Inside Modern Media Careers: Dina Butti In Defense of Television

“I love television. I genuinely believe it still offers something special: surprise,” says Dina Butti, TV presenter at Dubai One, an English language entertainment television channel owned by Dubai Media Incorporated.

“We live in an extremely curated world where we control what we watch, when we watch it, and how fast we consume it. Television allows for discovery – flipping channels, stumbling upon a story, a film, or a topic you didn’t even know you were interested in.”

After co-hosting the celebrity entertainment program That’s Entertainment, Butti is now a part of a team of presenters hosting DXB Today, a daily lifestyle program on Dubai One that highlights culture, events, local stories and experiences in the UAE. “For a show like ours designed for local audiences, we deliver news and current affairs rooted in the city itself, while giving talent, businesses, and personalities a trusted platform. That communal aspect is still awesome,” Butti says.

Egyptian-Canadian Butti began her journey in media after studying studio arts, journalism, and television at Concordia University in Montreal. Returning to Dubai for family reasons, she entered the industry without established connections, but she landed an early internship at INTV (later known as City 7), followed by a role at the women’s fashion and lifestyle magazine. Her first paid assignment at the Dubai International Film Festival marked a pivotal moment- Butti conducted celebrity interviews with A-listers including the renowned Egyptian actress Yousra and American actor George Clooney. That experience paved the way for her first full-time position as a production coordinator at MTV Arabia, followed by an editorial role with Jumeirah Group’s beauty and wellness publication.
When reflecting on the qualities that have defined her career trajectory, Butti highlights one in particular: resilience in the face of rejection. “There is a lot of it,” she says. “I always knew I wanted to be a TV presenter, and I also knew I wasn’t going to stop until it happened. That meant hearing ‘no’ more times than I can count.”

Butti adds that she had set her sights on Dubai One for years, but her early attempts to secure an on-air role proved unsuccessful. Ultimately, she accepted a behind-the-scenes position as a researcher and writer. From there, she continued to show up—making her ambitions clear to everyone around her. “I was told all kinds of things – that it wasn’t going to happen, that maybe I wasn’t pretty enough, didn’t have “the it factor,” or that I was wasting people’s time by hoping for a different result. Thankfully, I believed in myself more than the noise,” she says.

A pivotal turning point came when Reim El Houni, founder of Dubai-based production studio Ti22 Films, offered her the opportunity to take on an unpaid role as a city scout delivering short on-camera segments each week. Butti went on to become a reporter on Studio One, and later stepped in as host of Out and About. The momentum continued when she became co-host of That’s Entertainment, where she reported live from the red carpets of the Oscars and the Critics’ Choice Awards.

From that point forward, her commitment became unmistakable—rooted in a disciplined approach to preparation and a deep respect for her craft. For Butti, every interview begins with thorough research and genuine curiosity. “One thing that really set me apart early on was finding playful, unexpected ways to get information out of people so they’re genuinely enjoying themselves and want to give you something good,” she says.

“Many celebrities are doing back-to-back interviews all day. It gets repetitive. So I’d ask myself: how can I spice this up for them too? Sometimes that meant challenges, sometimes dancing – Ranveer Singh and Will Smith were amazing sports about that. I’m also always surprised by how nervous some public figures are. Taking a few minutes before the interview to put them at ease can completely change the energy.”

Reflecting on the conversations that have left a lasting impression, Butti recalls the immediate warmth of Canadian singer Céline Dion, the joie de vivre of American actor John Travolta, and the surprising humility of Metallica’s lead singer James Hetfield. “One moment that really stayed with me was interviewing Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan alongside a young Deepika Padukone,” she adds. “I remember feeling slightly frustrated because he kept redirecting questions to her when I wanted to hear more from him. Later, I realized he was intentionally helping her step into the spotlight. That generosity made me see him as even more of a legend.”

On the region’s shifting media landscape, Butti observes that radio has remained remarkably resilient— by contrast, television and print have faced steady contraction. “Where the UAE truly shines is in its ability to adapt. The city has done an incredible job nurturing the content creation industry, with initiatives like the Billion Followers Summit. My hope is that we continue innovating without losing sight of traditional media and the value it still holds,” she says.

Beyond television, Butti has built a multifaceted media profile as an emcee and voice-over artist, while also cultivating a strong presence on social media. “TV presenting has been my most consistent anchor. Emceeing keeps me sharp as a public speaker. Voiceover work is a completely different art form. It’s all about nuance and detail,” Butti says. “Social media, though, has probably been the most surprising. I built it from scratch, I fully own it, and I never really know what opportunities will come from it. Recently, it led to me hosting a podcast series for the BBC, which was an incredible experience. That opportunity came purely from putting myself out there consistently online.”

Asked which platform best understands audience behavior today, Butti points to digital. “I feel like digital platforms understand audience behavior best simply because they have the data in real time, and they can pivot instantly,” she says. “That said, knowing what people click on isn’t the same as understanding why they connect.” In the end, Butti explains, real winners will be those who combine data with intuition—analytics guided by humanity and purpose. “At the end of the day, attention isn’t just about grabbing eyeballs. It’s about holding them for a reason, and that still comes down to good storytelling, no matter the platform,” Butti concludes.

‘TREP TALK: Dina Butti On Breaking Into TV
“Create your own opportunities and platforms. We’re in so much more control of our success than ever before. Put yourself out there. Experiment. Take risks. Fail publicly. Get in front of a camera and keep posting.

“When I started, I was told I wasn’t pretty enough, thin enough, smart enough and that I smiled too much. You have to learn to be your own cheerleader and lean into what makes you thrive. The hardest thing to be on camera is being yourself, but like anything else, communication is a skill you can practice.

“I genuinely believe my success has come from being relatable. I stutter. I’m goofy. I correct myself. I’m not overly polished and that’s intentional.

“If you want to work in traditional media, reach out to people who already do. Prove your value. Get your foot in the door. Even if it means working for free at first, build your reel and your CV. Figure out what makes you uniquely you – and spread it like wildfire.”