Manal Ataya

Manal Ataya

Manal Ataya (born 1979) is an Emirati museology professional associated with the Sharjah Museums Authority (SMA) of the United Arab Emirates, where she held senior leadership roles including the position of Director General of the museums authority.[1] Later in June 2023, she was appointed an advisor to the SMA by the Ruler of Sharjah His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Quasimi.[2][3]

She has been responsible for the opening of six new museums and four major refurbishment projects across sixteen such institutions. She provides strategic forward planning, advises on international museum best practices and standards and has undertaken policy supervision and direct supervision of such key institutions. Her focus area of work has been the preservation Islamic culture and history, as well as contemporary art, maritime history, archaeology and science ensconcing the directives of the Emirate of Sharjah for future museums and cultural heritage related projects.[4][5][6]

Early life and education

Ataya was born in Dubai in 1979.[1] She attended Hamilton College.[7] According to Sharjah Art Foundation, she undertook graduate study in museum studies at Harvard University.[1]

Career

Sharjah Museums Authority

Ataya joined the Sharjah Museums Authority in 2006 and served as its founding deputy director before becoming Director General in 2008.[1] In that role, she oversaw museum operations and public programming across SMA museums in Sharjah. Her work has helped highlight the Emirate of Sharjah's cultural and archeological history spanning from the stone age to contemporary times. During her tenure she as founding member and also as Director General of the Sharjah Museums Authority, has overseen development of new museums along with the re-development and improvement of various existing Emirati museums in the state of Sharjah (founded by the ruler of Sharjah) into more modern, progressive museums with virtual tours and other technological integrations.[8][9][10][11] In June 2023, the Ruler of Sharjah appointed her advisor to the Sharjah Museums Authority.[2][3]

Public speaking and cultural diplomacy

Ataya has spoken publicly on museums and cultural exchange, including remarks reported by the Emirates News Agency (WAM).[12] In her pursuit for research, conservation and publication of Sharjah's heritage Ataya has been coordinating with various nodal bodies, investment agencies and cultural agencies like that of Shurooq (Sharjah Investment Development Authority) and local stakeholders like Sharjah Institute of Heritage, Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah Archaeology Authority.[6]

She co-facilitated "Leadership & Wellbeing: A Micro-Series," a women-only initiative aimed at improving emotional literacy and stress management in the workplace.[13]

Publications

Ataya has contributed writing on heritage and museum practice. She co-authored a chapter titled "Heritage and Community Involvement: The Case of Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn) Museum" (with Hazelle Page) in Community Heritage in the Arab Region: Values and Practices (2022).[14]

Honors and recognition

In 2018, Ataya was named a Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters (France).[7] In 2022, she was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.[15][16]Ataya was included in an Arabian Business list of "inspiring leaders in the Middle East".[17]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Manal Ataya". Sharjah Art Foundation. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Sharjah Ruler appoints Manal Ataya as Advisor to SMA". Emirates News Agency (WAM). 6 June 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b "حاكم الشارقة يصدر مرسوماً أميرياً يقضي بتعيين منال عطايا مستشاراً لهيئة الشارقة للمتاحف". Sharjah Government Media Bureau (in Arabic). 6 June 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  4. ^ Writer, Staff. "100-INSPIRING-LEADERS-IN-THE-MIDDLE-EAST-49.Manal Ataya". Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  5. ^ DeTurk, Sabrina (2022-10-14). Women and Contemporary Art in the Gulf. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-003-19711-9.
  6. ^ a b Taha, Hamdan; Saca, Iman (2022), "Invoking Awneh: Community Heritage in Palestine", One World Archaeology, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 235–260, ISBN 978-3-031-07445-5, retrieved 2026-01-30{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)
  7. ^ a b "Manal Ataya '01 receives France's Chevaliers de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres". Hamilton College. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Manal Ataya, Director of Sharjah's Museums, Embraces an Educational Role". Al-Fanar Media. May 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  9. ^ Reporter, By Noor Nazzal, Staff (2018-09-16). "Exhibition sheds light on Noor Ali Rashid's photography". Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, travel news, Dubai Gold rate, prayer time, cinema. Retrieved 2026-01-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Godinho, Varun (2020-04-16). "Sharjah Art Museum launches free virtual tour of its permanent collection". Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  11. ^ "Renowned Iraqi Kurdish artist Ismail Khayat's exhibition open at Sharjah Art Museum". Al Arabiya English. 2022-10-23. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  12. ^ "Manal Ataya highlights role of Sharjah Museums in cultural diplomacy". Emirates News Agency (WAM). Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  13. ^ Clore Leadership (January 31, 2024). "Clore Leadership Announces Five Projects Selected for Roots and Reach: Global Leadership in Action". cloreleadership.org. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  14. ^ "SMA co-authors book chapter on Sharjah heritage practices". Sharjah 24. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  15. ^ "Sharjah museums chief Manal Ataya awarded Germany's Order of Merit". The National. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  16. ^ "Bekanntgabe der Ordensverleihungen (Verleihungen)". Der Bundespräsident (in German). Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  17. ^ "100 inspiring leaders in the Middle East: 49) Manal Ataya". Arabian Business. Retrieved 17 January 2026.

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