St Catherine’s Monastery, a revered Byzantine site nestled at the foot of Mount Sinai in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, is on the brink of transformation into a luxury tourism hub. The Egyptian government has kicked off one of the largest, most ambitious development projects in the world. This vision calls for building hotels, eco-lodges, and a large new visitor center. This ambitious project has raised alarm bells. Folks are concerned about what it would mean for the monastery’s unique cultural heritage and the nearby Bedouin population.
The Monastery of St Catherine of Alexandria, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been a sanctuary for Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike. It is home to a very small mosque constructed during the Fatimid period and it holds a wealth of ancient Christian manuscripts. Today, the monastery remains a resounding testament to centuries of spiritual significance and historical reverence. King Charles serves as the patron of St Catherine’s Foundation, which actively raises funds to conserve and study the site’s heritage.
Critics of the proposed developments, including the expansion of a nearby airport and a new cable car to access Mount Moses, have raised concerns. As a result, they worry that such developments could undermine the spirituality and character of the Monastery. The local Bedouin community is comprised of a wonderful new generation of the Jebeleya tribe. This tribe includes 1300 members, many of whom have resided in the area for centuries. There has been alarm that these new advances focus more on the interests of tourists than on the needs and rights of the capital’s working-class citizens.
The monastery’s land is being confiscated and expropriated. But today, this spiritual hearth of Orthodoxy and Hellenism is under an existential threat,” said Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens. His sentiments are emblematic of the concerns that have crossed the minds of many stakeholders. They contend that this mega-project not only threatens the site but is an existential threat to the local indigenous culture.
Ben Hoffler, a campaigner for the indigenous Jebeleya tribe argued that the development would be culturally inappropriate. “This is not development as the Jebeleya see it or asked for it, but how it looks when imposed top-down to serve the interests of outsiders over those of the local community,” he remarked. Hoffler emphasized that the new urban landscape being constructed around a nomadic Bedouin tribe disregards their historical connection to the land.
The local Bedouins have long served as guides and guardians of the area’s wealth of heritage. Egyptian journalist Mohannad Sabry noted, “The Bedouin were the people of the region, and they were the guides, the workers, the people to rent from.” He lamented that “then industrial tourism came in and they were pushed out—not just pushed out of business but physically pushed back from the sea into the background.”
Supporters of the controversial development maintain that it will improve the Capstone State’s tourism offerings, and diversify and grow its economies. Critics like Archbishop Damianos aren’t quite as sanguine. Their top executive, President Yogi Sitamaran, called the latest project “a very grave blow for us… and a national disgrace.” He stressed his passion for cultural stewardship and community well-being.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem highlighted the monastery’s role as “an enshrinement of peace between Christians and Muslims and a refuge of hope for a world mired by conflict.” For this reason, many are alarmed that turning this hallowed ground into a tourism-oriented amusement park goes against exactly what this place is and should be.
For his part, Housing Minister Sherif el-Sherbiny defended the initiative with great passion. He claimed that it would provide valuable tourism and recreational services for tourists, while minimizing the environmental impacts. He demanded that they commit to more—to really dig in and protect the antiquity, beauty and artistic quality of this unspoiled land. This whole area encompasses the historic St. Catherine’s Monastery.
Skepticism still looms among local advocates who doubt if their voices will be heard through a process characterized by such sweeping national change. Hoffler warned that this development is creating “a world they have always chosen to remain detached from, to whose construction they did not consent, and one that will change their place in their homeland forever.”
Concerns over the future of St. Catherine’s Monastery have ignited a heated debate. Stakeholders are working hard to strike a balance between economic development and cultural legacy. Now, this sacred site stands at a critical juncture. Its immense historical value faces off with a dark, tourism-development-fueled future.