Nayla Al Khaja

Nayla Al Khaja
Born (1978-03-07) 7 March 1978
Dubai
OccupationsDirector, producer
Spouse
Christian Peter
​
(m. 2016)​
Relatives2

Nayla Al Khaja (Arabic: نايلة الخاجة‎; born March 7 March 1978) is the first female screenwriter, director, and producer in the United Arab Emirates.[1]

Early life and education

Raised in Dubai in a traditional setting that offered few female role models in the creative field, Al Khaja pursued her passion for cinema. She earned a degree in mass communication from Dubai Women’s College[2] and went on to complete a bachelor's degree in film studies at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) in Canada in 2005, supported by a UAE government scholarship.[3]

Career

Al Khaja began her career creating short films, her early works such as Arabana (2006), Once, Malal, and The Shadow have been featured and awarded at international film festivals. Both Animal (2016) and The Shadow (2019) were later acquired by Netflix, marking the first Emirati films to gain global streaming distribution.[4][5][6] Al Khaja’s films are noted for their psychological insight, cross-cultural themes, and subversion of conventional portrayals of Arab identities.

Al Khaja's films Animal and The Shadow achieved international recognition when Netflix acquired their rights in September 2022, expanding her reach to a global audience.[7]

Beyond her work in filmmaking, Nayla Al Khaja has contributed as a cultural consultant to projects across the Gulf region. She is registered as a speaker with the London Speaker Bureau and MENA Speakers. Al Khaja has delivered talks, including TED Talks, on topics such as Arab women in media, gender balance, working in male-dominated industries, entrepreneurship, and cultural representation.[1][2]

Debut Feature Film: Three

Her debut feature film, Three (2023), is a psychological horror-drama shot in the UAE and Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] It premiered at the Red Sea International Film Festival in December 2023 and was scheduled for theatrical release across the Gulf region in early 2024.[9] The film stars British actor Jefferson Hall, alongside Emirati actors Saud Alzarooni, Faten Ahmed, Noura Alabed, and Maree Al Halyan.[10] It explores themes of mental illness, belief, and cultural intersection via a family’s quest to comprehend the unsettling behavior of their child, interpreted by some characters as possession.[11] Al Khaja has described Three as a personal and cathartic project that functions as “healing and therapy,” composed of fragments drawn from real-life experiences.[12]

The film was screened at Jefferson Hall as part of its festival circuit. It also received a theatrical release in Türkiye, becoming the first Emirati feature film to achieve such a release.[13]

Three had its world premiere on 5 December 2023 at the Red Sea International Film Festival. The film was released theatrically across the Middle East on 1 February 2024, with screenings in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, and Oman.[14]

Following its release, Three was featured at several international festivals, including the Al Ain International Film Festival in February 2024, where it won the Best Film Award.[8] It was subsequently screened at the BRICS Film Festival segment of the Moscow International Film Festival (April 2024), the Shanghai International Film Festival (May 2024), the Oldenburg International Film Festival (September 2024), the KinoBraVo International Film Festival (September 2024), the Imagine Fantastic Film Festival (October 2024), the Halloween: Muslim Horror Film Festival (October 2024), and the Minsk International Film Festival (November 2024).[9]

Feature Film: Baab

In 2025, Al Khaja completed production on Baab, her second feature and first art-house film.[15] The story follows Wahida, haunted by her twin sister’s death and drawn into a surreal journey through grief and memory amid the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah.[16]

The film is co-written with prominent Emirati writer Masoud Amralla Al Ali. The film’s original score was composed by A. R. Rahman, marking the renowned Indian composer’s first collaboration on an Arabic-language feature film.[17][18] The cinematography has been directed by Rogier Stoffers, a Dutch cinematographer known for his work on Quills (2000), Brown Sugar (2002), and The Scandalous Lady W (2015).[19]

Nayla Al Khaja Films

As the CEO of Al Khaja Films (formerly D-Seven Motion Pictures) since 2005, Nayla has played a role in local film production.[20] Nayla has directed numerous TV commercials for international brands, including Mercedes, Nike, Nestlé, Neutrogena, and Nivea, among others, along with notable clients like Annie Leibovitz and Roger Federer.[21] Additionally, she served as the Behind-The-Scenes Director on the mega-budget film Star Trek 3, appointed by the Dubai Government. With more than two decades of experience operating a production company.[22]

Visual and directorial style

Al Khaja merges elements of horror and aesthetics in her films, striking a subtle balance between the frightening and the visually captivating.[23] Her films carry a distinctive tone that adds to their eerie ambiance. Whether delving into societal issues or personal evolution, her visual storytelling is imbued with layers of meaning and nuanced storytelling.[15]

Filmography and awards

Filmography
Year Title Al Khaja credit Genre Project type Award(s)
1996 Sweet Sixteen Writer & director Comedy Short
1998 3adi.com Director Documentary
2003 The Will Producer
2005 The Loss Drama
2005 Unveiling Dubai Producer & director Documentary
2006 Arabana Writer & director Drama Best Female Filmmaker – Dubai International Film Festival, 2007
2009 Once
2010 Malal Production of the Year – Digital Studio Award, 2011; 1st prize, Muhr Emirati Category – Dubai International Film Festival, 2010; Best Script – Gulf International Film Festival, 2010; 1st prize, International Young Screen Entrepreneur – British Council, 2010; 1st prize, Emirati Short Film Script Competition – Gulf Film Festival, 2010
2012 Hi
2013 Three Horror Hazawi Fund for Short Film – Doha Film Institute, 2013
2013 The Neighbor Drama Best Short Film – Middle East Now Festival, 2015; Muhr Emirate, Special Jury Award – Dubai International Film Festival, 2015; Best Emirati Film – Abu Dhabi Film Festival, 2013
2016 Animal Short (pilot for feature project) Best women's issue short – Madrid Arthouse Film Festival, 2022; Best Short Cinematography – Arthouse Festival of Beverly Hills, 2021; Jury Award, Narrative Film – Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, 2018; Jury Special Prize, Best Short Fiction – Italian Movie Award, 2017
2019 The Shadow Drama, horror Best Cinematography in Short – Dubai Independent Film Festival, 2022; Best Horror Short – Arthouse Festival of Beverly Hills, 2021; Best Fantasy / Horror Short – WorldFest Houston, 2020; Best United Arab Emirates talent – Al Ain Film Festival, 2020
2022 The Road to Fulfilment Director Documentary Short Documentaries and Reports: Environment, Ecology and Sustainability, Silver Dolphin Award – Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards, 2023
2023 Three Writer & director Drama, thriller, horror Feature film
2025 Baab Co-Writer & director Art House

Personal life

Al Khaja is proficient in five languages and speaks on topics such as cinema, entrepreneurship, culture, youth motivation, and women's empowerment. She has given TED Talks.[24]

Awards and honors

  • "Emirates Woman of the Year", Emirates Woman Magazine, 2005[25]
  • "Local Artist of the Year", Emirates Woman Magazine, 2005[25]
  • First woman the direct TV commercial, 2005[26]
  • "Inspirational Leadership Award", Lloyds TSB Bank, 2006[27]
  • "Young Woman Entrepreneur of the Year", Middle East Businesswomen and Leaders Achievement Awards, 2007[28]
  • Jury member at the Middle East International Film Festival, 2009[29]
  • Member of Abu Dhabi Film Commission, Melbourne International Film Festival, 2010[30]
  • UAE representative (Filmmaker Category), US Dept. of State, International Visitors Leadership Program, 2010[31]
  • Jury member with Freida Pinto in Dubai International Film Festival, 2011[32]
  • "Visionary of the Year", Arabian Business Awards, 2011[33]
  • Jury member at Topic Fest with Nadine Labaki, 2011[34]
  • Recognized as "500 Most Powerful Arab People", 2012[35]
  • "Top 50 Most Powerful Arab Women" Arabian Business, 2012[36]
  • "100 most powerful Arabs under 40, #48", Arabian Business Power List, 2015[37]
  • Diff 2017: IWC Filmmaker Award shortlist[38]
  • "Entrepreneur of the Year", Gulf Business Awards, September 2017[39]
  • "First Emirati to be awarded a seat at the Producers Network at the Cannes Film Festival", for the feature script Animal, 2018[40]
  • "Most Admired Leaders of Asia 2018 - Process Evaluators & Research", BARC Asia & Jury Panel, 2018[41]
  • "Top four Emirati women listed in Forbes", September 2019[42]
  • Businesswoman of the Year - Gulf Business Awards 2020[43]
  • Top 50 most powerful personalities in Arab Cinema 2021[44]
  • WIFT MENA Excellency in Cinema Honorary Award, Women in Film and TV take the spotlight at the 6th META Cinema Forum, 2023[45]
  • 14 Successful Emirati Women Who Continue to Help Build the UAE, Vogue Middle East, August 2023[46]
  • Breaking This Bias - Women Leaders Summit & Awards 2023[47]
  • Best Feature Film at the 2024 Al Ain Film Festival for Three
  • Best Narrative Feature – Winner, Berlin Women Cinema Festival (2025)[18]
  • The Glitz Catalysts 2025 – Honoree (for her work as the UAE’s first female filmmaker)[48]
  • Best Director – Nominee, Berlin Women Cinema Festival (2025) [18]
  • Black Swan Style Icon Award – Winner (April 2025)[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Burney, Charlotte. "The UAE's First Female Film Director: How Nayla Al Khaja Is Breaking Into Hollywood As An Emirati Woman". Forbes. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Film alumna smashes barriers as first female film director in the United Arab Emirates". Toronto Metropolitan University. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  3. ^ Pratt, Mary (12 December 2018). "Nayla Al Khaja: The UAE's First Female Film Director & Producer". Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Netflix streams two films by Emirati filmmaker Nayla Al-Khaja". Arab News. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  5. ^ Skirka, Hayley (5 November 2022). "Netflix releases two films by Emirati filmmaker Nayla Al Khaja". The National. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  6. ^ Allam, Roula (5 January 2024). "Emirati Filmmaker Nayla Al Khaja To Begin International Journey With 'The Alexandria Killings'". About Her. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Three". IMDb.
  8. ^ a b "Three – Red Sea Film". Red Sea Film – Red Sea Film Festival. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  9. ^ a b Sheded, Mona; Kay, Jeremy; Rosser, Michael (18 January 2024). "UAE thriller 'Three' lands Middle East distribution ahead of Red Sea premiere (exclusive)". Screen. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Emirati Filmmaker Nayla al Khaja is Breaking Language Barriers with AI". 8 March 2024.
  11. ^ دبي, محمد عبدالمقصود - (18 November 2017). "نايلة الخاجة: "المشهد".. قصة نجاح سينمائية في دبي". emaratalyoum.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  12. ^ "ТРИ".
  13. ^ "THREE: First Arabic Film Dubbed with CAMB AI". www.camb.ai. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  14. ^ "THREE – Red Sea Film". redseafilmfest.com. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  15. ^ a b "See What's Possible: Neutrogena Launches its First Global Campaign in the Middle East". 8 May 2016.
  16. ^ "Emirati women at the forefront of the UAE's thriving aviation and travel industry".
  17. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (11 May 2022). "A.R. Rahman, Nayla Al Khaja Team on 'Baab'". Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  18. ^ a b c d "Nayla Al-Khaja reflects on new film 'BAAB' and Canon collaboration". Arab News. 1 June 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  19. ^ "Nayla Al Khaja – Keynote Speaker". London Speaker Bureau. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  20. ^ Burney, Charlotte. "The UAE's First Female Film Director: How Nayla Al Khaja Is Breaking Into Hollywood As An Emirati Woman". Forbes. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  21. ^ Sheppard, Jason (7 June 2021). "Interview: Nayla Al Khaja On Directing, Her Upcoming Projects, and Being the First Female Director In the U.A.E." Film Obsessive. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  22. ^ "Exclusive: The First Female Emirati Director Nayla Al Khaja Discusses The Inspiration Behind Her Latest Film". Grazia Middle East. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  23. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (11 May 2022). "A.R. Rahman, Nayla Al Khaja Team on 'Baab'". Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  24. ^ "TEDxAbuDhabi | TED".
  25. ^ a b "'Woman of the Year' Honor for Emirati Filmmaker". Arab News. 10 April 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  26. ^ "Another day, another first". gulfnews.com. 1 October 2005. Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Flair for business flourishing in Dubai". gulfnews.com. 18 November 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  28. ^ "Meet The Top 100 Global Women Mentors". Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  29. ^ "Kiarostami to preside over Middle East festival jury". Mehr News Agency. 5 October 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  30. ^ "UAE markets Emirati cinema Down Under - eb247 - The Business of Life - Entertainment - Emirates24|7". www.emirates247.com. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  31. ^ "June Citizen Diplomacy News". myemail.constantcontact.com. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  32. ^ "Frieda Pinto on DIFF jury duty". gulfnews.com. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  33. ^ Anil Bhoyrul (20 November 2011). "Dubai Police chief takes top honour at awards night". Arabian Business.
  34. ^ "Short and sweet". gulfnews.com. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  35. ^ "InPics: The 100 Most Powerful Arab Women". Arabian Business.
  36. ^ "InPics: The 100 Most Powerful Arab Women". Arabian Business.
  37. ^ "InPics: The 100 Most Powerful Arabs Under 40". Arabian Business. 19 April 2015.
  38. ^ "Diff 2017: IWC Filmmaker Award shortlist revealed". gulfnews.com. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  39. ^ Nagraj, Aarti (11 September 2017). "Revealed: Winners at the Gulf Business Awards 2017". Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  40. ^ Staff Reporter (12 December 2017). "Nayla Al Khaja's film accredited for Cannes Producers' Network". Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  41. ^ "Most Admired Leaders". Sunita Rawat. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  42. ^ Abusief, Fatma (2 September 2019). "These four Emirati women are on Forbes' Women Behind Middle Eastern Brands list". Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  43. ^ Mansoor, Zainab (26 November 2020). "Revealed: Winners at the 2020 Gulf Business Awards". Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  44. ^ "Nayla Al Khaja". Arabian Business.
  45. ^ "Women in Film and TV take the spotlight at the 6th META Cinema Forum". www.zawya.com. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  46. ^ "14 Successful Emirati Women Who Continue to Help Build the UAE". Vogue Arabia. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  47. ^ "A night of prestige & glamour: 2nd Annual Middle East Women Leaders' Awards". www.zawya.com. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  48. ^ "Nayla Al Khaja recounts the redefinition of Emirati Cinema". dubaitaliaexperiences.com. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
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