In a development that has triggered a global outcry, one of the world’s most sacred places—the site where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments—is being irrevocably transformed into a luxury mega-resort. The ambitious, state-backed project, dubbed “The Great Transfiguration,” is erecting villas, a massive conference center, and a cable car to the mountain’s summit, sparking a fierce debate over the clash between religious heritage and commercial ambition.
The massive project, launched by the Egyptian government, is framed as a long-overdue economic development for the remote Sinai region. Officials have spoken of their vision to turn the area, which includes the revered St. Catherine’s Monastery, into a “world-class spiritual tourism destination.” But for religious leaders, historians, and local communities, the transformation is a monstrous desecration.
The plan, set for completion by 2026, includes the construction of new hotels, shopping complexes, and expanded airport facilities. A highlight of the development is a proposed cable car that will whisk tourists to the top of Mount Sinai, a journey of profound spiritual significance that has been undertaken for centuries on foot. Critics argue this modernization will shatter the solitude and spiritual atmosphere that has drawn countless pilgrims and seekers to the mountain.
“This is not development as the local people see it,” said Ben Hoffler, a British travel writer and advocate for the indigenous Bedouin communities in the area. “It is how it looks when imposed top-down to serve the interests of outsiders over those of the local community.”
The Bedouin Jebeleya tribe, known for centuries as the guardians of the monastery and its surrounding land, have been particularly vocal about their displacement. Reports from human rights groups allege that homes and even ancient tribal graves have been bulldozed to make way for new roads and infrastructure, with little to no compensation offered to the indigenous people who have lived there for generations.
The controversy has also drawn the attention of international organizations, with UNESCO repeatedly urging Egypt to halt construction and submit conservation plans for the World Heritage site. To date, no such plan has been submitted, prompting some heritage groups to call for the site to be declared endangered.
As bulldozers carve new roads into the desert landscape, and the half-finished concrete shells of hotels rise in the shadow of the mountain, the future of this ancient landscape hangs in the balance. The Egyptian government has made its economic vision clear, but its critics believe it is a vision that risks destroying the very soul of a place revered by billions. The fate of Mount Sinai will ultimately be a test of whether a nation’s development goals can be achieved without sacrificing the integrity of its most sacred spiritual treasures.