Emirati actress and playwright Budoor Alnowais uses performance to explore identity, representation, and belonging, while helping shape a stronger future for theatre and the arts in the UAE.

Based between the UAE and the UK, Emirati actress and playwright Budoor Alnowais uses contemporary performance to explore identity, belonging, and cultural displacement, with a particular focus on the authentic representation of Arab and Muslim women.

Her award-winning 2025 play, Shaghaf, combines Shakespearean text with personal storytelling through the experiences of an actress confronting rejection and self-doubt. The work earned Budoor the Gulf Capital–ADMAF Creativity Award 2025, providing funding and mentorship to support her creative practice.

What does Emirati Women’s Day mean to you?

I’m proud to be part of a community that actively encourages and empowers women. Emirati Women’s Day reminds me that my ambitions are possible, and seeing women celebrated across such varied fields motivates me to continue pursuing my own path.

What is the greatest strength of Emirati women?

Our graceful resilience. We learn to meet expectations with ambition and discipline, preparing us for the challenges ahead.

When and how did your passion for acting and the arts begin?

My mother introduced me to performing arts from a very young age, enrolling me in piano and dance lessons when I was three. The Sound of Music and The Nightmare Before Christmas later sparked my curiosity about how plays and films were made. It was a natural love that continued to grow.

What is one ambition that you still hope to achieve?

I want to help build the theatre, film, and performing arts community in the UAE. I have learnt so much during my time away and want to share that knowledge, encouraging younger Emiratis to explore the arts and recognise them as a fulfilling and prosperous career path.

How has working with ADMAF supported your ambitions?

ADMAF has elevated my work and helped it reach local and international audiences I may not have reached alone. Its support for my independent project has been invaluable, while its guidance has enabled me to share my skills with younger Emirati students.

What is your message to Emirati women hoping to enter the theatre, film or arts industries?

Start and don’t look back. Approach it with excitement, curiosity, and courage, and find your people.

We have often had to prove ourselves early and work twice as hard to be recognised, but rather than seeing that as a negative, use it to your advantage.