Newly assigned committee takes on role of protecting Egypt's heritage sites

CAIRO – 17 December 2018: Protecting valuable archaeological sites, namely the World Heritage Sites, is a serious task; hence, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi issued a decree to form a supreme committee to manage the World Heritage Sites in Egypt, a move praised by many members of the Parliament.

On December 14, Sisi issued decree no.550 for 2018 to form a supreme committee, led by the president's assistant for national and strategic projects, to manage the World Heritage Sites in Egypt.

"The president's decision to form the committee is critically important as Egypt has the world's most important antiquities; hence, efforts should be exerted to protect them," Mohammad Abdo, a member of the Parliament's tourism committee, said.

The committee consists of 14 individuals, most prominently Minister of Antiquities Khaled al-Anani, Minister of Tourism Rania al-Mashat, Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Shaarawi, Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad, President of Urban Planning Fayza Abul-Naga, and Head of the National Organization for Urban Harmony Mohamed Abu Seada.


The committee also includes representatives from the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Housing and Utilities, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation, Ministry of Transport, and the General Intelligence Service.

According to Article 2, the committee is assigned to set a strategic vision to manage and protect, develop, and restore the World Heritage Sites in Egypt in coordination with all the national and international stakeholders.

To be able to fulfill its duties, the committee may, if necessary, ask the assistance of Egyptian and foreign technical officials and experts, and may ask the stakeholders for the necessary information and documents, as Article 3 reads.

The committee should form subcommittees and technical secretaries to assist it in carrying out its duties.

Furthermore, Article 4 stipulates that the committee shall submit its final report to the president.

The problem of illicit excavation of archaeological sites in the hope of finding antiquities that can then be sold abroad has been growing in Egypt since the January 25 Revolution. The government has exerted extensive efforts to combat antiquities smuggling.


Minister of Antiquities Anani said in a statement in December 2017 that 329 ancient coins were seized with an Egyptian passenger at Cairo International Airport while trying to smuggle them to France.

World Heritage Sites in Egypt

Egypt is rich in antiquities and cultural heritages sites, including Abu Mena, Saint Catherine Area, Whale Valley, and Islamic Cairo.

Named after the Egyptian Saint Menas of Alexandria, who was martyred in the third century, Abu Mena site now consists of only remains of a monastery.

It has been considered to be “in danger” since 2001, after being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

Additionally, ancient Thebes with its Necropolis is one of Egypt's treasures. Used as the capital of ancient Egypt, the city is home to the world famous Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens alongside numerous vast temples and necropolises.

On mentioning Egyptian Heritage Sites, the three Giza Pyramids are the first thing that comes to the mind with the smaller pyramids surrounding them.

Nubian monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae are the most iconic and mysterious World Heritage in Egypt.

Actions taken to protect Egyptian heritage sites

The government has already launched several restoration works in many historic places across Egypt to protectthem from erosion and preserve their features.

On December 12, the Ministry of Antiquities announced starting the first phase of the restoration works in Madi village, south-west of Fayoum, after being abandoned by foreign restoration missions.

The ancient statues located in the village lost some cohesive parts of limestone due to their constant exposure to erosion factors such as direct sunlight, rain water and wind.


Gharib Sonbol, head of the Repairing and Restoration Section at the Ministry of Antiquities, affirmed that restoration of the brick walls of the ancient houses that were once homes for the priests is currently taking place. Sonbol also pointed out that the ancient city is currently being mechanically and chemically cleaned.

According to Sonbol, the second stage of the city's restoration and development into a distinctive tourist attraction is being planned; the ancient site witnessed numerous significant events in both the old and modern eras.


It is worth mentioning that the city of Madi hosts the temples of King Amenemhat III and IV in the Middle Kingdom era (the 12th Dynasty). During the Roman era, a collection of black statues were built there.


The layout of the temples is simple and consistent with the character of the temples of the central state. The Ptolemaic Temple and the Roman Temple are also located in the ancient village.

Furthermore, the Egyptian Archaeological mission restored in April the façade of Luxor Temple. It has been restored after the destruction of the Statues of Ramses ll about 1,600 years ago by the colonists. Made of black granite, the statue is about 12 meters high and weighs almost 70 tons.


The restoration works were carried out under the patronage of the minister of antiquities.
Director General of Luxor Antiquities and the Head of the Egyptian Archaeological Mission, Waziri, said that two statues of King Ramses were restored, the first was restored on April 18, 2017 and the second on April 20, 2018.

Meanwhile, on stepping out from one of the buildings in the newly-renovated Shereifein Street situated in Al Borsa district, one finds themselves before a nineteenth-century-style street.

Speaking to Egypt Today, Omar Mostafa, the engineer in charge of the renovation, said that the renovation of Shereifen Street is part of the major Khedival Cairo Development project, which started in 2012 to revitalize Khedival Cairo, extending through Downtown from Qasr Al-Nil Street to Attaba.

The project aims to preserve Downtown’s historic character, restore its ornamental facades, and rescue the area from degeneration after it had been neglected and damaged due to climate factors. The revitalization has been undertaken under the auspices of Cairo governorate and the National Organization for Urban Harmony.