Manal Ataya

Manal Ataya is a leading museum professional with two decades of experience in museum development, cultural heritage management, and cultural diplomacy. Appointed Founding Deputy Director of the Sharjah Museums Authority in 2006, she was instrumental in establishing the organization's foundation. In 2008, she became Director General, a role she held for 15 years, overseeing a network of 16 museums and a team of over 700. Under her leadership, she pioneered initiatives to enhance learning, accessibility, audience engagement, cross-cultural partnerships, and social responsibility. In 2023, Ataya was appointed Museums Advisor to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah and Sharjah Museums Authority, where she contributes to cultural strategy, policy, and new museum project developments. Her contributions to culture have been recognized internationally, receiving the Order of Arts and Letters from France (2018) and the Order of Merit from Germany (2022).