Guest bio
- The UAE's first female film director, and CEO of Nayla Al Khaja Films, which she has led for more than two decades.
- Her debut feature, Three, was the first Arabic film to use AI for voice localisation into Mandarin.
- Founded The Scene Club, Dubai's grassroots film community, and was the first Emirati to join the Cannes Producers Network.
Nayla Al Khaja is the UAE's first female film director, a screenwriter and producer, and CEO of Nayla Al Khaja Films, which she has led for more than two decades. A graduate of Ryerson University in Toronto, she made award-winning short films including Malal and The Neighbor. Her debut feature, Three, premiered at the Red Sea Festival in 2024 and was the first Arabic film to use AI for voice localisation into Mandarin; two of her films stream on Netflix, and her second feature, Baab, has a score by A.R. Rahman. She founded The Scene Club, Dubai's grassroots film community, and was the first Emirati to join the Cannes Producers Network. A TED speaker fluent in five languages, she is an outspoken advocate for women in cinema and the arts.
Show notes
Episode XTRA 8 of Money Majlis welcomes the trailblazing Nayla Al Khaja, the UAE’s first female film director, award-winning producer, and relentless advocate for women in the arts.
In this raw and revelatory conversation, Nayla shares her groundbreaking journey from a fine arts aficionado and gallery owner to a cinematic visionary whose bold storytelling redefines Emirati and Arab cinema.
Drawing inspiration from her challenging childhood, Nayla tackles societal taboos and mental health with unflinching honesty, refusing to treat these subjects as mere themes but as calls to action for dialogue and healing.
Her films, including “Three,” “Animal,” and her upcoming feature “Baab,” use psychological horror and powerful imagery to break the silence around painful realities, earning international acclaim and sparking conversations in a region where such topics have long been hushed.
Listeners will get insights into Nayla’s creative process, one that marries her painter’s eye with a filmmaker’s intuition, allowing her to “paint with light and contrast,” echoing the great masters she admires.
She recounts the early days of building the UAE’s film industry from scratch-flying in crews, fighting scepticism, and investing every bit of commercial success into passion projects-while uplifting other women and mentoring young creatives.
Her candid stories about navigating familial resistance, the emotional cost of leadership, and her refusal to censor authentic narratives reveal a relentless resilience and a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of cinema.
The episode dives into Nayla’s pioneering use of AI for voice localization and her collaboration with music icon A.R. Rahman. Nayla's advocacy work extends far beyond film; as founder of The Scene Club, she cultivated a thriving grassroots film community in Dubai that paved the way for the region’s burgeoning cinema culture.
She reflects on the challenges of censorship, box office economics, and the urgent need for systemic support for both Emirati nationals and expats in filmmaking.
Throughout, Nayla’s signature wit and candour shine. Whether recounting surreal moments on set or the importance of volunteering and mentorship, she exemplifies courage, calm, and creative audacity in everything she does.
For anyone seeking a deep dive into authentic storytelling, trailblazing leadership, and the transformative potential of cinema, this must-listen episode delivers.
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