Nayla Al Khaja: Powerful Voice of Emirati Cinema

Introduction

Nayla Al Khaja is an Emirati film director, screenwriter, producer and business leader. She is widely recognised as the first female film director and producer in the United Arab Emirates.

She is known for creating films that explore family life, grief, fear, identity and important social subjects. Her work has helped Emirati stories reach cinema audiences and international film festivals.

Nayla is also the founder and chief executive of Nayla Al Khaja Films. Her career includes short films, television commercials, production projects and feature films such as Three and BAAB.

As of July 2026, BAAB is her latest released feature. The psychological dark-fantasy film was shown at the Cairo International Film Festival before reaching UAE cinemas in January 2026.

Nayla Al Khaja Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full name	Nayla Al Khaja
Nationality	Emirati
Profession	Director, screenwriter, producer and business leader
Known for	Being the first female film director and producer in the UAE
Company	Nayla Al Khaja Films
Education	Image Arts at Ryerson University, now Toronto Metropolitan University
Graduation year	2005
First theatrical feature	Three
Latest feature	BAAB
Other recognised films	Arabana, Malal, The Neighbour, Animal and The Shadow
Industry project	Founder of The Scene Club

Who Is Nayla Al Khaja?

Nayla Al Khaja is one of the most recognised names in modern Emirati cinema.

She entered professional filmmaking when the UAE film industry was still developing. There were few local directors, production companies or opportunities for Emirati women who wanted to work behind the camera.

Instead of waiting for the industry to grow, she helped create her own opportunities. She established a production company, directed advertisements and developed independent film projects.

Her journey is not only about directing movies. It also shows how creativity, business planning and production skills can work together.

Nayla has managed budgets, production teams, locations, clients and international collaborations. This business experience helped her move from short films and commercial projects into feature filmmaking.

Early Interest in Art and Film

Nayla Al Khaja was born and raised in the United Arab Emirates.

Before concentrating on cinema, she had a strong interest in visual art. She painted with oils and expected that painting might become her main professional path.

Her experience as an artist later influenced the visual style of her films. Her work often uses detailed sets, carefully chosen colours, shadows and atmospheric locations to create a strong feeling.

Nayla eventually became more interested in moving images and storytelling. Film allowed her to combine writing, visual art, sound, acting and human emotion within one creative form.

This interest encouraged her to study filmmaking professionally.

Nayla Al Khaja’s Education

Nayla moved from the UAE to Canada to study Image Arts at Ryerson University, which is now called Toronto Metropolitan University.

She graduated in 2005.

Her studies introduced her to film history, production, directing, storytelling and the business side of cinema. Living in Toronto also allowed her to experience different cultures and meet people with a wide range of creative ideas.

The university later recognised her as its first female film-director graduate to build such a groundbreaking position in the UAE.

Readers can learn more about her education and early professional challenges through this trusted Toronto Metropolitan University profile.

After completing her studies, she returned to the UAE. She wanted filmmakers from the region to create their own stories instead of allowing outsiders to control how Emirati and Arab communities appeared on screen.

Founding Nayla Al Khaja Films

Nayla established her production business in 2005.

The company was originally known as D-Seven Motion Pictures. It later became Nayla Al Khaja Films.

Building a film company gave her greater control over her work. It allowed her to direct, produce and develop projects while also earning income through commercial productions.

The company has worked across several areas, including:

• Television advertisements
• Branded films
• Corporate productions
• Documentaries
• Digital content
• Independent short films
• Feature films

Nayla has worked on advertising projects connected with major international brands. Commercial directing gave her practical experience with cameras, crews, schedules, clients and production budgets.

These skills became important when she started developing larger narrative films.

Her journey shows that a director must understand more than storytelling. A successful production also needs financial planning, equipment, staff, marketing, legal agreements and careful time management.

How Did Nayla Al Khaja Start Her Film Career?

Nayla began creating short films before moving into feature-length cinema.

Her early projects allowed her to discuss difficult subjects through fictional stories. She did not depend only on entertainment. She also used cinema to examine social pressure, family relationships and hidden problems.

One of her important early works was Arabana. The short film explored the subject of child abuse and brought greater public attention to her work.

She later created Malal, a story about a young Emirati couple travelling to southern India for their honeymoon.

The screenplay received recognition at the Gulf Film Festival. The completed film also won an award in the Muhr Emirati competition at the Dubai International Film Festival.

These projects helped establish Nayla as a serious filmmaker within the UAE and wider Gulf cinema community.

The Neighbour, Animal and The Shadow

Nayla continued building her career through films including The Neighbour, Animal and The Shadow.

The Neighbour

The Neighbour follows two women from different cultural backgrounds who form an unexpected connection.

The story examines loneliness, communication and the relationships that can develop between people living close to each other.

The film received recognition at the Dubai International Film Festival and was later shown to audiences outside the UAE.

Animal

Animal focuses on a young girl growing up within a controlling and troubled household.

The film uses a child’s point of view to explore fear, authority and family pressure. Its story was partly influenced by personal experiences that Nayla had discussed publicly.

The short film received international festival recognition and later reached a much wider audience through streaming.

The Shadow

The Shadow is a supernatural story connected with family fear and traditional beliefs.

The project helped Nayla develop the themes and creative ideas that later appeared in her feature film Three.

In 2022, Netflix released Animal and The Shadow to viewers around the world. This international distribution introduced her work to audiences who may not have previously watched Emirati cinema.

Creating The Scene Club

Nayla founded The Scene Club in Dubai in 2007.

The project created a place where people could watch independent and international films that were not normally available through mainstream UAE cinemas.

The club also organised discussions, workshops and meetings with filmmakers.

This work was important because a film industry needs more than directors and actors. It also needs informed audiences, film education, professional conversations and places where new ideas can be shared.

The Scene Club helped bring filmmakers and cinema lovers together.

Nayla’s work can be viewed alongside the wider development of UAE culture and media. Readers interested in this growth can explore Noura Al Kaabi’s work in culture and media.

Three: Nayla Al Khaja’s First Theatrical Feature

Three became Nayla Al Khaja’s first theatrical feature film.

The film follows a young boy who begins behaving in a worrying way. His mother searches for help through both modern medical treatment and traditional spiritual practices.

A Western doctor becomes involved in the case and must understand beliefs that are unfamiliar to him.

The story asks important questions about fear, mental well-being, family responsibility and the different ways people understand unusual behaviour.

Three received its world premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival in December 2023. It opened in cinemas across the Middle East and North Africa in February 2024.

The film later reached additional international markets.

It was also presented in several languages through artificial-intelligence dubbing technology. This approach helped make the story accessible to audiences who did not speak its original language.

BAAB: Her Latest Feature Film

As of July 2026, BAAB is Nayla Al Khaja’s latest released feature.

The Arabic-language psychological dark-fantasy film follows a woman named Wahida. She discovers old cassette recordings hidden behind a green door while trying to understand the death of her twin sister.

Her search leads her through grief, memories, visions and disturbing discoveries.

Nayla co-wrote the film with Emirati filmmaker Masoud Amralla Al Ali. She also worked as a director and producer.

The cast includes Shaimaa El Fadul, Huda Alghanem and Meera Almidfa.

A.R. Rahman, the internationally recognised and two-time Academy Award-winning composer, created the film’s music. The project marked his first original score for an Arabic-language feature.

BAAB received its MENA premiere at the Cairo International Film Festival in November 2025.

It was released in UAE cinemas on 8 January 2026.

The film represents another major step in Nayla’s career because it combines Emirati locations, Arabic storytelling, psychological drama and international creative talent.

Nayla Al Khaja as a Business Leader

Nayla’s professional identity includes both filmmaking and entrepreneurship.

Directors normally focus on actors, scripts and visual storytelling. However, a company founder must also manage employees, clients, contracts, costs and long-term growth.

Nayla has worked on both sides.

Her commercial projects helped support her independent storytelling. They also allowed her to build a professional production team within the UAE.

This combination of creative and business experience has helped her maintain a long career in an industry where film projects can take years to finance and complete.

A similar connection between performance, production and business can be seen in Ahmed Al Jasmi’s entertainment journey.

Her Influence on Emirati Cinema

Nayla Al Khaja’s importance comes from more than being the first woman to reach a professional position.

She remained active and continued creating work after receiving that title.

Her films have been shown at festivals, released in cinemas and distributed through international streaming services. She has also directed advertisements, managed a production company and supported film education.

Her career helped make professional filmmaking more visible as a possible path for young Emiratis.

She has also mentored emerging filmmakers and spoken publicly about the need for local storytellers to represent their own communities.

This influence is especially important for young women who may wish to work as directors, writers, camera professionals, editors or producers.

What Makes Nayla Al Khaja’s Films Different?

Nayla often creates stories with dark, emotional and mysterious elements.

Her films commonly examine subjects such as:

• Family pressure
• Childhood fear
• Social stigma
• Grief and loss
• Cultural differences
• Traditional beliefs
• Personal transformation
• Women’s experiences

She also pays close attention to visual detail.

Locations, lighting, colours and sets are not only decorative parts of her films. They help communicate the emotions of each character.

Her background in fine art can be seen in this visual approach.

Interesting Facts About Nayla Al Khaja

She First Wanted to Become a Visual Artist

Nayla painted with oils before filmmaking became her main career.

She Studied Cinema in Canada

She graduated from Ryerson University, now Toronto Metropolitan University, in 2005.

She Created Her Own Production Company

Instead of depending completely on outside studios, she built a company that could produce commercial and independent work.

She Helped Create a Film Community in Dubai

The Scene Club gave UAE audiences greater access to independent and international cinema.

Two of Her Films Received Worldwide Netflix Distribution

Animal and The Shadow reached international viewers through the streaming platform in 2022.

Three Was Her First Theatrical Feature

The film premiered at the Red Sea International Film Festival before entering cinemas in 2024.

A.R. Rahman Composed the Music for BAAB

The collaboration connected Emirati storytelling with one of the world’s most recognised film composers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is Nayla Al Khaja?

Nayla Al Khaja is an Emirati director, screenwriter, producer and founder of Nayla Al Khaja Films. She is recognised as the first female film director and producer in the UAE.

What Is Nayla Al Khaja Famous For?

She is famous for helping develop Emirati cinema and directing films such as Arabana, Malal, Animal, The Shadow, Three and BAAB.

What Was Nayla Al Khaja’s First Feature Film?

Three was her first theatrical feature film. It premiered at the Red Sea International Film Festival in December 2023 and entered MENA cinemas in February 2024.

What Is Nayla Al Khaja’s Latest Movie?

As of July 2026, her latest released movie is BAAB, an Arabic psychological dark-fantasy film about grief, memory and the mysterious death of a twin sister.

Who Composed the Music for BAAB?

Two-time Academy Award-winning composer A.R. Rahman created the original score for BAAB.

Where Did Nayla Al Khaja Study?

She studied Image Arts at Ryerson University in Toronto, now known as Toronto Metropolitan University. She graduated in 2005.

What Company Did Nayla Al Khaja Establish?

She established the production business now known as Nayla Al Khaja Films. The company was previously called D-Seven Motion Pictures.

Is Nayla Al Khaja Still Working in Cinema?

Yes. As of July 2026, she remains active as a filmmaker and producer. Her feature film BAAB was released in UAE cinemas in January 2026.

Conclusion

Nayla Al Khaja helped open an important door for women and independent filmmakers in the United Arab Emirates.

She began with visual art, studied filmmaking in Canada and returned home to build a production career. She created short films, directed commercial projects, founded a film club and developed her own production company.

Her journey later led to international streaming distribution and theatrical feature films.

Through Three and BAAB, Nayla has shown that Emirati stories can combine local culture with themes that worldwide audiences understand, including fear, family, grief and hope.

Her career continues to connect art, entrepreneurship and the growing international presence of UAE cinema.