Nayla’s debut feature film, “THREE,” was released theatrically on February 1, 2024, across the Gulf and major MENA territories.
Additionally, two of her films, “The Shadow” and “Animal,” are currently streaming on Netflix.
Her upcoming fantasy horror film, “BAAB,” just wrapped production in February 2025. Boasting a musical score by two-time Oscar winner A.R. Rahman and cinematography by Rogier Stoffers, ASC, the film is set for a theatrical release in late 2025.
Nayla’s most recent accolades and awards include:
- Top 50 most powerful personalities in Arab Cinema by Variety
- Top 100 most powerful Arabs under 40 by Arabian Business
- Visionary of the Year Award at the Arabian Business Awards
- Businesswoman of the Year – Gulf Business Awards 2020
Global Storyteller
Nayla’s knowledge of Gulf dialects and five international languages gives her a unique advantage when facilitating complex, sensitive projects both regionally and globally. In 2021, it was announced that a series concept she devised, “The Alexandria Killings,” would become an anthology, with Oscar-winning director Terry George at the helm and Nayla serving as Executive Producer and poised to direct episodes herself. This blend of storytelling craft, cross-cultural fluency and entrepreneurial grit shapes every keynote she delivers, whether she is speaking on creativity as a business tool, overcoming barriers, or building resilience in the face of an industry that told her “no” for years before she made history.
Keynote Themes
Nayla’s keynotes draw directly from her own journey navigating a heavily male-dominated industry in a region where female filmmakers were once unheard of. She speaks to how creativity can be applied as a practical problem-solving tool inside organisations, how to reframe barriers as catalysts for innovation, and how storytelling builds the kind of resilience that outlasts any single setback. Audiences leave with concrete, transferable techniques for creative thinking under pressure, not just an inspiring story. Her versatility as a speaker means she is equally sought after as an opening keynote to set an ambitious tone, or as a closing keynote to send audiences away energised and reflective.
With BAAB set for theatrical release, featuring a score by two-time Oscar winner A.R. Rahman, Nayla’s profile as both filmmaker and speaker continues to grow across the Gulf, MENA and international stages.
Book Nayla Al Khaja keynote speaker to bring a genuinely rare perspective to your next conference, leadership offsite, or women-in-business event.
