Suez Canal Authority Chief denies claims of selling SCA historical building

CAIRO – 4 October 2024: Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairman Admiral Osama Rabie refuted remorse circulating on social media about accusation of misuse of public funds and selling or renting the historical Suez Canal Authority headquarters.

A document circulating on social media claims that the head of the SCA and the Port Said governor signed a contract to sell the headquarters to a hotel company to change the building into a hotel. The document shows that it was sent by the Central of Heritage and Civil Coordination to the UNESCO regional office in Egypt.

However, the SCA announced in a statement on Friday that these claims are entirely unfounded. It added that the SCA chief Osama Rabie noted that there is the Suez Canal Authority Development project that aims to preserve the historical and architectural value of the original building.

The project aims to capitalize on its unique location overlooking the canal, transforming it into an attractive tourist and cultural destination, Rabie continued.

Rabie emphasized that the Suez Canal Authority takes great pride in its long history and is committed to preserving the architectural and archaeological heritage of its facilities.

Admiral Rabie highlighted that the restoration project for the historic dome building began in 2019 following repeated recommendations from the Ministry of Antiquities and the Suez Canal Authority’s Public Works Department. These recommendations indicated an urgent need for essential restoration work to ensure the building's safety.

In response, immediate decisions were made to initiate restoration work, which was assigned to the Palaces and Antiquities Maintenance Department of the Arab Contractors Company after winning the tender at that time. The project is supervised by the Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University, acting as the general consultant, with a permanent representative from the Ministry of Antiquities present throughout the restoration process.

Concurrently, the Authority commenced the evacuation of the building, relocating workshops, sub-stores, and marine unit berths to other areas. This procedure did not impact navigation rates in the canal, which achieved its highest crossing rate in history last year, with 26,434 ships transiting in 2023.

The head of the authority stated that the evacuation of the dome building was conducted in several distinct phases to ensure that workflow and ship movement were not disrupted.

Lieutenant General Rabie explained that the vision for developing the dome building is still under study, with discussions ongoing regarding appropriate proposals for site investment and optimal utilization. The dome building is regarded as a key asset of the authority and is protected by law.

Lieutenant General Rabie emphasized the Suez Canal Authority's commitment to its societal responsibilities by announcing all its contracts, including memoranda of understanding, while disclosing their terms and significance.

 The authority plans to announce the details of the Dome Building Development Project immediately after completing the technical feasibility studies and finalizing the project plan. This announcement will occur at a comprehensive press conference attended by all relevant parties and legislative and executive leaders in the governorate.