National Geographic Explorer, Egyptologist

Aliaa Ismail is a National Geographic Explorer and recipient of the National Geographic Society’s Wayfinder Award. She is an Egyptologist who works at the intersection of archaeology and innovative technologies, using advanced documentation methods to help preserve and deepen understanding of ancient Egyptian culture.

As leader of the Theban Necropolis Preservation Initiative, Aliaa has trained a local team in Luxor to collect high-precision 3D surface data from tombs across the Theban Necropolis, including the tomb of Seti I — the largest and most elaborate in the Valley of the Kings. Through this work, she seeks to strengthen connections between local communities and their cultural heritage, ensuring that preservation efforts are both technically rigorous and locally grounded.

In 2023, she received the National Geographic Society’s Wayfinder Award in recognition of her contributions to cultural heritage preservation. Her work has been featured in documentaries such as Lost Treasures of Egypt and Unearthed. She has also been recognised by several professional organisations, including inclusion on the Project Management Institute’s 'Future 50' list (2022) and Apollo magazine’s '40 Under 40: Arts and Tech' list (2021).

Beyond her archaeological work, Aliaa and her spouse have participated in the 'Green Desert' initiative, supporting efforts to restore degraded desert landscapes to their natural state. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at Cairo University’s School of Archaeology, where her research focuses on archaeological ethnography.

Through her work, Aliaa combines technological innovation, heritage preservation, and community engagement to support a more sustainable and inclusive approach to archaeology.