Alaa Karkouti is a leading authority on cinema industry in Arab world, focusing specifically on financial and statistic analysis. He started covering this topic for various publications both in Arab world & internationally in 1998 and has created a unique database on the last two decades of cinema in Arab world.

Karkouti is the editor-in-chief of Good News Cinema Magazine, which launched in September 2004. Good News Cinema Magazine is the biggest &most influential cinema magazine in Arab world. In April 2008 this expanded to include Good News TV Magazine.

Previously to founding Good News Cinema Magazine, Karkouti established also in Egypt, Cinema Online Magazine in 2002 followed by Studio Magazine in 2003.
Vodafone Egypt, in 2008, selected Karkouti to be the publisher and editor for two publications: Lahza newspaper and 10 Magazine.

His expertise in cinema analysis has provided him with many opportunities to chair and participate in various panels and jury’s in film festivals worldwide. He has covered dozens of film festivals including: Berlin, Venice, Locarno, Clermont-Ferrand, London, Edinburgh, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Beirut &Cairo. Here he has had the opportunity to interview numerous movie stars and directors. In 2008, Karkouti was the editor-in-chief for the daily Arabic journal of Dubai International Film Festival
Karkouti annually publishes a list of the 50 most powerful people working in film business around Arab world. The list is an excellent reference to the most important characters that work in Arab Cinema Production. He has also set up strategic marketing for many cinematic companies in Egypt, UAE and Jordan.

Publications in which Karkouti previously had articles published include: Al Hayat &Al Sharq Al Awsat from London, the English Emirates Today, Al Doustor &Nahdit Masr from Egypt, MBC news website, Economy Today from UAE, Akhbar Al Nogoom, Akhbar Al Adab, Shashaty, Sotoor & Al Ragol Al Youm. In 2009, he started reporting for Variety.