Before taking the role of the intangible cultural heritage and oral history manager at the Royal Commission for Alula, Ms Samaa Moustafa has been a regional officer for the Arab states under the UNESCO 2003 convention at UNESCO headquarters, and a Project Officer for Culture at the UNESCO Cairo Office.

Her work operationalises the concept that Culture and Heritage are a major momentum for development. Along with her experience in Intercultural Communication, Sustainable Development, and Cultural Heritage management, her interests lie in youth engagement and intergenerational transmission of knowledge, advocating that ICH is an inclusive, adaptable and resilience tool driving cultural identity. Ms. Moustafa holds a bachelors degree in anthropology from the American University in Cairo, as well as two master’s degrees in international human rights law from the American University in Cairo and in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh.