Senior Reporter – What’s On Dubai

Motivate Media Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Motivate Media Group in Dubai invites a talented Senior Reporter to join our editorial team. This hands-on role requires quick, accurate reporting and the ability to produce engaging content across digital, social and print for What’s On.

You will generate stories across news, features, guides and lifestyle, optimize content for SEO and contribute to the daily calendar while shaping our online presence. Experience 5–7 years preferred; UAE media knowledge is essential.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of journalism or editorial experience in lifestyle, consumer or digital media.
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading and storytelling skills.
• Excellent knowledge of UAE media and lifestyle landscape.

Responsibilities

• Research, write, edit and publish engaging stories for What’s On’s digital platforms.
• Generate original story ideas and cover UAE trends, news, launches and events.
• Write SEO-friendly content using keywords, trends and insights.
• Sub-edit and fact-check content to maintain high editorial standards.
• Create content for Instagram, TikTok and other social platforms, including short videos.
• Attend events and cover launches, turning them into editorial stories.

Skills

Journalism

Editing

SEO

WordPress

Social media

Video editing

Education

Degree in Journalism/Media/Communications

Tools

Google Analytics

Search Console

Job description

Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Posted on 09/03/2026

Established in 1979, Motivate Media Group operates in partnership between Ian Fairservice and H.E. Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Former Minister of State for Financial Affairs, UAE. With a staff of over 200 experienced professionals based out of the Dubai headquarters, and the Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and London offices, Motivate’s wider publishing expertise includes award-winning print and digital titles such as What’s On , Emirates Woman and Gulf Business . As well as books and magazines, Motivate also produces content across other platforms including video, digital media, cinema, events, social, influencer marketing and out of home.

Job Description

What’s On islooking for a talented Senior Reporter to join our editorial team in Dubai.This is a hands‑on role for an experienced journalist who can spot a greatstory, write with speed and accuracy, and create engaging content acrossdigital, social and print.

You will beresponsible for generating and publishing high-quality content across news,features, guides, reviews and lifestyle stories, while contributing ideas tothe daily editorial calendar. You will also help shape our digital and socialpresence, ensuring content is relevant, engaging and optimised for ouraudience.

What youwill do:

• Research, write,edit and publish engaging stories for What’s On’s digital platforms.
  
• Generate originalstory ideas and stay on top of the latest UAE trends, news, launches andevents.
  
• Write SEO-friendlycontent, using keywords, search trends and audience insights to improvereach and engagement.
  
• Sub-edit andfact-check content to maintain high editorial standards.
  
• Create content forInstagram, TikTok and other social platforms, including short-form videosand social posts.
  
• Contribute editorialcontent to What’s On magazine, including features, reviews and specialreports.
  
• Attend and coverevents, launches, press conferences and media briefings, turning them intostrong editorial stories.
  
• Work withcontributors and freelancers to manage stories and meet deadlines.
  
• Produce branded andsponsored content while maintaining the quality and tone of the What’s Onbrand.
  
• Use analytics andaudience data to understand what performs well and shape future content.
  

Requirements

Whatwe’re looking for:

• 5–7years of journalism or editorial experience, ideally within lifestyle,consumer or digital media.
  
• Strongwriting, editing, proofreading and storytelling skills.
  
• Excellentknowledge of the UAE media and lifestyle landscape.
  
• Strongunderstanding of SEO, search intent and digital content performance.
  
• Experienceusing a CMS such as WordPress and analytics tools such as Google Analyticsor Search Console.
  
• Comfortablecreating and editing short-form video for Instagram Reels and TikTok.
  
• Aconfident, creative journalist who can work quickly without compromisingon quality or accuracy.
  
• Experiencemanaging contributors, freelancers and multiple deadlines.
  
• Astrong understanding of social media and digital audiences.
  
• A degree in Journalism, Media,Communications or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.