Nahla Hamad Bin Fahad Almheiri, known professionally as Nahla Al Fahad, is an Emirati film director and producer based in Dubai. She works across narrative film, documentary, television drama, commercials and music videos, and is regarded as a leading creative voice in the UAE and the wider Middle East.
Her practice is rooted in character-driven storytelling and a strong sense of place, often using screen language to explore identity, resilience and social change.
Al Fahads international profile grew through Hijab, a short documentary shortlisted for the Academy Awards, which signalled her ability to connect local themes with global audiences. She later co-directed The Tainted Veil in 2016 and continued building a slate that moves between authored work and high-production commercial projects.
Her first Emirati feature film, 218: Behind the Wall of Silence, produced by Sharjah Media City and released theatrically across the UAE in 2021, became a landmark in contemporary Emirati cinema. The film received major recognition, including an Outstanding Achievement award at the Murex DOr International Festival, reinforcing her standing as a director able to deliver both cinematic ambition and regional relevance.
Alongside feature filmmaking, Al Fahad has directed five major television drama series with leading actors from Kuwait and the GCC, broadcast across more than twenty Arabic channels. Her long-form work is complemented by short films and large-scale public campaigns, including projects produced for Expo 2020 Dubai. Her recent focus expands further into documentary storytelling, with an in-production feature documentary filmed across India and Sri Lanka that follows fisherwomen working in the Indian Ocean. In parallel, she contributes to regional content strategy through her role on the Dubai Media Council Content Creation Advisory Council, supporting creative development and mentorship within the screen sector.
Al Fahad has received additional recognition for films promoting cultural dialogue and tolerance, including international acknowledgements presented through UAE diplomatic channels in Europe. In 2019, she received an award from the World Federation of United Nations Friends in Cairo for her contribution to cultural and artistic world affairs.
Selected works
Feature film: 218: Behind the Wall of Silence
Short documentary: Hijab
Documentary: The Tainted Veil
Television drama: Harb Alquloob
Television drama: Saat Al Sefer
Television drama: Dumoo Al Afaei
Television drama: Mant Rayeg
Television drama: Bab Alseen
