Mayssa is a Consultant at AEA, working across strategic planning, programming strategy and business planning for cultural institutions and creative districts. Her approach draws on programming expertise and creative strategic thinking, shaped by a deep understanding of local context. Recent work includes the Kurdistan Arts & Culture Center in Erbil, the Design Council Abu Dhabi, strategic planning for Zayed National Museum, programming for the JAX District in Riyadh, and concept development for the Ahmedabad Contemporary Art Museum in India and a new arts and design museum in Dubai.

Having lived in Doha, Riyadh and Dubai, and now based between Beirut and Dubai, Mayssa brings first-hand understanding of the Gulf region, where her portfolio is primarily focused. She also supports business development into new markets, helping expand AEA's reach across the wider MENA region and Asia.

Before joining AEA, she worked on heritage projects, developed visual guidelines for a new city in Saudi Arabia, and contributed to a CCI report mapping Dubai’s creative sector and shaping recommendations for its recovery post-COVID.

Mayssa believes strongly in keeping culture central to how the region tells its story, where growing the sector also means preserving its heritage practices and traditions for future generations. She is particularly interested in the intersection of strategy, design and craft and brings that perspective into her work.  

Mayssa holds a Master’s in Contemporary Art Practice from the Royal College of Art in London and a Bachelor’s in Landscape Architecture from the American University of Beirut. She is fluent in Arabic, English, and French.