An internationally recognised expert in Islamic art, Souraya Noujaim holds a doctorate in the history and archaeology of the medieval worlds, a postgraduate diploma from the Ecole du Louvre and a master's degree in art history from the Sorbonne.
She began her career at the Musée du Louvre and has worked with a number of renowned institutions, including the Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA). As part of the ‘Grand Louvre’ project, she took part in the opening of the first Islamic art galleries, as well as major exhibitions at the Louvre and the Grand Palais. A long-time lecturer at the Ecole du Louvre, she chaired the chair of Islamic art in 2013.
At Agence France Muséums, Souraya coordinated the scientific and cultural programme devoted to medieval times.
In February 2018, she was appointed as the first scientific director in charge of conservation and collections at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. She led the evolution of the museum's cultural and scientific programme, developing the acquisitions strategy and research programme, as well as programming temporary exhibitions in conjunction with the project's partner museums. She supervised the scientific team at the Louvre Abu Dhabi and actively contributed to the transfer of skills and museological expertise.
On 14 April 2023, Souraya was appointed Director of the Department of Islamic Art at the Louvre and head of the major heritage department of Islamic art at national level.