When Zainab Salbi hosts the first edition of the Arabic chat show Nida'a, she will be joining the ranks of regional television's most popular, influential and enduring female TV presenters.
1 Badriya Al Bishr, an award-winning writer, columnist and television presenter from Saudi Arabia, hosts Badriya on MBC, a popular talk show that focuses on women and social issues in Saudi society. Al Bishr is the wife of celebrated Saudi comedian and Arabs Got Talent judge Nasser Al Qasabi. Al Bishr has become well known for tackling topics considered forbidden for women. For example, in a recent episode she explored the pros and cons of the Saudi Arabian law forbidding women from driving cars. She spoke to those who thought the law was outdated and wrong, as well as to those who support it. She also interviewed a Saudi cleric who believes women are not required to wear the niqab, and brought his unveiled wife with him to the show. Badriya airs on MBC1 at 9pm on Saturday evenings, but is on hiatus for the summer.
2 Attractive, daring and outspoken, Wafaa Al Kilani is an Egyptian host who has had talk shows on all the major Arab satellite-TV channels: ART, Rotana, LBC and, most recently, MBC, on which she was host of the programme Nawaret, which was revamped and renamed Al Hokm (The Verdict). She is renowned for getting up close and personal with celebrities, most recently the Lebanese singer Najwa Karam. Season 2 of Al Hokm is due to return to MBC1 in the autumn.
3 Entertainment programme Khaleeha Aleina (Leave It to Us), yet another offering from MBC, is hosted by Yemeni presenter Arwa. Often compared to Al Kilani, Arwa was also a host of Nawarat, and both programmes predominantly feature interviews with Arab celebrities. The show airs on Mondays at 10.30pm, but is also on hiatus with a return date yet to be announced.
4 Airing on Sundays at 11pm on CBC, Ma'akum Muna Al Shathili (With Muna Al Shathili) features Egyptian host and journalist Al Shathili interviewing celebrities and dissecting social topics and taboos. Her programme also takes a look at big news stories. In addition to celebrities, guests have included Egyptian and foreign politicians, scientists and Islamic elders.
5 Kalam Nawaem or Soft Talk, a round-table-discussion programme modelled on US network ABC's The View, is perhaps the most popular show of its kind in the Middle East. Launched in 2002, it was the first to push social boundaries relating to women on Arab television, tackling topics including sexuality, gender equality, terrorism, incest, sexual harassment, rape, child abuse, infidelity and divorce. The show is MBC's top-rated, flagship women's programme, was rated in the top 10 shows in the Arab world in 2007, and the then-US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, appeared on it in 2011. Kalam Nawaem features a changing line-up of four presenters of different ages and backgrounds, although UN goodwill ambassador Muna Abu Sulayman, from Saudi Arabia, and Lebanese TV personality Rania Barghout have been there from the start. Their current co-hosts are Kuwaiti writer, filmmaker and media personality Nadia Ahmad, and Egyptian model and fashion queen Elham Wagdi. MBC has promised a revamped look to Kalam Nawaem, which screens on Sunday evenings, when the new season begins in September.
6 The Egyptian television satellite channel CBC is home to several talk shows and programmes hosted by women, but none is more popular than the news show Huna Al Asema (Here Is the Capital). It is hosted by Egyptian journalist Lamis Elhadidy, the wife of CBC anchor Amr Adeeb. The show, which airs on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays at 9pm, explores political issues and how they relate to society, led by Elhadidy with her forthright views and fearless interview style. She attracts an impressive line-up of politicians, economists and journalists, plus the occasional celebrity. In 2014, she was ranked No 31 in The World's 100 Most Powerful Arab Women list compiled by ArabianBusiness.com.
7 The privately owned Lebanese channel Al Jadeed presents Ba'edna ma' Rab'a (We're Still with Rab'a), a talk show hosted by Rab'a Al Zayyat that airs on Thursdays at 8.30pm. Another entertainment programme that revolves around celebrity interviews, now it is in its fifth season.
8 Newly revamped on CBC, and quickly gaining popularity, is the show El Sitat Ma Ye'refoosh Yekdiboo (Women Don't Know How to Lie). Its hosts – Egyptian actress Mona Abdel Ghany and news anchor Reham Ibrahim – explore women's issues and interview guests to better understand the topic of the day. Their most recent episode, for example, discussed whether it was better to remain in a toxic relationship or cut your losses and end a marriage early, despite what people might say. Airing daily from Saturday to Wednesday at 4pm and 8pm, each episode also features recipes and a segment on healthy eating.
9 Hadith El Balad, or Talk of the Town, hosted by Lebanese TV personality Mona Abou Hamze, is broadcast on Thursday nights on MTV Lebanon. It has just completed its seventh season and is expected to return soon after the Ramadan break. Each episode features interviews with celebrities, including actors, artists, writers, filmmakers and poets.
