[citation needed] Salama also wrote a number of non-fiction books and served on the board of the Egyptian Journalists' Syndicate.

In 1989 he started his daily column Close Up in dealing not with foreign policy analysis but commentary on everyday life.

[4] Salama covered major international and Arab summits and conferences, such as the meetings of the UN General Assembly, and the US Presidential elections.

[2] He was also noted for his writing on urban planning, the environment, and the poor human rights record of Arab governments, his stand in favor of non-governmental organisations and for easing political and administrative restrictions of them.

Salama wrote a number of non-fiction books including Grey Areas and The New Middle East.