There are 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Egypt: 6 cultural and 1 natural.
- Abu Mena (1979)
- Ancient Thebes with Its Necropolis (1979)
- Historic Cairo (1979)
- The Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur (1979)
- Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae (1979)
- Saint Catherine Area (2002)
- Wadi Al-Hitan or Whale Valley (2005)
Abu Mena (1979)
This site was inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Egypt list in 1979 for its cultural importance. This early Christian holy city was built over a tomb of the martyrs of Menas of Alexandria. The city consists of a church, basilica, streets, monasteries, baptistery and more.
Located in the Governorate of Qina, the ancient city of Thebes was known as the city of the god Amon. It was the capital city of Egypt during the time of the Middle Ages. The city is also home to famous temples in Egypt such as Luxor and Karnak Temples. Meanwhile, the necropolises at the Valley of the Queens and Valley of the Kings continue to draw tourists. Thebes is the purest example of how Egypt civilization was during its height.
Historic Cairo (1979)
The Historic Cairo district in the modern urban area of Cairo is one of the oldest Islamic cities in the world. Historic Cairo is best known for its mosques, fountains, hammams and madrasas. The historic city of Cairo was established during the 10th century and became the capital of the Islamic World. The historic city of Cairo reached its height in the 14th century.
Considered as the capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, Giza is home to many extraordinary monuments such as temples, rock tombs and the pyramids. It was listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
This site belongs to the Governorate of Aswan wherein this archaeological site is home to many significant monuments to the history and culture of the land. Some of these sites include Abu Simbel Temples, the Sanctuary of Isis at Philae, and more. UNESCO also launched an International Campaign from 1960 to 1980 to save these monuments from the rising waters of the Nile River.
Saint Catherine Area (2002)
The Orthodox Monastery of St. Catherine was built on Mount Horeb, which according to the Old Testament is the same spot wherein Moses received the Tablets of the Law. Hence, the mountain is considered as a sacred site by all three of the world’s biggest religions: Christian, Islam and Judaism. The Monastery was built during the 6th century and is the oldest monastery under the Christian faith that remains functional until today. The rugged mountain and terrain provide the perfect backdrop to this sacred monastery.
Wadi Al-Hitan or Whale Valley (2005)
This is the only natural site in this list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Egypt. This area represents the Western Desert of Egypt wherein invaluable fossil remains of now-extinct whales were unearthed. This site is considered valuable as it showcases the evolution of a whale from a land-based mammal to being based in the ocean.