Diab was born in Jeddah and was editor in chief of a number of Saudi magazines, including Iqra, Al-Jadeedah (a publication of the Saudi Research and Publishing Company that also publishes Arab News) and the Haj and Umrah magazine of which he was chief editor until his death.

He had a daily column in the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic newspaper, which is a sister publication of Arab News.

Diab wrote a number of books and short stories, including “A Woman and a Cup of Coffee,” “History and Social Life,” "The Wall Clock Ticks Twice,” “16 Stories from the Hara” and “Common Proverbs.” He also wrote a book on the dialect of Jeddawis.