The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has inscribed three unique sites in Egypt to its Islamic world heritage list. The registration has been approved during ICESCO's last meeting in the Moroccan capital, Rabat. These sites are: the Egyptian Museum in Cairo's Tahrir Square; the Baron Palace in the Heliopolis district of Cairo; and the ancient Shali Fortress in Siwa Oasis. The inclusion follows the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' submission of files highlighting the archaeological and artistic dimensions of the sites, as well as their architectural elements. The ministry also made note, in reports, of the state of their preservation. Mostafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that the registration of these sites comes as part of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' strategy to highlight priority archaeological sites. This includes registering them on international heritage lists, to introduce them to visitors and improve them as tourist attractions. The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square was previously registered on the tentative list of UNESCO's world heritage last February. There have been comprehensive restoration operations carried out on Siwa's Shali Fortress, and the Baron Palace in Heliopolis. The Baron Palace's recent opening to visitors has contributed to its inscription to the ICESCO list.
