About
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Manal Ataya is a museum professional with 20 years of senior level experience in museum development and cultural diplomacy. She was Director General of Sharjah's Museum Authority from 2008 to 2023, overseeing a team of 700 staff working in Sharjah’s 16 museums which cover areas of modern and contemporary Arab art, Islamic history, UAE heritage and archaeology. Ataya is a leading figure in the UAE cultural sector, dedicating her time to advocacy initiatives for accessible arts education, programs that promote cross-cultural dialogue and social inclusion, as well as mentoring young women in leadership. Ataya is a graduate of both Hamilton College (2001) and Harvard University (2004).
She serves on numerous advisory boards including Global Cultural Districts Network; the University of Sharjah’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Hamilton College, Make-A-Wish Foundation and ICCROM-Sharjah, the Arab region’s field office of the UN’s body for cultural heritage preservation. Ataya is a recipient of both the Order of Arts & Letters from the Republic of France in 2018 and the Order of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany in 2022 for her significant contributions to culture.
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