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Maitha Alawadi is an internationally acclaimed Emirati film director, scriptwriter, and TV presenter with over a decade of experience across the UAE, Australia, India, and the UK. She holds a Master of Arts in Filmmaking from the University of Sussex and has earned 13+ awards at over 40 global film festivals. Her directorial debut, Al Eid Eiden, a Saudi-Emirati family comedy, was released across GCC cinemas, while her award-winning script Nour is in development. Her short films X and Charlie have won international recognition, and her UAE Golden Jubilee film, In the Union of Our Emirates: A Future Forged by History, was created under Image Nation’s Creative Lab.

Maitha has contributed to over 20 short fiction films in various production roles, including director, producer, editor, sound designer, and SFX makeup artist. Alongside her independent work, she has directed client projects, including mini docu-series, commercials, and social media content. Passionate about cultural authenticity and innovative storytelling, she brings underrepresented narratives to the forefront, redefining how Arab cinema is perceived globally. She is also a rare voice in global filmmaking, representing Arab, female, and cross-cultural storytelling. As one of the few internationally recognized Emirati female directors, she challenges stereotypes and amplifies authentic Middle Eastern and South Asian narratives. A TEDx speaker on identity, she brings lived experience to discussions on diversity, bridging tradition with innovation. Her work ensures that underrepresented voices are heard, making her vital to inclusive storytelling.

Beyond filmmaking and her captivating talk on identity and self-discovery in TEDX, Maitha has participated in industry workshops, including Film Independent’s AFS Episodic Lab and DFTC’s Ticket to Bollywood initiative. She has led filmmaking workshops and webinars with Cininfo and Playbook, spoken at major industry panels such as South by Southwest, Xposure, Meta Cinema Forum, Gulf New’s Emiratia Event, Female Fusion Emirati Women’s Day, been a jury member for SAE’s Black Sheep Film Festival 2025, and been interviewed by multiple media outlets and stations, offering bold insights on storytelling and women’s representation. She has also co-presented on Dubai Eye 103.8 FM and Dubai One TV and was a quarter-finalist on OSN’s Live the Oscars. Through her work, she continues to inspire emerging filmmakers while advocating for diverse representation in global storytelling.