Sheikha Mayassa Al Thani Qatari princess Country: Qatar

Biography of Sheikha Mayassa Al-Thani

Sheikha Mayassa Al-Thani, the eldest daughter of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the current Emir of Qatar, and his second wife Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned, is known as one of the most influential women in the world of art. Sheikha Mayassa has been leading the museum department of the entire country and has unlimited resources at her disposal. As the Chairperson of Qatar Museums Authority, Forbes estimates that she controls an annual budget of approximately $250 million for the acquisition of artworks, although she would likely be able to obtain more funds if needed.

Qatar's GDP, fueled by its rich oil reserves, is $184 billion per year, and the line between government funds and royal family expenses is quite blurred. Last year, Sheikha Mayassa paid $250 million for Paul Cezanne's painting "The Card Players," setting a record for the highest price ever paid for a painting. In recent years, it has been speculated that Qatar is acquiring art objects in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as nearly a billion dollars' worth of paintings and sculptures have been sent to Qatar over the past decade.

Sheikha Mayassa Al-Thani was born in 1983 and obtained a bachelor's degree in political science and literature from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, in 2005. During her time at the university, she held positions as the Vice President of the International Association and the Vice President of the political party "Hiwar." She was also a delegate at the Model United Nations in 2001-2002.

In 2003-2004, Sheikha Mayassa studied at the University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne and the Institute of Political Studies in Paris, also known as Sciences Po. After completing her university education, she founded the non-profit organization "Reach Out To Asia," which focuses on children's education in crisis-affected regions of Asia. Sheikha Mayassa heads Qatar Museums Authority and the Doha Film Institute, two cultural institutions aimed at creating cultural bridges between Qatar and the rest of the world. By expanding Qatar's art collection and inviting international art figures to work in Doha, she embodies Qatar's new cultural policy. In March 2012, The Economist referred to her as the "Queen of Qatar's Culture."

On January 6, 2006, Sheikha Mayassa Al-Thani married her second cousin, Sheikh Jassim bin Abdul Aziz Al-Thani. They have three sons: Mohammed, Hamad, and Abdulaziz.