Nada Al Ghowainim shares her observations on being a Saudi woman in Dubai on her culture and travel blog Saudi Diva. Nada spoke with MediaSource about why she started blogging, bridging Western and Arab cultures, and working with PR.
Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into blogging.
I’m a Saudi journalism graduate (currently interning in publishing) from the cosmopolitan city of Al Khobar and, despite being born and raised in Saudi, I always dreamed of living abroad as a little girl. After a few attempts at escaping my restricting lifestyle, I managed to make Dubai my home in 2010. With a background in business and IT, and a flair for writing, I started to blog as a way of getting into journalism. My first blog was basically an online portfolio for my writing. 
Saudi Diva is the second blog you have written – what can readers expect?
My first blog – Undefined Declarations – was a lifestyle blog covering all sorts of topics from music events, to beach club reviews to personal posts. It was a great way for me to explore different lifestyle areas and engage with various communities.
Saudi Diva was born in September of last year, as a natural progression of all that active lifestyle and networking, and is focused on luxury travel – including hotel and spa reviews – and culture. Readers can learn about Arab and Saudi culture from a local perspective. All while following my endless case of wanderlust!
Why should people read your blog? What makes it different?
Despite being a Saudi Diva, I have a very Western mindset and attitude towards life. I believe that with that original character, I can give readers an insight into both worlds and help bridge the gap between the two cultures. So, whether you’re interested to learn more about Middle-Eastern - and specifically Saudi - culture and lifestyle, or are simply looking for options for your next staycation or holiday, then my blog can be very useful!
What are the pros and cons of being a lifestyle blogger?
One main challenge with lifestyle blogs is they take time to grow and gain readers’ attention due to the wide range of topics they cover. The benefits are being able to interact with people from diverse backgrounds and cover stories on many interesting topics.
How do you work with marketers and PRs? 
I used to do a lot of collaborations with brands on my previous blog – that’s when I would work a lot with marketers and PRs. With Saudi Diva, the focus has shifted from writing sponsored posts to creating impartial and fair reviews. I still accept invites to attend launches and other events. If the concept is original and fun, then I’m pleased to give it exposure on my social media pages. 
What’s your editorial policy on accepting invitations for reviews?
Saudi Diva is all about fair, impartial and genuine reviews and opinions. While I don’t mind receiving press releases about new concepts, I don’t write sponsored reviews. This means that I can still review the concept/brand at my own expense and write a balanced and honest review.
can PR improve the way it works with bloggers?
Personally, I believe that brands and PRs should support bloggers in return for their work. I found it highly demotivating when I would not receive support in the form of sharing my blog post reviews or even referencing my blog. Also, it would help if brands/PRs took time to read the blogger’s posts and learn more about them and what they write about. Being appreciated and valued as a blogger builds strong ties between them and the brands/PRs they work with.
Any advice for someone new to blogging?
Be persistent and keep writing – even when you think no one is reading your blog!