One of the world’s most sacred places is being turned into a luxury mega-resort

By Yolande Knell

Mount Sinai—known locally as Jabal Musa—is one of Egypt’s most sacred sites, revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. It’s believed to be where Moses received the Ten Commandments and where, according to both the Bible and the Quran, God spoke to the prophet from the burning bush.

For centuries, the mountain and the 6th-century St Catherine’s Monastery—recognized as the world’s oldest continually operating Christian monastery—have drawn pilgrims and tourists, many guided by members of the local Bedouin Jebeleya tribe.

But now, this revered landscape is at the center of a growing controversy. A major state-backed tourism initiative—the Great Transfiguration Project—aims to transform the area with luxury hotels, shopping centers, and new infrastructure. And while the Egyptian government promotes it as a gift to the world and a boost to tourism, critics say it’s being forced upon the local Bedouin community and threatening both cultural and spiritual heritage.

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The 6th Century St Catherine’s is the world’s oldest continuously used Christian monastery [Universal Images Group via Getty Images]

Cultural Clash at a Sacred Site

Construction is already reshaping the once-remote Plain of el-Raha, at the foot of Mount Sinai. This is where the Israelites are said to have waited as Moses ascended the mountain. The entire area, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, is undergoing rapid development—despite international concerns and local opposition.

“This isn’t development as the Jebeleya see it or asked for,” said British travel writer Ben Hoffler, who has worked closely with Sinai’s tribes. “It’s development imposed from the top down, serving outside interests rather than the local community.”

The Jebeleya tribe, known as the “Guardians of St Catherine,” have already seen homes and eco-tourism camps destroyed—often without compensation. Even graves in the local cemetery have been relocated to make way for a new parking lot.

Mounting International Tensions

Tensions escalated in May 2024 when an Egyptian court ruled that St Catherine’s Monastery stands on state land, sparking diplomatic friction with Greece. The ruling said the monastery was only entitled to “use” the land it occupies—not own it.

Greek officials, whose Orthodox Church oversees the monastery, condemned the ruling. Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens called it “an existential threat” and “a disgrace.” St Catherine’s Archbishop Damianos has since stepped down amid internal tensions.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem reminded Egypt that the site had been granted protection by the Prophet Muhammad himself. Uniquely, the monastery also houses a small Fatimid-era mosque, symbolizing long-standing interfaith coexistence.

Ultimately, Egypt and Greece issued a joint declaration promising to preserve the monastery’s religious and cultural identity. But the court ruling still stands.

UNESCO Warnings Ignored

The area is known for its natural beauty and rugged mountainous landscape [Ben Hoffler]

Tourism vs. Tradition

Egypt launched the Great Transfiguration Project in 2021, proposing new hotels, eco-lodges, a large visitor center, and even a cable car to the summit of Mount Sinai. Officials claim the development will respect the area’s visual and cultural character while providing jobs and boosting tourism.

But the stark contrast between this modern vision and the ancient, spiritual nature of the region is raising alarms.

“An urban world is being built around a nomadic tribe,” said Hoffler. “It’s one they’ve always chosen to remain apart from, and they didn’t consent to its construction. It will permanently alter their place in their homeland.”

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