Sacred Mount Sinai Faces Tensions as Egypt Pushes Controversial Tourism Mega-Project

For centuries, pilgrims and travelers have journeyed up Mount Sinai, guided by Bedouins, to witness its sacred sunrise and explore its rugged landscape. Revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims as the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments, the mountain—known locally as Jabal Musa—is now at the center of fierce controversy.

Egypt has launched the Great Transfiguration Project, a state-backed mega-development that promises luxury hotels, villas, a cable car to Mount Moses, and expanded infrastructure in the UNESCO World Heritage site of St Catherine’s. Authorities describe the project as “Egypt’s gift to the entire world and all religions,” designed to boost tourism and revive the economy.

But critics say it threatens centuries of heritage, spiritual peace, and local traditions. The Jebeleya Bedouin tribe, known as the “Guardians of St Catherine,” have already seen homes and eco-camps demolished, with some even forced to exhume graves for new construction. “This is not development as the Jebeleya see it,” said British travel writer Ben Hoffler. “It’s being imposed to serve outsiders over the local community.”

The 6th-century St Catherine’s Monastery, one of the world’s oldest Christian monasteries still in use, also faces uncertainty. A May court ruling declared the monastery sits on state land, sparking outrage in Greece and straining relations with Cairo. Greek Orthodox leaders denounced the move as an existential threat, pointing out that the site has been protected since the Byzantine era—even by a letter of protection from the Prophet Muhammad.

UNESCO and campaign groups have repeatedly warned Egypt about the risks of unchecked development. In 2023, the UN agency urged a halt to construction and called for a conservation plan, while World Heritage Watch has pushed for the site to be listed as “in danger.” Britain’s King Charles, patron of the St Catherine Foundation, described the monastery as “a great spiritual treasure that should be maintained for future generations.”

Despite the opposition, construction has already transformed parts of the Plain of el-Raha, where, according to scripture, the Israelites once waited for Moses. Roads, hotels, and other facilities continue to rise, altering the fragile desert landscape once valued for its isolation and natural beauty.

For the Bedouin, the development revives painful history. Just as they were displaced during the rise of Red Sea resorts like Sharm el-Sheikh, many fear their culture and livelihoods will once again be erased in the name of industrial tourism.

Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s have endured upheavals for over a millennium, but campaigners warn that this time, the changes may be irreversible—shaping not only the landscape but also the spiritual and cultural identity of one of the world’s most sacred sites.