Semafor Gulf launched in September 2024 as the company’s third global edition, following the US and sub-Saharan Africa. Led by veteran journalist and editor Mohammed Sergie, the platform launched with a world-class regional team reporting from Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai. In July 2025, Semafor appointed Matthew Martin as Saudi Arabia bureau chief and global head of sovereign wealth fund coverage, joining Manal Albarakati in Saudi Arabia and Kelsey Warner in Abu Dhabi.

In December, Semafor took its flagship The Next Three Billion convening on the road to Abu Dhabi during Abu Dhabi Finance Week for its first signature live journalism convening in the region. To expand this work, Semafor is bringing on two new executives to lead the expansion of its signature live journalism convenings across the region.

Andy Rodgers, based in Dubai, has joined Semafor from Bloomberg Media as Executive Director for Marketing & Business Development and will be focused on incubating new partnerships with leading institutions and organizations across the region and innovating new digital and convening products. Joanna Johnson, also based in Dubai, joins from the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) as Senior Events Director & Operations Lead for the Middle East, overseeing the growth and launch of Semafor’s signature convenings in the Gulf and additional key international markets.