final second.

Showreel

Watch the Reel.

Events & Experiential

Live Events. Experiential Design.

Cultural festivals, world records, government ceremonies, and immersive brand moments across UAE, KSA, Egypt.

Creative Director

Sharjah International Narrator Forum 2025

The Brief

Translate Tales of the Traveler into a contemporary cultural experience inspired by Ibn Battuta.

The Direction

Reimagined narration as a physical journey. Immersive scenography, symbolic installations, light, and curated visitor flow.

The Outcome

Audiences experienced heritage as a living story, not an exhibition.

View Case Study →
Creative Producer  ·  GWR Participant  ·  LIVE BROADCAST

Six Flags Qiddiya City Opening, KSA

The Brief

Deliver a high-impact opening, broadcasted live to a regional audience, within an established master concept.

The Direction

Owned creative delivery of the Citadel zone. Worked alongside the broadcast director and camera crew to direct live performance, including Alicia Keys, under live-to-air conditions. Resolved narrative gaps in real time.

The Outcome

A live broadcasted opening delivered under pressure. On time, on vision, on camera. Contributing to a Guinness World Record on opening day.

View Case Study →
Creative Director  ·  GWR

Al Ain Zoo Conservation Festival 2024

The Brief

Create a conservation festival delivering meaningful storytelling within a modest budget.

The Direction

Immersive zones, wildlife-inspired installations, and culturally rooted programming. Sustainability made accessible.

The Outcome

A Guinness World Record. Proof that creative vision outperforms budget.

View Case Study →
Creative Director

MBRIF Community Hub Launch

The Brief

Launch MBRIF's Community Hub and mark eight years of fueling UAE innovation with a government-grade ceremony and launch film.

The Direction

Anchored the event on a launch film and a virtual ribbon cut. Minister's speech, guided hub tours, and a restrained three-day VIP programme.

The Outcome

A ministerial launch delivered with institutional credibility and sustained coverage of MBRIF's next chapter.

View Case Study →
Creative Director

Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge Awards 2025

The Brief

Deliver a clear, structured experience aligned with government objectives and institutional tone.

The Direction

Translated institutional messaging into a coherent ceremony. Set, content, and AV aligned to stakeholder protocols.

The Outcome

A high-trust government ceremony delivered with clarity and precision.

View Case Study →
Event Producer  ·  GWR

Al Ain Flower Festival 2024

The Brief

Create a Guinness World Record moment that put a civic celebration on the world stage.

The Direction

Produced the world's largest natural flower bouquet. End-to-end production, logistics, and on-ground delivery of the record attempt.

The Outcome

A world record. A city's identity, made permanent for one night.

View Case Study →
Case Studies

Behind the Work.

Renders, sketches, storyboards, and the story behind each project. From brief to build.

Director · AI Content

Noon Delivered Everywhere

View Case Study →
View All Case Studies  →
INT. THE BRIEF. ANYWHERE.

The brief arrives.

Most people read it.

I watch it.

Director's notebook sketch · lone figure on stage under spotlight
Content & Films

Directed for Screen.

Short films, AI-directed content, and commercial stories.

Wegz - Bad Days - Cinematic
youtu.be/2hKAlodnSMM
DOPAMINE trailer concept for an original series
youtu.be/Ny2cqgWIWS4
Dubai Missile Alerts | Guardians of the Nation Tribute
youtu.be/qsbccuBhBFY
Noon Everywhere Creative Concept
youtu.be/IZwsSJ09Mx8
X Evolution
youtu.be/R4XWm7j5f0E
270° Immersive Cinema Stories of Ibn Majid, Ibn Fadlan & Ibn Battuta | SINF 2025
youtu.be/f8EbI78BZis
FEATURE FILM

BEYOND PERMITTED

ابعد الحلال
A FILM BY YOUSSEF KAMAL AKEF
IN DEVELOPMENT  ·  2026
Click to read →

ابعد الحلال | Beyond Permitted

Feature Film · In Development

A man lives what appears to be a perfect life. But underneath it, a double life he cannot escape. Not because he lacks the courage to leave, but because love and toxicity can exist in the same space, and the obvious choice is never obvious from the inside.

A psychological portrait of attachment, paralysis, and the quiet violence of staying.

Written and Directed by Youssef Akef.

Coming Soon.

Worked With

The Names
Speak for Themselves.

Contact

Let's Make Something
Remarkable.

Youssef Akef

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