People accomplish things daily. However, it is when those achievements are pioneering or set to change a whole nation that they hold the most weight. Campus Notes looks at Emirati achievers who have either made or are on the way to making a great difference in the UAE.
First female film producer
Nayla Al Khaja graduated from Dubai Women’s College (DWC) with a degree in mass communications in 1999. Filled with a passion for filmmaking she founded her own production company in 2002 and is now the chief executive officer of D-Seven Motion Pictures. This makes 31-year-old Nayla the first female Emirati film producer.
With an interest specifically in thriller, horror and humanitarian documentaries, Nayla said her aim is to eventually set up a private film fund — a first in the Middle East.
She is inspired by her mother’s exuberant personality, optimism and inner strength. “My mother is my role model and she is an absolutely amazing woman.”
Motivated by the idea of leaving a legacy for generations to appreciate and enjoy through her films, she said: “What drives me is leaving behind love and a lot of positive energy.” Held most dear is her first film Arabana, a six-minute documentary addressing the issue of paedophilia. It premiered at the Dubai International Film Festival in 2006 and received recognition from the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).
Ministerial adviser
Abdullah Abdul Jabar Al Majid is a father of 11 and says his greatest achievement while at university was being a father, employee and student one and the same time. “It was a challenge,” he said. However, it was this tremendous responsibility that drove Al Majid to achieve greatness.
The 35-year-old graduated from Dubai Men’s College in 1997 with a degree in business information technology. He went on to take his masters at the University of Missouri, US, and is currently finishing a PhD in e-governance at Brunel University in London, UK.
Al Majid interned at Microsoft and went on to take employment in various governmental sectors until he found his feet in the Ministry of Justice. He currently holds three roles at the ministry. The first is Adviser to the Minister; the second is heading the finance, human resources and information technology department under the title of Executive Director of Support Services and finally Al Majid heads the Ministry’s Project Management Office.
“Raising a family such as my own encouraged me to pursue higher education and prove myself in different ways,” said Al Majid. “I look at my kids and see the huge responsibility I have.”
Citing his father as his confidant and role model Al Majid said his unique relationship with his father, grandparents and extended family helps him greatly to succeed as he can trust that his children are in safe hands when he is somewhat consumed with work and studies.
Women’s rights advocate
Hanan Al Muhairi is a recent DWC graduate. It was Hanan’s passion for horse riding that drove her to film a documentary called Arabyana. Hanan said the film asks for the rights for UAE women to ride horses just like men.
“In the UAE community, some families disagree to their daughters learning this sport. They think it is a male-only sport and forbidden to females by Islam. There are a lot of misconceptions in this community,” she said.
To clear these misconceptions and convince her own father to allow her to ride, Hanan spent three years interviewing Islamic scholars, doctors and members of the community. The result is Arabyana, which premiered at the Atlantis Dubai hotel last year.
In November 2006, Hanan along with five friends put together the Arabyana Horse Riding Team. She is now practising for the four stages of qualifiers to take up professional endurance racing.
With over 4,000 friends on social networking site Facebook, Hanan said she has received recognition and praise from around the world from people who are amazed by her achievement.
For this reason, she said: “I can’t quit my dreams; I have to pass on my message and help other girls.”
The 25-year-old began horse riding aged 20 and said although it was a challenge to learn the sport so late in the game, horses teach her about different aspects of life like patience and understanding because “they [horses] force you to understand their language”.
