Dendera Temple & Rosetta Houses Joined the Islamic Heritage List

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization has approved the inscription of the Dendera Temple and the historic houses of Rosetta (Rashid) on the Islamic World Heritage List.

The decision was made during the 13th session of the Islamic World Heritage Committee, held in Tashkent in February. The additions bring Egypt’s total number of sites on the final list to six, joining Historic Cairo, the Red Monastery, the Baron Palace and Shali City.

Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, said the recognition reflects ongoing efforts to preserve Egypt’s cultural heritage and strengthen its position as a destination for cultural tourism.

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said the nomination process involved multiple government entities, including the Ministries of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Foreign Affairs and Emigration, alongside the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture.

Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said specialised teams prepared detailed scientific dossiers for both sites, covering architectural documentation, condition assessments and conservation strategies in line with international standards.

Five additional Egyptian sites remain under consideration on the tentative list, including Wadi El Natrun monasteries, the Nilometer, Al-Bagawat Necropolis, Al-Qasr and the Egyptian Museum.