The UNESCO World Heritage Committee officially removed Egypt's Abu Mena archaeological site in Borg El Arab, Alexandria, from the List of World Heritage in Danger. The decision came during the Committee's 47th session, currently underway at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris, from July 6 to 16, 2025. The move follows a joint 2025 monitoring mission by the World Heritage Centre and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which reported significant progress in preserving the site. Key among the improvements was the establishment of an effective groundwater monitoring and control system, which has successfully stabilised groundwater levels through continuous measurements. The report confirmed that all necessary conservation conditions for removing the site from the endangered list had been fully met. Egypt's Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish Antiquities Sector head Gamal Mostafa highlighted Abu Mena's exceptional historical and cultural value. The site, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, was once the second most important Christian pilgrimage destination after Jerusalem. Among the site's most notable archaeological discoveries are a well believed to contain the tomb of Saint Menas, the Great Basilica, and the pilgrims' courtyard—all of which underscore the spiritual and architectural significance of the monastery. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
