Description
Nayla Al Khaja keynote speaker sessions come from a genuine trailblazer. Nayla made history as the first female film director in the United Arab Emirates. She broke barriers in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Her work has paved the way for a new generation of creatives. Today, she is also a top-tier international speaker, celebrated for weaving personal stories of resilience and creativity into lessons that inspire individuals and organisations alike.
Nayla Al Khaja keynote speaker: a pioneering filmmaker with global reach
Nayla’s debut feature film, “THREE,” released theatrically across the Gulf and major MENA territories in February 2024. Her films “The Shadow” and “Animal” stream on Netflix, introducing her work to international audiences. Her upcoming feature, “BAAB,” is a fantasy-horror film with a musical score by two-time Oscar winner A.R. Rahman and cinematography by Rogier Stoffers, ASC. It is set for theatrical release in late 2025.
Beyond her feature films, Nayla has directed TV commercials for global brands including Mercedes, Nike and Nestlé. The Dubai Government appointed her Behind-the-Scenes Director on the mega-budget film Star Trek 3. She has run her own production company for over 15 years, giving her a rare 360-degree perspective on creativity, resilience and turning barriers into opportunity.
A cultural icon and changemaker
Variety named Nayla among its Top 50 Most Powerful Personalities in Arab Cinema. Arabian Business featured her on its Top 100 Most Powerful Arabs Under 40 list and named her Visionary of the Year. Gulf Business Awards named her Businesswoman of the Year in 2020. With a style that blends humour, authenticity and insight, she empowers audiences to reimagine workplace well-being, embrace creativity as a problem-solving tool, and discover joy as a driver of productivity.
Organisations that book Nayla Al Khaja keynote speaker sessions can expect powerful lessons on resilience and creative thinking, delivered with warmth and versatility. Nayla is based in Dubai, UAE, and speaks internationally. Explore more business keynote speakers represented by Corporate Speakers Global, or read more about her story on Wikipedia.
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.
