Over the last quarter, media coverage has tended to revolve around a few standout themes.
On the business side, stories have crossed borders and sectors, catching the attention of senior business and policy journalists. We’re seeing much of this conversation led by Reuters’ correspondents, Arab News’ business desk, and The National as a go-to data source, alongside diplomacy coverage from global outlets like The Guardian.
If you travel through lifestyle and consumer media, a different set of voices comes to the fore. Titles such as Time Out Dubai, The National, Saudi Gazette, Arab News, and AP Middle East are shaping the conversation, covering everything from city guides and wellness trends to entertainment, dining, and culture.
*The journalist’s job title and publication are correct as of January 2026.
Key media topics and journalists: the business tent
- One story, multiple angles: keep a master narrative and tailor proof points for each market. E.g.: CFO case studies for the UAE.
- Lead with credible data and ready assets: pair third-party stats and your data with journalist-friendly assets like charts, infographics, and quick quotes to make it easy for them to run your story.
- Resolve the “pilot purgatory” objection with proof of scale:
Journalists are sceptical of AI pilots, so lead with verifiable deployment metrics (users served, latency/accuracy deltas, ROI/payback). Add one customer case study and a measurable next milestone.
1. AI
Why it leads:
AI sat at the centre of national strategy and big‑ticket investment: securing chips and data centres via new alliances, while UAE/KSA kept a steady drumbeat of government programmes, partnerships and event‑driven announcements that guaranteed fresh pegs.
At the same time, a compelling tension (boardroom ambition versus “pilot purgatory,” plus the race to build skills) gave newsrooms constant data points, human impact and visuals, sustaining multi‑day, cross‑beat coverage.
Jennifer George
Correspondent
Fast Company Middle East
Alvin Cabral
Business Reporter
The National
Abdul Rawuf
Content Executive
Arabian Business
2. Capital markets & IPOs
Why it leads:
The Gulf Cooperation Council’s capital markets story is being driven by substance rather than speculation. Expanded foreign access, paired with a strong IPO pipeline, has put genuine capital in motion.
That activity generates a constant flow of news, from filings and pricing to allocations, with investors, banks and issuers all closely involved.
It’s this ongoing, data-rich cycle that keeps IPOs and capital markets firmly in the media spotlight.
Md Manzer Hussain
Headline News Reporter
Reuters (EMEA)
Sarmad Khan
Company & Markets Editor
The National (UAE)
Ateeq Shariff
Reporter
Reuters (ASIA)
3. Real estate & tourism
Why it leads:
Real estate and tourism go hand in hand in the GCC, and the steady stream of data (price indices, occupancy rates, visitor numbers, plus visible projects) keeps the story fresh.
New developments drive visitor interest; tourist demand influences property prices and occupancy; and the knock-on effects trickle down to jobs, construction, and retail.
A single story can travel across business, lifestyle and consumer pages, giving journalists multiple angles to cover.
Nirmal Narayanan
Business Reporter
Arab News
Deepthi Nair
Business Journalist
The National
Waheed Abbas
Assistant Editor / Property Editor
Khaleej Times
4. Green hydrogen & energy transition
Why it leads:
Green hydrogen has promised a lot for a while, but auctions and cross-border MoUs are starting to put numbers against the narrative. When governments back it, the industry moves from theory to execution.
Add in the climate finance and industrial policy angles, and it’s a story that appeals to more than one newsroom, which is why it tends to stick around.
Jennifer Gnana
Assistant Business Editor, Digital
The National (UAE)
Maha El Dahan
Gulf Bureau Chief
Reuters (EMEA)
Conrad Prabhu
Editor
Oman Observer (Oman)
5. Geopolitics & trade
Why it leads:
Regional tensions and shipping risks might feel distant, but they show up quickly where it matters: in costs, insurance, and supply chains.
Editors love these stories for exactly that reason: they connect security developments to boardroom risk and macro markets, which makes them far stickier than your average geopolitical bulletin.
Patrick Wintour
Diplomatic Editor
The Guardian
Ahmed Al Omran
Saudi Arabia Correspondent
Financial Times
Rory Reynolds
Assistant Editor-in-Chief
The National (UAE)
Key media topics and journalists: the lifestyle tent
Quick practical tips for PRs to use now
- Pitch with peaks in mind: time your content to align with shopping spikes. Toss in shopping maps, “value stacks”, or wellness tie-ins. Bonus: link event pages so journalists don’t have to dig.
- Seasonal events are family favourites: journalists want to please their readers, so pitches with quick “what to do this weekend” guides, accessible pricing, and high-res images are always welcome.
- Feed the dining discovery loop: use the language journalists already love. “One to watch”, “editor’s pick”. Include a menu snippet, a chef quote, and a couple of booking-ready pics. Makes life easy for listicles.
1. Mega retail events and shopping festivals
Why it leads:
Everyone loves a sale, and the GCC is no exception. Time-limited discounts, flash raffles and “only today” deals create that irresistible FOMO, sending search engines and social feeds into a frenzy.
Retailers happily feed the cycle with daily deal updates so journalists have a near-endless stream of listicles, roundups, “top picks” content to file through the festival. And coverage does not just spike once, then flattens. It sticks around for the whole sales window, keeping events firmly in the headlines.
Emilie Hill
Group Editor
Time Out Dubai
Yousra Zaki
Group Food Editor
Time Out Dubai
William Mullally
Arts & Culture Editor
The National
2. City-wide wellness moments (Dubai Fitness Challenge)
Why it leads:
Mass participation events mean instant visuals and human interest stories that travel well on social. Free programming, school tie-ins, and community challenges keep local outlets updating weekend guides and coverage all month long. Perfect for when journalists need something feel-good and shareable.
Sajila Saseendran
Chief Reporter
Gulf News
Meher Dhanjal
Digital Journalist
Khaleej Times
David Tusing
Assistant Features Editor
The National
3. Live entertainment season
Why it leads:
A rolling calendar of concerts, attractions and new zones guarantees constant new hooks. Think of the artist announcements, zone openings, and attendance milestones. Family-friendly appeal widens readership beyond entertainment pages into lifestyle and travel, giving journalists more reasons to cover regularly.
Rahaf Jambi
Head Reporter
Arab News
Husain Rizvi
Senior Features Writer
Khaleej Times (UAE)
Rajagopalan Venkataraman
Entertainments Editor
Khaleej Times (UAE)
4. Film and culture
Why it leads:
Red carpets, premieres, awards nights – the built-in daily headlines that practically write themselves. Industry deals, regional debuts, and cultural diplomacy angles keep both broadsheets and trade journalists engaged, while photo-led content ensures coverage spreads across social feeds too.
Saeed Saeed
Features Writer
The National
Razmig Bedirian
Arts & Culture Writer
The National
Adam Grundey
Editor
Arab News
5. Dining scene and "best of" lists
Why it leads:
Star ratings, editor picks, chef moves, and new openings make content instantly shareable and evergreen. Perfect for weekend planners or listicles, these stories give journalists what they want: something tasty, timely, and easy to package.
Farah Andrews
Head of Features
The National
Aarti Saundalkar
Arts & Culture Features Editor
What’s On Dubai & Abu Dhabi (UAE)
Sammi Barnard
Junior Reporter
What’s On Dubai & Abu Dhabi (UAE)
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