Nayla Al Khaja is the first female film director in the United Arab Emirates and a trailblazer for Arab cinema. A visionary filmmaker, entrepreneur, and cultural advocate, she has built a career defined by creativity, courage, and resilience. Beyond her groundbreaking contributions to film, Nayla is also a top-tier international... Read more
Nayla Al Khaja is the first female film director in the United Arab Emirates and a trailblazer for Arab cinema. A visionary filmmaker, entrepreneur, and cultural advocate, she has built a career defined by creativity, courage, and resilience. Beyond her groundbreaking contributions to film, Nayla is also a top-tier international speaker, consistently advocating for workplace enjoyment as a key to increasing productivity and supporting overall well-being.
Drawing from her extraordinary real-life journey of overcoming barriers in a male-dominated industry, Nayla shares insights on creativity, empowerment, leadership, and problem-solving. With a unique ability to introduce enjoyable, engaging ideas to enhance workplace culture, her speaking style is infused with humor—leaving audiences both inspired and energized. Renowned for her versatility, she is equally impactful when addressing empowerment themes or serving as the final speaker to bring lightness and connection after a series of technical presentations.
Nayla made her directorial mark with acclaimed shorts such as Arabana, The Neighbor, Animal, and The Shadow—the latter two currently streaming on Netflix. In 2023, she released her highly anticipated debut feature film, THREE, a psychological thriller that premiered theatrically across the Gulf and major MENA territories on February 1, 2024.
Her upcoming fantasy-horror feature, BAAB, completed production in February 2025 and is set for release in late 2025. The project boasts a musical score by two-time Oscar-winner A.R. Rahman and cinematography by Rogier Stoffers, ASC. With this film, Nayla further cements her reputation as a pioneering creative force placing Emirati cinema on the global map.
As CEO of Nayla Al Khaja Films, she has built a successful production company while also founding The Scene Club, the UAE’s first film club, fostering a thriving cultural community. She is frequently invited to speak at international forums and corporate events, where her talks highlight creativity as a powerful tool for leadership, innovation, and resilience.
Nayla’s impact has been widely celebrated. She was named one of Variety’s Top 50 Most Powerful Personalities in Arab Cinema and listed among the Top 100 Most Powerful Arabs Under 40 by Arabian Business. She received the Visionary of the Year Award at the Arabian Business Awards and was honored as Businesswoman of the Year at the Gulf Business Awards in 2020. Earlier, she earned the Black Swan Award for Women Empowerment from Asia One in 2019 and was recognized by Forbes Middle East as one of the top four Emirati women shaping the future that same year. She also won Entrepreneur of the Year at the Gulf Business Awards in 2017, adding to her long list of achievements that continue to inspire future generations.
A global storyteller, Nayla Al Khaja inspires audiences with her bold vision, and creative spirit. Whether on set or on stage, she continues to redefine boundaries and demonstrate the transformative power of storytelling.