Ghalya Saadawi is an independent writer and researcher. Some of her art writings have appeared in Bidoun, Frieze, Nowiswere, Art in America, e-flux, among other publications, as well as a number of artist monographs. Her poetry has not been published. She is a part-time instructor in the Fine Arts and Art History department at the American University of Beirut, and in sociology at the Lebanese American University of Beirut.

Ghalya was in residence at Darat al Funun in the summer of 2012.