# Nayla Al Khaja

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

## Education

Al Khaja pursued image studies and filmmaking in Toronto. She earned a degree in mass communication from Dubai Women's College and completed her bachelor's degree in film studies at Ryerson University in Toronto in 2005.

## Film career

In 2006, her film Arabana premiered at the Dubai International Film Festival, where she was honored as the best Emirati filmmaker. This recognition paved the way for a series of notable short films, including Once (2009), Malal (2010), and The Neighbor (2013).
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.
In April 2021, media outlets reported Al Khaja's entry into series production. Her anthology The Alexandria Killings will be directed by Terry George, with Al Khaja serving as executive producer and set to direct multiple episodes.
In 2023, Al Khaja produced her debut drama, horror, and thriller feature film, Three. It debuted at the third Red Sea International Film Festival that same year. The horror-thriller explores themes of grief, familial bonds, and cross-cultural beliefs. Vox distribution released the film in the Middle East and North Africa on 1 February 2024. The film is the first Arabic production to utilize AI technology for voice localization, resulting in its release in Mandarin. Premiering in Chinese in March, Three is the first Emirati film to reach a global audience. The feature film Three was also showcased at the Moscow International Film Festival in Moscow, Russia, on 21 April 2024.
Al Khaja is developing a second fantasy-realism horror feature film, Baab, with A. R. Rahman set to compose the musical score.

## Filmography and awards

Filmography :
| Title | Year | Al Khaja credit | Genre | Project type | Award(s) |
| Sweet Sixteen | 1996 | Writer & director | Comedy | Short | |
| 3adi.com | 1998 | Director | Documentary | Short | |
| The Will | 2003 | Producer | Documentary | Short | |
| The Loss | 2005 | Producer | Drama | Short | |
| Unveiling Dubai | 2005 | Producer & director | Documentary | Short | |
| Arabana | 2006 | Writer & director | Drama | Short | Best Female Filmmaker – Dubai International Film Festival, 2007 |
| Once | 2009 | Writer & director | Drama | Short | |
| Malal | 2010 | Writer & director | | Short | 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 |
| Hi | 2012 | Writer & director | Drama | Short | |
| Three | 2013 | Writer & director | Horror | Short | Hazawi Fund for Short Film – Doha Film Institute, 2013 |
| The Neighbor | 2013 | Writer & director | Drama | Short | 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 |
| Animal | 2016 | Writer & director | Drama | 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 |
| The Shadow | 2019 | Writer & director | Drama, horror | Short (pilot for feature project) | 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 |
| The Road to Fulfilment | 2022 | Director | Documentary | Short | Documentaries and Reports: Environment, Ecology and Sustainability, Silver Dolphin Award – Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards, 2023 |
| Three | 2023 | Writer & director | Drama, thriller, horror | Feature film | |

## Other work

As the CEO of Al Khaja Films (formerly D-Seven Motion Pictures) since 2005, Al Khaja has played a significant role in local film production. Her company has also produced commercial films. Al Khaja has directed commercials for various brands and served as a behind-the-scenes director on Star Trek 3, appointed by the Dubai Film and TV Commission.
In 2007, Al Khaja founded the Scene Club (later renamed The Scene), the UAE's first film club. With a membership exceeding 22,000, The Scene has functioned as a cultural hub, introducing independent films to audiences in the UAE.
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.

## Awards and honors

* "Emirates Woman of the Year", Emirates Woman Magazine, 2005
* "Local Artist of the Year", Emirates Woman Magazine, 2005
* First woman the direct TV commercial, 2005
* "Inspirational Leadership Award", Lloyds TSB Bank, 2006
* "Young Woman Entrepreneur of the Year", Middle East Businesswomen and Leaders Achievement Awards, 2007
* Jury member at the Middle East International Film Festival, 2009
* Member of Abu Dhabi Film Commission, Melbourne International Film Festival, 2010
* UAE Representative (Filmmaker Category), US Dept. of State, International Visitors Leadership Program, 2010
* Jury member with Freida Pinto in Dubai International Film Festival, 2011
* "Visionary of the Year", Arabian Business Awards, 2011
* Jury member at Topic Fest with Nadine Labaki, 2011
* Recognized as "500 Most Powerful Arab People", 2012
* "Top 50 Most Powerful Arab Women" Arabian Business, 2012
* "100 most powerful Arabs under 40, #48", Arabian Business Power List, 2015
* Diff 2017: IWC Filmmaker Award shortlist
* "Entrepreneur of the Year", Gulf Business Awards, September 2017
* "First Emirati to be awarded a seat at the Producers Network at the Cannes Film Festival", for the feature script Animal, 2018
* "Most Admired Leaders of Asia 2018 - Process Evaluators & Research", BARC Asia & Jury Panel, 2018
* "Top four Emirati women listed in Forbes", September 2019
* Businesswoman of the Year - Gulf Business Awards 2020
* Top 50 most powerful personalities in Arab Cinema 2021
* WIFT MENA Excellency in Cinema Honorary Award, Women in Film and TV take the spotlight at the 6th META Cinema Forum, 2023
* 14 Successful Emirati Women Who Continue to Help Build the UAE, Vogue Middle East, August 2023
* Breaking This Bias - Women Leaders Summit & Awards 2023