Jihan was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and is a French and Egyptian national. In 1984, she received her BA (Honours) in Political Science, and in 1986 her MA in Political Science from the American University of Cairo. She worked as a news agency correspondent, TV researcher, and associate producer in Tunisia and Egypt between the years of 1984 to 1990. As a correspondent, Jihan covered politics in the Middle East. In 1990, Jihan started directing and producing documentaries for French television, and for the BBC since 1995. Jihan also offered professional support on four of the Steps for the Future films in 2001. The House of Saud is her latest documentary, which will screen at Encounters 2004.

Jihan is a guest at Encounters courtesy of the French Embassy.