Salma Arafa is an Egyptian multi-platform journalist and producer. She began her career in Cairo’s fintech startup scene, covering business and financial news, before moving to Abu Dhabi after being selected for CNN Academy’s 2023 cohort. She went on to join CNN as an Associate Producer for Connect the World with Becky Anderson, the network’s flagship Middle East programme. Today, she works on The National’s Social Media desk, telling stories across digital, video and social platforms. Salma is fluent in Arabic, English and French.
Articles
Talking your language: UAE unveils AI tool designed to master Arabic dialects
Jais 3 has been developed by Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and Abu Dhabi's Inception42
UAEOctober 24, 2026
CommentWatching Egypt's 2027 Oscars entry made me rethink my family's history
Abu Bakr Shawky's 'The Stories' prompted me to look beyond the history I was taught as a child – and towards the people in my own family who lived through it
Film & TVOctober 02, 2026
Take a seat: How Jalsa is giving Abu Dhabi's emerging artists a stage
Trio started open mic series to offer platform for UAE's growing creative community
Music & On-stageOctober 01, 2026
Global gender equality will take 120 years, says WEF
The Middle East and North Africa is 182 years away from full parity, report shows
EconomySeptember 16, 2026
AI start-up Mal carries Middle East FinTech in H1 with mega-funding round
Abu Dhabi-based start-up accounted for 37 per cent of total FinTech funding
BusinessSeptember 15, 2026
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