As the UAE marks Emirati Women’s Day on Aug. 28, we take a look at the creatives who are shaping the future of art and culture in the country.
Nayla Al-Khaja
One of UAE’s first Emirati female filmmakers, who rose to fame with the short film “Malal” (“Bored”), she made her feature-length debut with her horror film “The Shadow” in 2019.Sheikha Hoor Al-Qasimi
The president of the Sharjah Art Foundation is a key player in the UAE art and design scene. After the death of her brother Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al-Qasimi, she took over as the creative director of his London-based fashion label Qasimi.Dubai Abulhoul
The 26-year-old author is the first Emirati ever to write a fantasy novel in English (“Galagolia: The Hidden Divination”) and the youngest author to participate in the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.Salama Mohamed
The Emirati influencer-entrepreneur, most famous for making funny and heartwarming videos with her influencer husband Khalid Al-Ameri, launched her skincare line Peacefull in 2021.Butheina Kazim
The co-founder of Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue-based independent theatre Cinema Akil is a champion of indie cinema and up-and-coming filmmakers in the region.Rafeea Al-Hajsi
Hailed by international press as the first-ever Emirati model, the model and budding actress’ career has taken her from runways in the region to Paris Fashion Week.
