Most Influential Pan-Arab TV Presenters of 2021
Current occupation: Host of Al-Arabiya’s ‘Al-Souaal Al-Moubashar’ (السؤال المباشر)
Former employers: Al-Ekhbariya, Saudi TV
Nationality: Saudi
Khaled Madkhali is a Saudi TV presenter and news anchor with Al-Arabiya news channel. Madkhali experienced a rough introduction to working life, as he was rejected from his first job as a lecturer of Arabic due to a physical disability despite excelling in the degree. However, he soon switched his focus to media when he instead got a job as a broadcaster at Saudi Radio.
Madkhali leads a successful career working for prominent Saudi news channels including Al-Ekhbariya channel, Saudi TV, and Al-Arabiya.
His unique and confrontational style has landed him various prominent positions, most recently as news anchor with Al-Arabiya. In 2017, however, after three years with Al-Arabiya, Madkhali resigned, bidding farewell to the audience just after the news segment. In 2018, he returned to Al-Arabiya following his position as the director of Al-Ekhbariya channel.
During a recent interview hosted by Madkhali on Al-Arabiya, Egyptian preacher Dr. Amr Khaled withdrew from the interview in protest at questions about his relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood. This clash revealed Madkhali’s confrontational style and his persistence when asking questions.
