Today, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathi, chaired the Supreme Council of Antiquities Board meeting at the Ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. The meeting opened with a warm welcome to the council members and a heartfelt greeting in anticipation of the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, wishing Egypt prosperity and blessings.
During the meeting, the council reviewed its latest achievements across various sectors in January 2025. Among the highlights was the discovery of a marble head of an elderly man from the Ptolemaic period in the Tabusiris Magna area west of Alexandria, as well as the unearthing of four tombs from the late Second Dynasty and early Third Dynasty, along with over ten burials from the Eighteenth Dynasty.
The council also reported significant progress in restoration and maintenance works at various archaeological sites across Egypt, in line with scheduled timelines. These included the completion of restoration work on the Hatshepsut Shrine at the Stables of Antar site and the cleaning and restoration of the southeastern wall of the Hypostyle Hall at the Karnak Temple in Luxor.
In terms of ongoing restoration projects, the council noted significant progress, including 97% completion of the restoration of Qaitbay’s Khan on Bab al-Nasr Street in Cairo and 95% completion of the restoration of the Muhammad Bey Abu al-Dahab complex in the historic Darb Al-Ahmar area.
The council also celebrated the successful return of 33 stolen antiquities, including 26 pieces from Italy, one from the United States, and six from Australia. In addition, five other pieces were restored by the General Administration of Antiquities and Confiscated Items.
The meeting also reviewed the success of the temporary international exhibitions, with the “Pyramid Summit: Ancient Egyptian Civilization” exhibition in Shanghai, China, having attracted nearly 2 million visitors since its opening in July 2024. Additionally, the “Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs” exhibition, set to open in Tokyo in March 2025, achieved over 300,000 visitors during its six-month run in Cologne, Germany.
Efforts to enhance accessibility for visitors with disabilities in Egyptian museums were also discussed, with the installation of Braille signage and informative cards at the Imhotep Museum in Saqqara and the Royal Carriages Museum in Boulaq.
After reviewing the council’s achievements, the financial status for the current fiscal year (July 2024 to January 2025) was presented, along with comparisons to the same period in the previous year.Additionally, several decisions from the Permanent Committee for Egyptian, Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish Antiquities were approved regarding excavation missions and the registration of newly discovered artifacts.
The board approved several key agenda items, including a memorandum of cooperation between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Center for Islamic Civilization Studies in Uzbekistan, focusing on education, research, and cultural exchange. The council also announced the opening of the Royal Carriages Museum on Fridays and Sundays after Iftar during Ramadan, from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
