Gulf Editor: Lead Desk & On-Camera Reporter

Middle East Broadcasting Networks; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 320,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

MBN is seeking a Gulf Editor to lead, plan, edit, and report across the GCC states from a senior, hybrid newsroom position. The role combines desk leadership with on-the-ground reporting, live blogs, and on-camera commentary, requiring deep regional knowledge and a broad network.

The ideal candidate will have 8–10+ years of journalism experience, fluency in Arabic and English, and a track record of independent, contextual journalism for Alhurra.com and related platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, International Relations, Political Science, Economics, Middle Eastern Studies, or related field (or equivalent professional experience).
• 8–10+ years of professional journalism experience, combining newsroom desk editing/planning with extensive on-the-ground reporting on the Gulf region.
• Deep, verified knowledge of GCC political systems, macroeconomic restructuring, energy markets, sovereign wealth fund strategies, AI/tech infrastructure developments, and U.S. defense partnerships.
• Proven, active network of contacts among Gulf policymakers, energy analysts, financial institutions, diplomats, and regional researchers.
• Expert line-editing, copy editing, and structural editing skills in Arabic, with proven experience managing live blogs, breaking news desks, and forward editorial calendars.
• Complete professional and editorial fluency in Arabic and English (capable of writing, editing, and publishing original copy in both languages independently).
• Demonstrated experience writing digital newsletters, scripting video explainers, and delivering clear on-camera and audio podcast analysis.

Responsibilities

• Editorial Planning, Desk Direction, and Network Management.
• Direct daily newsgathering and long-term editorial planning for all six GCC states, maintaining an active forward-planning diary of ministerial meetings, summits, sovereign wealth transactions, defense forums, and economic releases.
• Assign, coordinate, and edit reporting from contributors, freelancers, stringers, and local fixers across Riyadh, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait City, Manama, and Muscat.
• Coordinate daily with the Editor-in-Chief and Washington desks to ensure Gulf coverage leads regional news cycles with depth and context.
• Monitor Gulf state media, financial wires, regulatory decrees, satellite channels, and social networks to capture breaking developments.
• Pitch, report, and write original investigative pieces and analyses for Alhurra.com and other digital products.
• Investigate tech diplomacy and economic security files, including U.S. regulatory scrutiny over Gulf AI infrastructure and chip imports.
• Build and maintain a deep contact network across Gulf government entities, energy consultancies, diplomats, and business leaders.
• Deliver on-the-record interviews with ministers, policymakers, economists, and international diplomats.
• Lead real-time coverage during fast-moving cycles with live blogs and rapid analyses.
• Line-edit, fact-check, and copy-edit Gulf-related text, scripts, and data visualizations.

Skills

Editorial leadership

News desk planning

Source development

Bilingual Arabic/English

Live blogging

On-camera analysis

Investigation

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism or related field

Tools

SEO know-how

Newsletter platforms

Job description

MBN is seeking a Gulf Editor to lead, plan, edit, and report across the GCC states from a senior, hybrid newsroom position. The role combines desk leadership with on-the-ground reporting, live blogs, and on-camera commentary, requiring deep regional knowledge and a broad network.

The ideal candidate will have 8–10+ years of journalism experience, fluency in Arabic and English, and a track record of independent, contextual journalism for Alhurra.com and related platforms.