[6] Al-Madfai began working for BBC Arabic Radio in 1960, presenting variety programmes before going to read political news bulletins, the latter of which was dominated by men.
[5][6] Al-Madfai was allowed to broadcast on the radio following talks with BBC directors who were conservative with their position of not favouring women to read the news or present political programmes.
[4] Al-Madfai was the first person to broadcast on the radio the news of the crossing of the Suez Canal by the Egyptian Army during the Yom Kippur War in 1973.
[5][6] In 1993, she published the book Jordan, the United States and the Middle East Peace Process, 1974–1991.
[3][6] She was recognizable by the announcement "The news bulletin from the BBC read to you by Madiha Rashid al-Madfai"[4][5] Al-Madfai helped to establish a precedent for other women in the Arab world to get into radio such as Huda Al-Rasheed, Salwa Jarrah, Hala Salah El-Din, Samia Al-Atrash, Nadia Saleh and Afaf Jalal among others.