Bates PanGulf (Bates) is part of the WPP Group, the global communications company, with USD5.37 billion revenues and over 72,000 employees in 1,700 offices in 104 countries as of 2006. With the increase of lucrative business opportunities in the Middle East, WPP selected PanGulf's Dubai office as the regional headquarters after acquiring a 40% stake in 1998. Bates PanGulf has established branches in Kuwait and Qatar with their services varying from advertising to media buying, design services, and public relations.

Founded as PanGulf Publicity back in 1981, it wasn't until 1995 when Bates PanGulf gained recognition in the Dubai Shopping Festival. After that, it gradually diversified its services and expanded its portfolio to include seven divisions under the Bates PanGulf family, covering integrated marketing practices to serve its customers. Almost a decade later, Bates slowly climbed up the charts in the healthcare sector in 2005 when it established Healthworld PanGulf, an affiliate of Ogilvy Healthworld, which specializes in the marketing communications for prescription and OTC remedies. Additionally, in 2006, Bates was also assigned to set up the media campaign for the Dubai International Film Festival and was selected as the official communications partner for TAQA.

Billings split in 2005 are as follows: Pan Arab USD80 miilion and Kuwait USD10 million . And in 2006, the splits are USD100 million for Pan Arab and USD15 million in Kuwait.