Despite her specialization in international relations, the young woman Aisha Al Mansouri’s love for history and passion for documentaries and archaeology led her to work at the Zayed National Museum, one of the most important cultural and historical landmarks in the region and the world, scheduled to open next December. This opportunity allowed her to be part of a rare experience participating in the revival of the historic Majan boat, and she was selected among five women who had the chance to sail on the ship after its construction; an experience she describes as a dream come true.

Aisha Al Mansouri, who works as an assistant museum curator within the research team at the Zayed National Museum, described herself as lucky to be part of a national museum embodying the vision and values of the late founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. She added in an interview with “Emarat Al Youm”: “The museum is not just a cultural edifice, but a living platform documenting and celebrating the history of the UAE through 300,000 years of human history. Therefore, I feel proud to contribute to presenting our nation’s story in an inspiring and interactive way, especially as we approach the opening next December. Alongside my pride and honor, working at the museum represents a great responsibility for me, as it connects me more deeply to my roots and enhances my sense of national identity.”

Regarding her work, Aisha explained: “I work as an assistant museum curator within the museum’s research team, contributing to organizing and developing museum narratives within the exhibitions, especially those related to Emirati identity and intangible heritage. My work also involves coordinating with experts and local communities to collect oral histories and ensure community voices are represented in the museum. I also focus on supporting research and educational programs, such as the Majan Boat project, which is one of the most prominent research projects I have participated in.”

Passion for Documentaries

Aisha confirmed her passion since childhood for documentaries related to history and archaeology, but circumstances led her to study international relations. After graduation, in 2023, she had the opportunity to participate in the Majan Boat project (a Bronze Age boat). This project aimed to revive this historic boat used in the region, built from raw materials placed on an ancient clay tablet using ancient techniques dating back 2100 years BC. The project involved an international team of more than 20 experts from five countries, including museum curators, professors, archaeologists, students from the UAE, boat makers from Kerala, as well as experts from Italy, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

She pointed out that the project aims to deepen understanding of the lifestyles of people in the region more than 4000 years ago, as well as to preserve the maritime heritage of the UAE and the traditional crafts associated with it.

Bringing the Past to the Present

Aisha Al Mansouri added: “This project is very important; through it, we brought the past to the present and worked to transfer it to the future. The existence of a Bronze Age ship used in the region has several implications, including the pivotal geographic location of the region since ancient times, the technological development in the area, and the commercial development that enhanced human communication between peoples and cultural exchange, or what we now call globalization.” She noted that she initially lacked experience but learned a lot over time and sailed into new sciences that satisfied her curiosity. The team provided great support, especially her professor Eric Staples, to get to know this world and gain new knowledge.

Regarding the main challenges, Al Mansouri said: “I faced several difficulties, especially at the beginning of my journey with the ship. The experience was new, and I gave up an internship opportunity at another institution for it. Although the initial period was difficult, I became very attached to the project during the work. However, I never imagined that I would participate in the sailing experience and live it in all its amazing details as one of five women who had this opportunity to sail on the ship. Even now, more than a year after sailing, I feel like I was in a dream. I still remember how fear of falling into the water overwhelmed me on the first day, but I quickly overcame my fears the next day and began moving freely on the ship.

I am still grateful for this rare opportunity that allowed me to interact with an expert team in all aspects and benefit from their knowledge, and I enjoyed every moment of the sailing and learned a lot.”

She continued: “The hardest moment for me was when the ship docked after its last voyage. Those were moments full of emotions, and calm prevailed on board, as everyone lived the realization that we were in the final moments of this unique once-in-a-lifetime experience. I was among the lucky ones.”

Between Culture and International Relations

Aisha Al Mansouri confirmed that her academic studies in international relations helped her gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and historical relations between the UAE and the world, and gave her analytical and communication skills that she benefited from in museum research and interpretation. It also helped her realize the importance of cultural narrative in building bridges of understanding between peoples, enabling her to contribute to developing museum experiences that speak a language understood and interacted with by everyone, whether citizens or visitors from around the world.