Hala Rharrit serves as Arabic Language Spokesperson for the State Department and as the Dubai Regional Media Hub’s Deputy Director. Hala joined the Foreign Service in 2006 as a political officer. Her tours have included Yemen, Hong Kong, Qatar, and most recently South Africa, where she served as the Political and Economic Section Chief at U.S. Consulate Durban. Hala has a Master’s degree from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, with a concentration in Arab Studies, and an undergraduate degree in International Relations and Middle Eastern Studies from George Washington University’s Elliott School. She is passionate about diplomacy and breaking down barriers through communication and mutual understanding.