Nayla Al Khaja
Awards & Honours
1
Awards Won
1
Honours
3
Records
Nayla Al Khaja's career is defined by a series of historic firsts that have paved the way for women in Emirati cinema. She was the first female screenwriter, director, and producer in the UAE, and her feature debut Three marked the first feature film by a female Emirati director. With Baab, she became the first Emirati woman to premiere a film at the Cairo International Film Festival. Her work has been praised for its bold storytelling and cultural depth, and she continues to inspire a new generation of filmmakers through her mentorship and community building.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
Top Female Entrepreneur in the Middle East
Recognized for her entrepreneurial achievements in the film industry.
Records & Feats
First female film director in the UAE
Nayla Al Khaja is widely recognized as the first woman to work as a screenwriter, director, and producer in the United Arab Emirates.
First Emirati female director to premiere at Cairo International Film Festival
Her film 'Baab' premiered at the Cairo International Film Festival in November 2025, a historic first for an Emirati woman.
First feature film by a female Emirati director
Her film 'Three' (2024) was the first feature film directed by a woman from the UAE.