Nayla Al Khaja

Nayla Al Khaja is the first female film Director/Producer in the United Arab Emirates. CEO of Nayla Al Khaja Films (previously D-Seven Motion Pictures), she founded in 2007 The Scene Club, Dubai's first film club. Nayla wrote and directed several films, all presented and awarded in international film festivals. Nayla's accolades include being ranked among the Top 50 most powerful personalities in Arab Cinema, and 100 most powerful Arabs under 40 by Arabian Business Magazine. She's also been awarded the Visionary of the Year Award at the Arabian Business Awards, and she is Brand Ambassador for Canon Middle East since 2011. She was recently declared Entrepreneur of the Year during the Gulf Business Awards 2020. Over the years, Nayla Al Khaja's dedication to develop the UAE's film industry and her advocacy for Women in Cinema, helped her reputation of trustworthy professional grow. Today, she focuses on directing films and a motivational speaker, a cultural consultant and an influencer. She still keeps supporting and mentoring local talents, and is considered a reference in the Middle East. In 2016, she shot the pilot of her first feature film, Animal, nominated for the Muhr Emirati Awards at DIFF 2016. The short film received the Jury's Special Prize for Best Short Fiction at the Italian Movie Award in Pompeii, Italy, in September 2017 and Best Narrative film at the Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, in February 2018.