Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt’s Dendera Temple, Rosetta’s historic houses added to Islamic world heritage list
Egypt has secured new international recognition for its cultural heritage after the Islamic World Heritage Committee of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) approved the listing of the Dendera Temple complex in Qena and the historic houses of Rosetta in Beheira on the Islamic World Heritage List during its latest session in Tashkent.
Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy welcomed the decision, saying it reflects the success of the state’s strategy to highlight priority heritage sites and register them on international lists, helping to broaden global awareness and strengthen their tourism appeal.
He said the achievement underscores Egypt’s ongoing efforts to preserve its cultural legacy and reinforce its position as a leading cultural and tourist destination in the Islamic world and beyond.
Fathy expressed his appreciation to the ministries of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Foreign Affairs, Emigration, the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, and Egypt’s permanent delegation to ICESCO. He also praised the contributions of teams at the Tourism and Antiquities Ministry, including the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the General Department of International Relations and Agreements.
Hesham El-Leithy, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the council prepared comprehensive scientific dossiers for the sites, documenting their architectural features, artistic value and current preservation status in line with international standards.
Rana Gowhar, adviser to the minister for communication and external relations, said the two sites were officially added to the final list during the committee’s 13th session held in Tashkent from February 10 to 14. Their addition brings the number of Egyptian sites on the final Islamic World Heritage List to six, alongside the Red Monastery in Sohag, Historic Cairo, Baron Empain Palace in Cairo and the medieval city of Shali in Siwa Oasis.
Egypt also has five other sites on the preliminary list: the Wadi El-Natrun monasteries, the Nilometer on Rawda Island, the Bagawat necropolis, the historic town of Al-Qasr in the New Valley, and the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir.