Archive · 5 Dec 2025
Egypt's Sinai tourism project sparks heritage concerns
Egypt is building a big tourism project near a very old Christian monastery in the Sinai mountains.
This place is special to three big religions and is a UNESCO world heritage site.
People who care about history and the local Bedouin tribe say the construction is hurting the nature and the old buildings.
They are worried about losing the special things that make this place unique.
The Egyptian government says the project will bring more visitors and help the local people, but others say it's causing more harm than good.
A court also ruled that the monastery is on state land, which has caused some problems with the monks who live there.
UNESCO, which protects special places around the world, has asked Egypt to stop the construction and make a plan to protect the area, but the building is still happening.
Egypt's $300M 'Great Transfiguration' project in Saint Catherine, Sinai, is causing environmental and cultural damage according to heritage experts and locals.
Construction includes hotels, a conference center, and housing units, altering the landscape and disrupting the serene mountain town.
UNESCO requested Egypt to halt the project, conduct an impact evaluation, and develop a conservation plan in 2023, but construction continues.
An Egyptian court ruled that the Saint Catherine monastery sits on state-owned land, sparking a diplomatic row with Greece and concerns about the monastery's future.
The Jabaliya tribe, who have lived in the area for 1,500 years, fear for their ancestral land and cultural heritage due to the project.
- Who
- Egyptian government, heritage experts, locals, UNESCO, World Heritage Watch, Saint Catherine monastery monks, Jabaliya tribe
- What
- Construction of a mega tourism project in Saint Catherine, Sinai, damaging the nature reserve and UNESCO world heritage site
- When
- Construction ongoing, project 90% complete as of January 2024; UNESCO requested halt in 2023
- Where
- Saint Catherine, Sinai, Egypt, near Mount Sinai (Jebel Moussa)
- Why
- To draw mass tourism to the area, but critics say it's causing environmental and cultural damage
- Project Name
- Great Transfiguration or Revelation of Saint Catherine
- Project Cost
- Nearly $300 million
- UNESCO Request
- Halt further development, conduct impact evaluation, develop conservation plan (2023)
- Construction Completion
- 90% complete (January 2024)
- Monastery Status
- State-owned land, monks entitled to use only (Egyptian court ruling, May 2024)
- UNESCO Chief
- Khaled El-Enany (Egypt's former tourism and antiquities minister)
- World Heritage Watch Action
- Urged UNESCO to list the area as a World Heritage site in danger (July 2024)