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Leading Ladies

Emirati Women Taking Over the Big Screen

In celebration of Emirati Women this weekend, watch movies they’ve starred in.

Over the years, Emirati women have left their mark across the UAE's film industry, as well as contributing to various aspects of filmmaking and content production. In fact, any of their films would go on to entertain audiences, while others have left an impact on society. These are the five women who are taking over the big screen.

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1 of 5

Nayla Al Khaja

Nayla Al Khaja is the founder of Nayla Al Khaja Films and the first female film director in the UAE. Since 2006, she has produced shorts before delving into movie productions and TV commercials. She has earned several accolades for her work, including being named one of the top 50 most powerful personalities in Arab Cinema by Variety.

2 of 5

Mariam Al Awadhi

Mariam Al Awadhi is a content creator at Dubai World Trade Center with experience in storyboarding, editing, and creating motion graphic videos. In fact, she brings with her six years experience in editing, directing, and producing, and has worked on films such as "Mum."

3 of 5

Amal Al-Agroobi

Amal Al-Agroobi is a filmmaker and owner of her independent film studio. Since joining the industry in 2012, her focus is on social, character-driven stories that discuss identity, personality, and the understanding of human character. In fact, her film about autism, "The Brain That Sings," was influential in having legislation changed in order to tackle real-life issues.

4 of 5

Sarah Alhashimi

Sarah Alhashimi is a filmmaker who got her first start through her debut short "Lemonade," which went on to receive accolades at international film festivals, while shedding light on autism. In addition, she's also among the first Emirati women to be featured in a Gucci campaign.

5 of 5

Afra Almarar

Afra Almarar is a woman with over 11 years of creative industry experience. In addition to creating content for Baynounah TV, she is the founder of Toaster Productions, which works on online contents, TV shows, and film production. Previously, she had also worked as producer and advertising executive for other companies.

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Leading Ladies

Emirati Women Taking Over the Big Screen

In celebration of Emirati Women this weekend, watch movies they’ve starred in.

Nayla Al Khaja

Mariam Al Awadhi

Amal Al-Agroobi

Sarah Alhashimi

Afra Almarar

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