Brand Strategy
Positioning, audience insight, messaging architecture and brand narrative that set you apart and lower acquisition cost.
- Brand audits
- Positioning and messaging
- Brand architecture
Brand Strategist / Dubai
I build brands that look sharp and convert. Six years across EdTech, e-commerce, healthcare and B2B, two wellness games, and independent research on how AI is changing discovery. Off the clock, I vlog Dubai's food scene.
- Based in
- Downtown Dubai · GST
- Featured in
- Gulf Magazine, Indian Express
- Leads
- Old Port Solutions LLC
- Published
- GAMEHARBOR preprint, 2026
Point of view
Great brands don't just look good. They convert. I turn strategy into growth for brands across Dubai, the GCC, India and the UK, build games that help people breathe, and study how AI decides who gets found.
About
The mind
behind the brand
I'm Athul Iyju Jacob: brand strategist, founder, game developer and independent researcher. I believe great brands don't just look good, they convert. An animation and graphic design degree gave me the creative eye; six years of campaigns and companies gave me the data discipline.
I founded Old Port Design LLP in Bengaluru, lead Old Port Solutions LLC in Dubai as Managing Director, co-founded Gaatly, and build wellness games like GameHarbor and MindHarbor. Featured in Gulf Magazine and Indian Express.
- Brand Strategy
- Digital Marketing
- SEO and GEO
- Game Development
- Research
- E-Commerce
- EdTech
At a glance
One profile, many lenses
Downtown DubaiGST
Experience6+
Published researchyears across EdTech, e-commerce, healthcare and B2B
GAMEHARBOR: a casual game platform with an AI wellbeing companion
Preprint · Zenodo · 2026
Peak growth10×
As featured inproduct sales growth for an e-commerce launch
- Gulf Magazine
- Indian Express
Ventures
Games- Old Port Solutions LLCManaging Director
- Old Port Design LLPFounder
- GaatlyCo-founder
GameHarbor
& MindHarbor
Two 3D wellness games, live on the web
Off the clockFood vlogger
@athuliyjujacob on Instagram
Where I build growth
Platforms I master
Paid, organic and AI search across the channels your customers actually use.
- MetaAds Manager, Advantage+, CAPI
- InstagramReels, creators, Shopping
- FacebookLead ads, communities
- TikTokSpark Ads, creators
- LinkedInThought leadership, B2B ads
- GoogleSearch, PMax, Business Profile
- YouTubeVideo and Shorts
- SnapchatGen Z reach in the GCC
- WhatsAppBusiness API, chat funnels
- AmazonPPC, listings, A+
- noonMarketplace growth
- ChatGPT and AI searchGEO and AI visibility
What I do
Expertise
Six disciplines, one goal: a brand that wins attention and turns it into revenue.
Paid Ad Strategy
Meta, Google and Amazon campaigns structured around full-funnel economics, not vanity metrics.
- Meta and Instagram ads
- Amazon PPC
- Lead-gen funnels
SEO and GEO
Technical SEO plus Generative Engine Optimization so your brand is found on Google and cited by AI assistants.
- Technical audits
- Schema and entity SEO
- AI search visibility
Web Development and CRO
Fast, conversion-focused websites and landing pages built in WordPress, Elementor and hand-coded HTML.
- Landing pages
- WordPress and Elementor
- A/B and CRO
Brand Identity and Design
Logos, guidelines, print, motion and exhibition design rooted in an animation and graphic design background.
- Logo and identity
- Brand guidelines
- Booth and print
Apps and Gamification
3D web games, wellness apps and gamified experiences built with Three.js and mobile wrappers.
- 3D web experiences
- Gamified loyalty
- App concept to launch
Games I made
Explore games Play. Relax. Recharge.
GAME
HARBORPlay. Relax. Recharge.
HARBORPlay. Relax. Recharge.
3D Wellness Arcade
GameHarbor
A mental-wellness and healthy-gaming platform presented as a 3D virtual arcade. Players drop in for short, satisfying games and chat with Ollie, a friendly AI octopus companion. Built for players worldwide.
Web: LiveAndroid: Coming sooniOS: Coming soon
MIND
HARBORFind Your Calm. Explore Your World.
HARBORFind Your Calm. Explore Your World.
Open-World Wellness
MindHarbor
An open-world 3D wellness and casual game built with Three.js. Wander, unwind and discover original mini-games designed to help you find your calm. Entirely separate from GameHarbor, with its own world and mechanics.
Web: LiveAndroid: Coming sooniOS: Coming soon
Play MindHarbor Case studies
All case studies Brand breakdowns
The KitKat Heist: How a Stolen Truck Became the Marketing Stunt of 2026
Case study: how KitKat turned the theft of 12 tonnes of F1-shaped chocolate into a global brand moment with a stolen-bar tracker and an armoured convoy stunt.
Read case study
Duolingo Killed Its Mascot: Inside the "Death of Duo" Campaign
Case study: how Duolingo announced the death of its owl mascot Duo, turned grief into gamified engagement and brought him back two weeks later.
Read case study
Airbnb's Big Bet: Cutting Performance Marketing to Build the Brand
Case study: why Airbnb cut performance marketing and shifted spend to brand building, and what it means for brands balancing short-term ROAS and long-term growth.
Read case studyIndependent researcher
Research that ships
I study how play, AI and brands shape behaviour, then test the ideas in products people actually use.
Gamification for Digital Wellbeing
How game mechanics such as short sessions, gentle progress and calm aesthetics can support relaxation instead of compulsive play.
Conversational AI Companions
Designing AI companions that feel supportive, are honest about being AI, and avoid encouraging over-reliance. Informed by Ollie in GameHarbor.
AI Search and GEO
How generative AI assistants select, trust and cite brands, and what that means for discoverability and marketing strategy.
Brand Behaviour in the GCC
How multicultural audiences in the UAE and wider GCC respond to brand positioning, language and digital touchpoints.
Behind the work
In the field
From strategy rooms to exhibition floors, meeting the people who shape industries across the region.
News and highlights
All news Making headlines
Oct 2026
Research
2026Published: GAMEHARBOR preprint on Zenodo
Design and development of a casual game platform with an AI wellbeing companion. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.23414048.
Launch
2026MindHarbor goes live on the web
Open-world 3D wellness game, developed by Athul and published by Old Port Solutions LLC.
Launch
2026GameHarbor: a 3D wellness arcade with an AI companion
A healthy-gaming virtual arcade featuring Ollie, an AI octopus companion. Play. Relax. Recharge.
Research
Independent research on gamified wellbeing and AI companions
Working papers in preparation on GameHarbor, calm-play design and conversational AI companions.
2026
Industry
Dahua Technology Education Vertical launch
Joined the Dahua Technology team at the launch of its education smart-ecosystem vertical.
Insights
All 46 articles Latest from the blog
Meta Andromeda Explained: Why Your Creative Is Now Your Targeting (2026 Playbook)
Meta Andromeda matches ads to people by reading the ad itself. Here is what changed, how to restructure campaigns and how many creatives you really need.
Read article
WhatsApp Status Ads in the UAE: How They Work and How to Set Them Up (2026)
WhatsApp Status ads launched globally in February 2026. How they work, where they appear, how to buy them in Ads Manager and how UAE brands should use them.
Read article
UAE Influencer Advertiser Permit 2026: What Brands and Creators Need to Know
Since 1 February 2026, creators making advertising content in the UAE need a Media Council Advertiser Permit. Who needs it, the fines and a brand checklist.
Read article
Speed to Lead: Why the First Hour Decides Your Real Cost per Lead
Harvard Business Review found firms that replied within an hour were nearly 7x as likely to qualify a lead. How to fix response times with WhatsApp in the UAE.
Read article
How I Run a 3-Day Brand Positioning Workshop (An Agenda You Can Use)
My three-day brand positioning workshop agenda: brand foundation, positioning and messaging, and an implementation roadmap, with the outputs each day.
Read article
Google AI Max for Search: What It Is and Should UAE Advertisers Switch?
AI Max for Search left beta in April 2026 and is replacing Dynamic Search Ads. What it does, the results so far and how to migrate without losing control.
Read articleFree first opinion
Ask me anything
A.I. Jacob, my AI twin, thinks the way I do about brands, ads and growth. Tap a question or ask your own, by text or voice.
Got questions?
Quick answers
Who I am, what I do, what it costs, and how to get found by Google and AI search.
Who is Athul Iyju Jacob?
Athul Iyju Jacob is a brand strategist, digital marketing expert, independent researcher and game developer based in Downtown Dubai, UAE. He has 6+ years of experience across EdTech, e-commerce, healthcare and B2B, is Managing Director of Old Port Solutions LLC, founded the Bengaluru agency Old Port Design LLP, co-founded the tech accessories brand Gaatly, created the wellness games GameHarbor and MindHarbor, vlogs Dubai's food scene on Instagram, and has been featured in Gulf Magazine and Indian Express.
What services does Athul Iyju Jacob offer?
Brand strategy, paid advertising (Meta, Google and Amazon PPC), SEO and Generative Engine Optimization, website development and CRO, brand identity and design, and gamified apps and 3D web experiences, for brands in Dubai, the GCC, India and the UK.
What games has Athul Iyju Jacob made?
GameHarbor, a 3D virtual arcade for healthy gaming with an AI companion called Ollie, and MindHarbor, an open-world 3D wellness game. Both are published by Old Port Solutions LLC and playable on the web.
Is Athul Iyju Jacob a food vlogger?
Yes. Alongside his brand strategy work, Athul is a food vlogger who reviews restaurants and cafes across Dubai on Instagram as @athuliyjujacob, and he collaborates with F&B brands.
What does Athul research?
As an independent researcher he studies gamification for digital wellbeing, conversational AI companions, AI search visibility (GEO) and brand behaviour in the GCC.
What is GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)?
GEO is the practice of structuring your website and content so AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Claude can understand, trust and cite your brand. It combines clear entity data, factual content and crawler access for AI search engines.
How much does brand strategy cost in Dubai?
A focused brand audit starts from AED 5,000 to 15,000. A full strategy engagement covering identity, messaging and digital strategy ranges from AED 15,000 to 50,000+. Monthly digital marketing retainers run AED 5,000 to 20,000.
Do you work with clients outside Dubai and the UAE?
Yes. While based in Downtown Dubai, Athul works with clients across the GCC, India, the UK and wider MENA. Brand strategy, paid advertising, SEO and web development are all fully remote-deliverable.
Off the clock
Food vlogger
When I'm not building brands, I'm out finding Dubai's best plates. Honest reviews, hidden spots and the stories behind the kitchens, shared on Instagram as @athuliyjujacob.
The same lens drives my brand work: why some restaurants become destinations and others stay invisible usually comes down to story, experience and how they show up online.
Follow the work
Let's connect
Campaign breakdowns, brand thinking and behind-the-scenes from building games and ventures in Dubai.
