A Museum of Media: Ramesh Babu’s Legacy in UAE’s Advertising History
Tucked away in Baniyas Square, Ramesh Babu‘s office resembles less of a conventional workplace and more of a living archive — a vibrant museum tracing the evolution of media in the UAE. The walls are lined with newspapers, magazines, cinema slides, and advertising memorabilia from a bygone era. Among the countless documents and treasures is a carefully preserved page from the 10th anniversary edition of Gulf News — a relic Babu holds with quiet pride.
“My entry into the Guinness World Records is recognition of my hard work over 50 years. I thank my friends in the industry and my family who have supported me and helped me achieve this global award,” says Babu. “There is no substitute for hard work. I encourage the younger generation to step into my shoes and take this amazing profession forward.”
Babu’s journey began in Kannur, Kerala, where as a young boy he honed a natural inclination for drawing and design. Destiny led him to Dubai in 1974, after a four-day sea voyage from Mumbai. Like many others of his generation, he began with odd jobs, slowly carving a path for himself in the bustling metropolis.
His big break came with a stint at an advertising company. There, he absorbed the intricacies of the trade and eventually took the entrepreneurial leap in 1977, founding Nayana International in Ajman. The company later became Eye Advertising in 1982, evolving to reflect the growing complexity of Dubai’s commercial scene. In 1992, he launched Al Oyoon Advertising, honorifically named after his father, an eye physician. This enterprise marked the beginning of his office in its current location at Baniyas Square.
“I am proud to say that I helped design some of the first advertisements published in Gulf News and other English and Arabic newspapers in the Gulf,” he explains. “I used my design and drawing skills to bring out the best in the products that were displayed.”
Beyond the printed page, Babu’s advertising reach extended to open-air cinemas, where he created engaging pre-movie advertisements. “At one point in time, I did not have to pay to see any movie. I could just walk in because the staff knew I was the person who produced the advertisements.”
Over the decades, his creative imprint was left on ads for over 50 clients, spanning the entire length of the country — from Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah — across print, radio, television, and cinema platforms.
The Guinness World Record stands not just as a personal accolade but as a celebration of a man whose fierce dedication helped define the visual and promotional language of a growing nation. His office may be filled with yellowing paper and vintage posters, but it tells a story that is timeless — one of perseverance, passion, and creative brilliance in charting the advertising history of the UAE.
Team V.DIR-EM-UAE
