A close look at Egypt’s Great Transfiguration Project in St. Catherine

CAIRO – 31 August 2024: Dive into the marvelous details of the Great Transfiguration Project, a grand initiative set to transform the captivating mountainous landscapes of St. Catherine city in South Sinai into a haven for spiritual seekers and a hotspot for unique medical and environmental tourism experiences.

Today, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly delved into the latest updates on this transformative project during a meeting with Minister of Housing Sherif El-Sherbini, and a cohort of other state officials.

The goal here? To harness the magic of this region and elevate it into a must-visit future global destination, honoring its spiritual, religious, archaeological, and historical significance as a haven for heavenly beliefs.

Delve into the details

Among the highlights of this ambitious endeavor are the visitor center, a bustling hub boasting reception areas, shops, administrative nooks, flight booking services, restaurants, and cozy cafeterias.

And let's not forget about the Peace Building and Square, a space designed for joyous gatherings, housing a vibrant museum, a theater fit for grand performances, and chic meeting rooms alongside charming cafeterias.

Venture further and you'll stumble upon the Wadi Al-Deir area, a pathway to adventure featuring a scenic walkway, a handy car park, and even a camel stable for those who prefer a more traditional mode of transport.

For a touch of eco-luxury, the eco-lodge extension beckons with 192 eco-hotel rooms, 56 lavish suites, and a desert garden that seamlessly connects the lodge to the mountain hotel, all while tracing the historic footsteps of Prophet Moses through a landscape walkway.

In the heart of it all stands the Mountain Hotel, a cozy retreat offering 144 rooms and suites of various styles, while the tourist resort on the plateau boasts a grand 1200m² reception building, charming villas, and snug chalets.

Stroll through the bustling tourist bazaar area, a vibrant space housing 16 bustling bazaars spread across a lively 1500m² space. And in the residential neighborhood of Al-Zaytuna, find 21 hotel complexes each with 26 cozy residential units, totaling a snug 546 homes.

There is also a new government complex in St. Catherine, featuring the city council building, spacious open areas, ample parking, and a happening social club, all sprawled across 1920m² of urban goodness.

And let's not overlook the bedouin housing area and the heritage town center, where the Holy Valley Mosque stands tall amidst upgraded shops and new bazaars, creating a vibrant tapestry of tradition and modernity.

Robust infrastructure

To ensure smooth journeys and safe havens, efforts are underway to craft efficient road networks, fortify facilities, and tame flood risks in the city.

This includes beefing up protection along the St. Catherine International Airport road, upgrading the electricity network, transformer stations, and optimizing the Abu Redis - St. Catherine water pipeline.

This multi-billion-pound masterpiece, the Great Transfiguration Project, first unveiled in 2020, is powered by the New Urban Communities Authority, aligning with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's vision to nurture and develop this extraordinary region.

'Egypt’s gift to the world'

In March, Madbouly expressed Egypt's intention to present this project as a "gift to the entire world and all religions," paying homage to its significance, which encompasses Islamic, Christian, and Jewish references.