Nayla Al Khaja is the first female film director in the United Arab Emirates and a trailblazer for Arab cinema. A visionary filmmaker, entrepreneur, and cultural advocate, she has built a career defined by creativity, courage, and resilience. Beyond her groundbreaking contributions to film, Nayla is also a top-tier international... Read more
Filmmaker Nayla Al Khaja speaks about her debut feature film ‘Baab’
Nayla Al Khaja: First Female Film Producer in the UAE
Women and the Arab cinema | Nayla Al Khaja | TEDxFujairah
Nayla Al Khaja is the first female film director in the United Arab Emirates and a trailblazer for Arab cinema. A visionary filmmaker, entrepreneur, and cultural advocate, she has built a career defined by creativity, courage, and resilience. Beyond her groundbreaking contributions to film, Nayla is also a top-tier international speaker, consistently advocating for workplace enjoyment as a key to increasing productivity and supporting overall well-being.
Drawing from her extraordinary real-life journey of overcoming barriers in a male-dominated industry, Nayla shares insights on creativity, empowerment, leadership, and problem-solving. With a unique ability to introduce enjoyable, engaging ideas to enhance workplace culture, her speaking style is infused with humor—leaving audiences both inspired and energized. Renowned for her versatility, she is equally impactful when addressing empowerment themes or serving as the final speaker to bring lightness and connection after a series of technical presentations.
Nayla made her directorial mark with acclaimed shorts such as Arabana, The Neighbor, Animal, and The Shadow—the latter two currently streaming on Netflix. In 2023, she released her highly anticipated debut feature film, THREE, a psychological thriller that premiered theatrically across the Gulf and major MENA territories on February 1, 2024.
Her upcoming fantasy-horror feature, BAAB, completed production in February 2025 and is set for release in late 2025. The project boasts a musical score by two-time Oscar-winner A.R. Rahman and cinematography by Rogier Stoffers, ASC. With this film, Nayla further cements her reputation as a pioneering creative force placing Emirati cinema on the global map.
As CEO of Nayla Al Khaja Films, she has built a successful production company while also founding The Scene Club, the UAE’s first film club, fostering a thriving cultural community. She is frequently invited to speak at international forums and corporate events, where her talks highlight creativity as a powerful tool for leadership, innovation, and resilience.
Nayla’s impact has been widely celebrated. She was named one of Variety’s Top 50 Most Powerful Personalities in Arab Cinema and listed among the Top 100 Most Powerful Arabs Under 40 by Arabian Business. She received the Visionary of the Year Award at the Arabian Business Awards and was honored as Businesswoman of the Year at the Gulf Business Awards in 2020. Earlier, she earned the Black Swan Award for Women Empowerment from Asia One in 2019 and was recognized by Forbes Middle East as one of the top four Emirati women shaping the future that same year. She also won Entrepreneur of the Year at the Gulf Business Awards in 2017, adding to her long list of achievements that continue to inspire future generations.
A global storyteller, Nayla Al Khaja inspires audiences with her bold vision, and creative spirit. Whether on set or on stage, she continues to redefine boundaries and demonstrate the transformative power of storytelling.
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You can book Nayla Al Khaja through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Nayla's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Nayla Al Khaja's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Nayla tailored to your event.
Nayla Al Khaja speaks on Inspirational Women, Leadership & Motivation, Middle East, Motivation, Wellbeing. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Nayla to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Nayla Al Khaja for events worldwide, subject to Nayla's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Nayla Al Khaja is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Nayla can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Nayla Al Khaja on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Nayla can offer.
Nayla Al Khaja delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Nayla Al Khaja's areas of expertise include Inspirational Women, Leadership & Motivation, Middle East, Motivation, Wellbeing. To get a clear sense of Nayla's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Nayla Al Khaja can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Inspirational Women, Leadership & Motivation, Middle East, Motivation, Wellbeing is relevant. Details of Nayla's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Nayla Al Khaja is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Nayla Al Khaja, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Nayla's current availability for your dates.