The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. Cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites). Natural features (consisting of physical and biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants), and natural sites which are important from the point of view of science, conservation, or natural beauty, are defined as natural heritage. Egypt ratified the convention on 7 February 1974, the second country to do so, after the United States. There are seven World Heritage Sites in Egypt, and a further 34 sites on the tentative list.
The first sites in Egypt were listed in 1979, when five properties were inscribed. Since then, two more sites have been listed, Saint Catherine Area in 2002 and Wadi al Hitan in 2005. The latter is the only natural site in Egypt, the other sites being listed for their cultural properties. One of the key events that triggered the development of the World Heritage Convention was related to Egypt. Following the decision to construct the Aswan Dam on the Nile which would result in flooding of numerous archaeological sites in Lower Nubia, an international campaign was launched in 1959 to preserve the sites by dismantling them and reassembling them at safe locations. From 2001 to 2025, Abu Mena was listed as endangered because the rising water table was decreasing the stability of clay-based soils, resulting in threats to the structural integrity of the monuments. The situation has improved by 2024. Egypt has served on the World Heritage Committee five times.
World Heritage Sites UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural.
+ Site Image Location (governorate) Year listed Description Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur Giza 1979 86; i, iii, vi (cultural) Memphis was the capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt and was founded around 3000 BCE. Its most important temple was dedicated to Ptah. The Pyramid fields comprise some of the main clusters of Egyptian pyramids, including the Giza pyramid complex (pictured) with the Great Pyramid of Giza (the only one surviving of the Seven Wonders of the World) and the Great Sphinx, pyramids at Dahshur, the complex at Saqqara, and the complex at Abusir. There are more than 38 pyramids in the area, as well as their architectural predecessors, mastabas, rock tombs, and temples. Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis Luxor 1979 87; i, iii, vi (cultural) Thebes was the capital of Egypt for long periods during the Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom eras. It was the holy city of Amun and the religious capital for most of Egypt's history. The main monuments date from the period from 1500 to 1000 BCE and include colossal temples at Karnak and Luxor (pictured) and royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. Some of the best known are the Mortuary temple of Hatshepsut and the Tomb of Tutankhamun. Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae Aswan 1979 88; i, iii, vi (cultural) This site comprises ten monuments from different periods of Egyptian history that were relocated in an international campaign from the 1960s to 1980s to save them from the rising waters of the Nile, following the construction of the Aswan Dam. The monuments are: Abu Simbel (commissioned by Ramesses II, relocation pictured), New Amada, New Wadi Sebua, New Kalabsha, the Philae temple complex (on Agilkia Island, from Greco-Roman period), Qubbet el-Hawa (Old and Middle Kingdom Tombs), the ruins of the town of Elephantine, stone quarries and an unfinished obelisk, the Monastery of St. Simeon, and the Fatimid Cemetery. Historic Cairo Cairo 1979 89; i, v, vi (cultural) Cairo was founded as the seat of the Fatimid Caliphate in the 10th century on the site of earlier cities. It was a major city during and after the Islamic Golden Age, with scholars, scientists, medical doctors, artists, writers, and traders living there or visiting. Construction shifted to other parts of the city in the 19th century, leaving the historical part preserved, although in the 21st century the area suffers from deterioration of the traditional urban fabric, neglect and lack of maintenance, and overcrowding. Historic Cairo features ensembles of Tulunid, Fatimid, and Mamluk buildings, including the Mosque of Ibn Tulun from the 8th century, numerous shrines, madrasas, hammams, and fountains.Abu Mena Alexandria 1979 90; iv (cultural) The Early Christian centre developed around the tomb of Menas of Alexandria, who died in 296. The site was a pilgrimage centre in classical antiquity and remained important for the Coptic community in the following centuries. The archaeological site comprises a church, a baptistery, basilicas, public buildings, streets, monasteries, houses, and workshops. The main buildings were constructed in ashlar limestone while simple houses were in mudbrick. From 2001 to 2025, the site was listed as endangered because the rising water table was decreasing the stability of the clay-based soils, resulting in threats to structural integrity of the monuments. The situation has improved by 2024. Saint Catherine Area South Sinai 2002 954; i, iii, iv, vi (cultural) The Orthodox monastery of Saint Catherine was founded in the 6th century and is the oldest functioning Christian monastery. It was built at the site of what is traditionally believed to be Mount Horeb – the place where, according to the Old Testament, Moses received the Tablets of the Law. The region is sacred for Christians, Muslims and Jews. The monastery hosts exceptional examples of Byzantine art, as well as collections of manuscripts. Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley) Faiyum 2005 1186; viii (cultural) Wadi Al-Hitan is the most important fossil site to the study of the evolution of cetaceans from terrestrial to marine mammals. Excavations have uncovered numerous often complete fossils of the earliest order of whales, archaeoceti, in the last stages of losing their hind limbs. The site also provides clues about the environment these animals lived in.
Tentative list In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list. Egypt maintains 34 properties on its tentative list.