Prior to joining Thebes Consultancy, Aya worked in the publishing, academic, development, and cultural heritage conservation fields, including for the American University in Cairo, the American University in Cairo Press, the United Nations Development Programme, and Dubai Cares, as well as independent and freelance projects. Aya received her Master of Arts in Sociology—Anthropology from the American University in Cairo, Egypt, in 2015, and her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, in 2011. She is fluent in English and Arabic.