Sheikha Al Mayassa, the art-loving royal putting Qatar on the map: ‘if you have money, you can build things – but you have to build something with a purpose’ – interview

Mar 25, 2023

Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani thought she was destined for a life of diplomacy work, but is currently the chair of Qatari Museums. Photo: Handout

The sister of Qatar’s ruler and current chair of Qatari Museums, the ‘art sheika’ turned her back on a career in diplomacy – now she’s using art to build bridges and create cultural connections

Style sat down for an interview with the Middle Eastern royal when she visited Hong Kong for Art Basel 2023 – and she came away impressed with M+ museum and Tai Kwun

When Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani graduated from university in 2005, as the daughter of Qatar’s then-ruling emir, she assumed she was destined for a life of foreign service and diplomacy work. Although she had always been passionate about the arts – even contemplating turning the novel Leo Africanus into a film while studying in the US – the royal never thought of making a career out of it.

HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani

Fast forward 18 years later, and Al Mayassa – who is the sister of the country’s current ruler, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who assumed power from their father in 2013 – is the chair of Qatari Museums, “an authority completely dedicated to museums, with the mandate to develop museums and support and inspire young people to collect and create spaces where they can share their passions, whether it’s art, cars, design, fashion” she explains in an interview in Hong Kong on the eve of Art Basel.