National Geographic Explorer, Egyptologist

National Geographic Explorers and Recipient of National Geographic Society’s Way Finder Award, Aliaa Ismail is a passionate Egyptologist working with innovative technologies to help others better understand and preserve ancient Egyptian culture. As leader of the Theban Necropolis Preservation Initiative, Aliaa trained a local team from Luxor to collect high-precision, 3D surface data from Egypt’s tombs—including that of Seti I, the largest and most elaborate in the Valley of the Kings. With her projects, she strives to build stronger ties between the Egyptian community and their surrounding cultural heritage.

In 2023, the National Geographic Society presented Aliaa with the Way Finder Award for her work, which has been featured in various documentaries, such as Lost Treasures of Egypt and Unearthed. For her achievements, Aliaa has been recognized by multiple organizations, appearing on the Project Management Institute’s “Future 50” list in 2022 and on Apollo magazine’s “40 Under 40 Arts and Tech” list in 2021. Together with her spouse, she has participated in the ‘Green Desert’ initiative, helping to restore arid desert land to its original condition. She is currently enrolled in a doctorate program at Cairo University’s School of Archaeology, where she is researching archaeological ethnography.