UNESCO hails Egypt’s success in saving one of its most significant early Christian archaeological landmarks
In a major heritage milestone, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee has officially removed the ancient archaeological site of Abu Mena, located in Borg El-Arab, Alexandria, from the List of World Heritage in Danger. The announcement was made during the 47th session of the Committee currently convening in Paris, marking a new chapter in Egypt’s long-term efforts to protect and preserve its cultural heritage in line with global standards.
The decision follows the Committee’s review of the 2025 joint reactive monitoring mission report, prepared by the World Heritage Centre in cooperation with the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). The report highlighted the significant progress achieved at Abu Mena, most notably the successful installation of a specialized groundwater monitoring and management system. Designed to stabilize rising water levels that once threatened the ancient structures, the system’s effectiveness has been proven through consistent periodic measurements.
The mission also praised Egypt’s full implementation of all prior corrective recommendations, concluding that the Desired State of Conservation for Removal (DSOCR) had been completely met. In light of this, the Committee endorsed the removal of Abu Mena from the endangered list, congratulating Egypt on what it described as a notable international success that reflects the country’s ongoing commitment to preserving its cultural identity and exceptional heritage sites.
A National Triumph
Dr. Sherif Fathy, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, welcomed the announcement with pride, describing the removal of Abu Mena from the danger list as a “significant achievement for the Egyptian state.†He pointed to the efforts over recent years to reduce groundwater levels, restore deteriorated architectural elements, and develop basic visitor services across the archaeological zone. These initiatives, he explained, have ensured the site’s sustainability for future generations and brought it back in line with international conservation criteria.
Dr. Fathy extended his gratitude to all concerned state institutions, the Coptic Orthodox Church, and every specialist and technician who contributed to the success of this national project. He emphasized that the achievement reflects Egypt’s unified will to preserve its cultural and historical legacy, calling it a model of successful cooperation among government, religious institutions, and civil society.
The Minister also sent a personal message of appreciation to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, commending the Church’s ongoing support and involvement in safeguarding the sacred Christian site.
Global Recognition of a Local Commitment
According to Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the World Heritage Committee’s decision represents a form of international endorsement of Egypt’s preservation strategy. He noted that the state’s efforts included the reinforcement of key archaeological elements, along with the creation of a precision-engineered system to monitor and regulate the groundwater table—a system that proved its success through routine assessments verified by the 2025 joint monitoring mission.
Dr. Khaled affirmed that Egypt is committed to sustaining this progress, with plans to continuously update the conservation strategy in collaboration with UNESCO advisory bodies. This includes maintaining and operating the groundwater control infrastructure, ensuring consistent allocation of technical and financial resources, and delivering regular updates to the World Heritage Centre on all matters related to the site’s condition.
Abu Mena: A Sacred Site Restored
Dr. Gamal Mostafa, Head of the Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish Antiquities Sector, described Abu Mena as one of early Christianity’s most revered pilgrimage destinations, second only to Jerusalem. The site, which dates to the 4th–6th centuries AD, was placed on the World Heritage List in 1979 in recognition of its exceptional religious and architectural significance. Pilgrims once traveled from across the Mediterranean to visit the burial place of Saint Menas, a Roman soldier-saint martyred during the reign of Diocletian.
Among the site’s most significant archaeological remains are the sacred well believed to hold Saint Menas’ tomb, the Great Basilica, and the Pilgrims’ Courtyard—each bearing testimony to the site’s spiritual importance and urban planning.
However, intensive land reclamation projects and the use of flood irrigation techniques in the surrounding agricultural zones caused a sharp rise in groundwater levels, which posed a direct threat to the stability of the site’s mudbrick structures. As a result, Abu Mena was placed on the World Heritage in Danger List in 2001.
Engineering Heritage: A Model Project
In response, Egypt launched a multi-year conservation effort beginning with a comprehensive study of the site’s hydrogeological conditions. The project to lower groundwater levels began in 2019, following completion of the necessary technical designs for both implementation and long-term operation.
A trial run of the system commenced in November 2021, and the infrastructure was officially inaugurated in 2022 by then-Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Dr. Khaled El-Enany. Alongside this engineering intervention, the project included the architectural restoration of Abu Mena’s surviving elements, ensuring their structural integrity and visual coherence.
According to UNESCO’s latest report, the combined impact of these efforts enabled the site to meet the full criteria for removal from the danger list—a rare and noteworthy outcome in international heritage management.
Sustaining the Legacy
As Egypt celebrates this victory, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is already working to ensure the long-term sustainability of Abu Mena. This includes refining its conservation framework, coordinating with international advisory organizations, and reinforcing a multi-agency approach that combines scientific expertise, religious stewardship, and government oversight.
With Abu Mena now restored to stable condition, it stands once again as a beacon of Egypt’s Christian heritage and a model of collaborative heritage recovery both locally and internationally.
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