Hiba Saleh’s name has become familiar in the UAE media world. Her journey reflects courage, determination, and a deep love for storytelling. From her early university days to becoming a bold reporter, presenter, influencer, and even stepping into real estate, her story is an inspiring reminder that passion opens doors when matched with persistence.
Hiba discovered her passion for media while still a high school student. She was naturally drawn to the field, enjoying writing, reporting, and telling stories in ways that connected with people. While some close to her suggested choosing a safer career, Hiba felt that journalism aligned with her personality. She wanted to be on the ground, capturing real images, real voices, and real events. This conviction set the foundation for everything that followed.
At the United Arab Emirates University, she joined the Department of Journalism, where her talent quickly became visible. During her studies, she won the Habib Al Redha Award for Print Journalism, taking first place among all students in media departments across the country. This victory showed her that her skills were not just a personal passion but a professional strength.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Hiba believed that education should extend outside classrooms. She grabbed opportunities to explore media globally, traveling to Paris and Brussels with a training group during her university years. These experiences exposed her to different cultures, media practices, and ways of storytelling.
Back home, she was far from a passive student. She actively wrote for the university’s newspaper Al Ilamiyah, while also contributing to other magazines and newspapers. This helped her build a professional network before graduation and gave her a taste of real newsroom pressures.
Creativity Through Film and Sports
While her main field was journalism, Hiba explored other creative areas too. She produced short films during her time at the university, several of which were showcased in festivals beyond campus. This experience taught her to combine visuals and emotions to tell stories in new ways.
Her life as a student was also shaped by sports. Hiba was a member of the university’s volleyball team, which strengthened her discipline, teamwork, and resilience. In addition, she actively participated in student associations, building connections that widened her perspective on leadership and collaboration.
Entering the Professional World
As part of her graduation requirements, Hiba trained at Al Ittihad newspaper. Soon after, she began her career at Abu Dhabi Television. Her first role was as a producer, a behind-the-scenes position. But Hiba was determined to also work as a reporter.
Her commitment was extraordinary. She would start her day reporting in the field, then spend her evenings working in the studio as part of the production team. This dual role gave her valuable insight into both content creation and live news delivery.
Eventually, her persistence paid off. She became a correspondent and presenter, known for her strong presence and distinctive style. She stood out for her courageous reports on Nashrat Uloom Al Dar, as well as her work as a program editor. Each step carried its own challenges, but Hiba’s consistency and boldness ensured she always moved forward.
Reporting With Impact
One of the most meaningful chapters in Hiba’s career came during the COVID-19 pandemic. She covered events and stories during that crisis with empathy and responsibility, combining her duty as a journalist with a sense of service to the public.
Her media work also took her beyond the UAE. She joined humanitarian missions, including visits to refugee camps in Jordan, as part of delegations supporting Syrian refugees. There, she experienced firsthand how media can amplify the voices of the vulnerable and bring attention to humanitarian needs.
Her growing reputation also opened other doors. Hiba became an ambassador for Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club on social media, a member of the Dubai Press Club, and part of the Association of Social Media Pioneers. Each role expanded her influence and allowed her to represent her country in diverse ways.
Expanding Horizons: Influencer and Real Estate
Hiba is not limited to traditional media. She has embraced the digital world, building a presence as an influencer on social media platforms. Through these channels, she shares her lifestyle, values, and insights, creating a closer bond with audiences.
Recently, she has also entered the world of real estate through a project called The Real Estate Intermediary. While this might seem far from journalism, for Hiba it connects naturally. Both fields rely on communication, credibility, and relationships. Her experience in media has given her the skills to network effectively, present ideas clearly, and earn trust qualities that matter in any industry.
Lessons From Her Journey
Hiba’s philosophy is simple but powerful. She focuses on self-development, cutting out negativity, and learning something new every day. She surrounds herself with achievers and draws inspiration from them. While she keeps her close friendships limited, she appreciates good people and values respectful connections.
Sports remain part of her lifestyle, not only for fitness but also as a source of mental strength. She believes sports helped her shape her character and taught her persistence.
For Hiba, reputation is everything. She hopes to be remembered as someone with a good name, integrity, and ambition. Her message to others is clear: set goals, work for them, and trust God with the results. She encourages young people not to wait for opportunities but to go out and create them.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Hiba Saleh’s story is not just about personal success. It is about resilience, adaptability, and passion. She has shown that it is possible to balance multiple roles student, athlete, journalist, influencer, humanitarian, and entrepreneur while staying true to one’s identity.
Her achievements prove that persistence can overcome doubt, and that ambition backed with effort can lead to remarkable outcomes. Whether through her reporting, her humanitarian work, her social media presence, or her new ventures in real estate, Hiba continues to inspire others to dream bigger and work harder.
Her journey is still unfolding, and with every new step, she proves that ambition, when matched with dedication, can create a future full of possibilities.
Do follow her on Instagram
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