Nayla Al Khaja
The Storyteller Shaping Emirati Cinema Breaking Barriers, One Frame at a Time
By Jane Stevens
In the ever-evolving landscape of global cinema, Nayla Al Khaja stands out as a powerful voice from the Middle East, a pioneer, a visionary, and above all, a storyteller. As the UAE’s first female film director, she has reshaped the narrative of Emirati cinema, paving the way for new voices in a region where filmmaking was once a rarity, especially for women. With multiple award-winning films and international recognition, including releases on Netflix, Nayla continues to inspire a generation of creatives who dare to dream.
Her work confronts social taboos, elevates untold stories, and brings nuanced portrayals of Arab identity to the global stage. In this exclusive feature, Nayla opens up about her personal journey, creative process, and the human stories behind the camera.
At the start of her career, Nayla’s greatest challenge was being taken seriously. As a woman in a male-dominated space, she was often dismissed before she even spoke. With no role models or clear path to follow, she created her own momentum, self-funding, writing, directing, producing, doing everything until people had no choice but to take notice.
Having two of her films featured on Netflix marked a breakthrough not only for herself but for Emirati cinema as a whole. It demonstrated that stories from the region, told authentically and unapologetically, could resonate with global audiences. Her hope is that her work leaves behind stories that confront taboos and spark honest conversations about identity.
When Nayla is in production mode, her life becomes a marathon. She rises before dawn, juggling logistics, team dynamics, creative decisions, and emotional performances, all while keeping her vision intact. It’s exhausting, but electrifying. There is no room for ego, only focus and adaptability.
What kept her going in an industry where women were almost invisible was the knowledge that she was building something larger than herself. Every “NO” fueled her determination. The thought of future Arab women not having a voice on screen was unbearable. That is what kept her fighting.
Her storytelling has evolved significantly over the years. Early in her career, her films were cautious as she searched for her voice. Over time, she stopped trying to please everyone and leaned into stories that made people uncomfortable. She began to trust silence, ambiguity, and mood. Today, her films carry deeper emotional weight, cultural tension, and cinematic confidence.
While social media often shows only the glamorous side, the moments that define her journey are deeply human. Once, during a shoot, her lead actress broke down while filming a scene that mirrored her real-life trauma. Production stopped. Nayla sat with her, and they rewrote the moment together. That scene became the most powerful in the film and reminded her that filmmaking is human work first.
Of all her projects, BAAB is closest to her heart. It channels her personal experience with tinnitus, unresolved grief, and the deep bond between twins. Shot in the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah, a place rarely seen on screen, it felt like she was finally telling her story without compromise.
To young Arab women dreaming of working in film, she says, you don’t need permission. Start with your phone, your voice, your truth. Learn to be resourceful and resilient. This industry won’t always welcome you, but your story is your superpower. Tell it, even when it’s hard ,especially when it’s hard.
Nayla never dilutes culture to appeal to international audiences. She shows it as it is, with all its contradictions. Her approach uses grounded, specific storytelling framed through universal emotions like love, loss, and fear, bridging local authenticity with global relatability.
Currently, she is in post-production on BAAB, a dark fantasy rooted in Emirati myth, with music composed by the legendary A.R. Rahman. She is also developing a new series, though details remain under wraps. The future feels wide open, and she is ready.
A Vision Beyond the Frame
Nayla Al Khaja is not only a trailblazer for women in the Arab world, she is a force of creative revolution. With each frame she directs, she challenges the status quo, redefines Emirati storytelling, and makes space for voices long unheard. Her journey is far from over, but her impact is already deeply etched in the narrative of Arab cinema.
As Nayla continues to break boundaries and elevate regional stories to international platforms, she carries with her the hopes of a new generation of filmmakers, especially Arab women, who now dare to dream, create, and be heard.