Biography
Aisha Bilkhair is a Research Advisor at the National Library and Archives, UAE. An expert in oral history, ethnographic studies and the African diaspora in the Arabian Gulf, her research interests are cross-cultural studies, women, youth and the transformation of identity. Bilkhair was a Fulbright Post-Doctoral Fellow at Harvard University (2005–2006), and holds a bachelor’s degree in filmmaking from the San Francisco Art Institute, a master’s degree in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University and a PhD in Arab Gulf Studies from the University of Exeter. She is also a graduate of the Government Leadership Programme, Executive Leaders. Bilkhair is an appointed member to the UAE’s National Committee for Folk Music and the National Library and Archives’ Scientific Committee. Additionally, she represents the UAE in the International Oral History Association and International Council for Traditional Music, among others. She was recognised as one of the Most Influential People of African Decent (MIPAD) Creatives Edition in 2022.