The Egyptian government is pressing ahead with a large-scale tourism redevelopment around Mount Sinai despite mounting opposition from local communities, religious leaders and conservationists who say the plans risk disfiguring one of the world's most sacred religious landscapes.
The proposed project calls for five luxury hotels, hundreds of villas, a visitor centre, a shopping complex, a cable car and an expansion of the nearby airport. Egyptian officials have described the initiative as "a gift to the entire world and all religions" and said it will revive tourism in a region that has struggled in recent years.
Critics have warned the development will transform a remote, spiritual landscape into an overbuilt resort town, comparing the potential result to the mass-tourism hub of Sharm el-Sheikh on the Sinai coast. Former EU official John Grainger, who previously worked on development efforts in the Sinai, called the plan "the Grand Disfiguration Project." Conservationists and UNESCO have cited the area's "rugged mountainous landscape" and warned that it contains irreplaceable religious and archaeological sites that require careful study before any construction.
Local Bedouin communities, including members of the Jebeleya tribe who are traditionally regarded as guardians of Mount Sinai, say the plan has advanced without their consent. Reports say some homes have been demolished and cemeteries paved over to make way for car parks and construction zones. British travel writer Ben Hoffler, who has worked with Sinai tribes, said: "A new urban world is being built around a Bedouin tribe of nomadic heritage. It's a world they have always chosen to remain detached from, to whose construction they did not consent."
The Greek Orthodox Church, which administers St. Catherine's Monastery near the mountain, has also expressed disapproval. Earlier this year an Egyptian court ruled the monastery sits on state land and therefore has rights to use but not own the land it occupies. Greek Archbishop Ieronymos II warned the decision posed "a direct threat to the monastery's existence," saying it risked "seizure and expropriation." Church leaders fear large-scale development near the monastery would undermine both its spiritual character and the safety of ancient religious artifacts and manuscripts it houses.
UNESCO has raised concerns about the absence or inadequacy of environmental impact assessments for the project. The agency cautioned that rapid, poorly regulated construction could damage archaeological sites, fragile ecosystems and the cultural landscape revered by Christians, Jews and Muslims alike.
Egyptian Housing Minister Sherif el-Sherbiny defended the plans, saying the development would be "in harmony" with the local environment and provide jobs by reviving tourism. Government statements have framed the programme as part of a broader effort to boost visitor numbers and improve services at major heritage sites across the country.
Critics, however, question whether local residents will benefit from employment opportunities. They say workers are likely to be brought in from other parts of Egypt rather than hired from nearby Bedouin communities, potentially exacerbating social and economic tensions in the region.
The controversy over Mount Sinai comes as Egypt moves forward with a separate upgrade at the Pyramids of Giza intended to improve the visitor experience. That $51 million project led by Orascom Pyramids Entertainment Services Company includes the introduction of electric shuttle buses and other measures aimed at managing crowds and modernizing facilities.
The Mount Sinai redevelopment plan remains contentious, with opponents calling for comprehensive environmental studies, legal protections for heritage sites and formal consent from local communities before construction proceeds. Egyptian authorities say planning will continue and that the project will be carried out with respect for the area's religious and cultural significance.