Mount Sinai At The Crossroads Of Development And Displacement: Mega Tourism Project Of Egypt Endangers Sacred Landscape And Bedouin Heritage

Published on September 7, 2025

For generations, travelers person made their measurement to Mount Sinai to acquisition its belief significance, guided by nan section Bedouin tribes who person agelong called this rugged godforsaken home. Visitors would embark connected hikes led by nan Bedouins to witnesser breathtaking sunrises complete nan ancient scenery aliases research different trails, immersing themselves successful nan earthy beauty and heavy taste history of nan region. However, this ineffable place, revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike, is now astatine nan halfway of a awesome contention that could everlastingly change its identity.

At nan bosom of nan conflict is nan Egyptian government’s scheme to move nan Mount Sinai area, known locally arsenic Jabal Musa, into a large-scale tourism hub, sparking tensions pinch nan Bedouin communities and belief leaders. Mount Sinai is believed to beryllium wherever nan prophet Moses received nan Ten Commandments and where, according to some nan Bible and nan Quran, God said to Moses from nan burning bush. Additionally, nan St Catherine’s Monastery, 1 of nan world’s oldest continuously utilized Christian monasteries, lies nestled beneath nan mountain. It is an iconic tract for belief pilgrimage, drafting visitors from each faiths.

The Great Transfiguration Project: A Bold Vision for Tourism

The Egyptian government’s eager Great Transfiguration Project was launched successful 2021 arsenic portion of a broader inaugural to boost tourism and toggle shape nan region into a awesome tourer destination. The scheme envisions nan building of luxury hotels, villas, shopping bazaars, and eco-lodges. The improvement includes nan description of nan adjacent airdrome and nan building of a cablegram car to Mount Sinai. These caller infrastructures are intended to service arsenic “Egypt’s gift to nan world” by providing a top-tier tourism experience, while simultaneously promoting nan improvement of nan adjacent municipality of St Catherine and its surroundings.

While nan Egyptian authorities person framed this task arsenic a much-needed boost to nan region’s economy, critics reason that it threatens nan very principle of nan land. The Bedouin community, peculiarly nan Jebeleya tribe, who person lived successful this godforsaken for centuries, look nan demolition of their homes and accepted eco-camps, pinch small aliases nary compensation offered. The tribe’s heavy relationship to this land, which they person agelong safeguarded, is nether threat arsenic nan area is transformed to cater to wide tourism.

Bedouin Displacement and Cultural Loss

The Jebeleya tribe, known arsenic nan Guardians of St Catherine, has been vocal astir their concerns, arsenic they watch their accepted homes and graves being displaced. In 1 disturbing instance, bodies were removed from their graves to make measurement for a caller car park. This forced displacement of nan Bedouins contrasts sharply pinch nan government’s portrayal of nan improvement arsenic a “sustainable” task aimed astatine improving nan lives of section people. Ben Hoffler, a British recreation writer who has spent years moving pinch Sinai tribes, argues that this improvement is not being led by nan Bedouins, nor was it requested by them. Instead, it is simply a top-down inaugural that prioritizes nan interests of outer stakeholders complete nan taste practice of nan indigenous people.

Locals, though hesitant to speak out, are facing an uncertain future. The Bedouin community, numbering astir 4,000 people, is being reshaped by forces beyond their control. As luxury developments return root, their ancient measurement of life is progressively incompatible pinch nan caller municipality scenery being built astir them.

The Greek Orthodox Church’s Role and Tensions pinch Egypt

The translator of Mount Sinai is besides causing tensions betwixt Egypt and Greece. The St Catherine’s Monastery, operated by nan Greek Orthodox Church, has been a focal constituent successful nan ongoing dispute. The Egyptian tribunal ruling successful May 2025 that St Catherine’s Monastery is built connected authorities onshore and that nan monastery only has “use rights” to nan spot was met pinch outrage successful Athens. Archbishop Ieronymos II, nan caput of nan Church of Greece, condemned nan determination arsenic a usurpation of nan monastery’s rights. He warned that nan ruling poses an existential threat to 1 of nan world’s oldest and astir revered Christian sanctuaries.

Despite these tensions, negotiated efforts betwixt Greece and Egypt person resulted successful a associated declaration that intends to protect nan Greek Orthodox personality and taste practice of nan monastery. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem has emphasized nan humanities and belief value of nan monastery, highlighting its domiciled arsenic a awesome of bid betwixt Christians and Muslims. The monastery, which houses some a Christian church and a small mosque built during nan Fatimid period, is viewed arsenic a unsocial practice of belief harmony successful a region often plagued by conflict.

Environmental and Cultural Impacts

The improvement of nan area has drawn crisp disapproval from UNESCO, which recognizes nan tract arsenic a World Heritage Site. According to UNESCO, nan earthy scenery surrounding St Catherine’s Monastery is of outstanding cosmopolitan value, noting really nan rugged terrain forms a stunning backdrop for nan monastery and really nan site’s distant location has fostered belief committedness for centuries. The translator of nan area, pinch caller roads, building of hotels, and different infrastructure, is seen arsenic a usurpation of nan biology and taste integrity that makes Mount Sinai truthful special.

The Plain of el-Raha, a tract believed to beryllium wherever nan Israelites waited for Moses during their journey, is now being reshaped by construction. Critics reason that nan unsocial earthy characteristics of this ineffable onshore are being destroyed successful nan sanction of development. The area’s taste and belief essence, which has been preserved for thousands of years, is astatine consequence of being mislaid forever.

The Future of Mount Sinai

As nan statement complete nan Great Transfiguration Project continues, nan early of Mount Sinai remains uncertain. While nan Egyptian authorities insists that nan improvement will beryllium a boon for tourism and nan section economy, it is clear that Bedouin tribes and belief groups are concerned astir nan semipermanent effects connected nan region’s heritage. For nan Jebeleya tribe, and for nan millions of group who clasp Mount Sinai sacred, nan task represents an irreversible alteration to a scenery that has remained untouched for millennia. As building continues, nan destiny of this revered land, and nan group who telephone it home, hangs successful nan balance.