Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly has stressed the importance of exploring how best to benefit from Alexandria’s underwater heritage in Abu Qir Bay, Alexandria.
Such plans aligns with the state’s broader goal of supporting the tourism sector as one of Egypt’s most promising economic drivers, Madbouly said.
The premier made these remarks as he chaired a meeting on Monday to discuss potential ways of making utmost benefit from the sunken antiquities in Abu Qir Bay.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy, Alexandria Governor Ahmed Khaled, Head of the Egyptian Navy Hydrographic Department Sameh Suleiman, and Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mohamed Ismail.
Madbouly underscored the need for a comprehensive survey of submerged antiquities and raised the possibility of establishing an underwater museum with tourist access routes, similar to initiatives in other countries.
The Prime Minister also proposed considering the extraction and exhibition of these artifacts in museums.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy pointed to the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to preserve the submerged antiquities in Abu Qir Bay, highlighting the work being carried out by the Supreme Council of Antiquities in this domain.
Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mohamed Ismail reviewed the council’s coordination efforts with various partners and UNESCO to explore the feasibility of creating an underwater museum, along with the necessary regulatory frameworks.
He also outlined the council’s approved guidelines for handling submerged antiquities, especially those found in Abu Qir Bay.
Ismail referred to the considerable potential for uncovering more underwater archaeological sites in Egypt, noting that several active excavation missions are already underway.
For his part, Alexandria Governor Ahmed Khaled highlighted opportunities for collaboration with international partners and archaeological missions, presenting proposals for displaying submerged antiquities to enhance Alexandria’s tourism offerings.
He also pointed to the potential for developing diving sites to allow visitors to view underwater relics firsthand.
The prime minister eventually directed the preparation of a comprehensive inventory of sunken antiquities suitable for extraction, and the development of a plan to recover and display them in dedicated museums.
He set a one-month timeline to identify potential tourist diving locations for exploring submerged heritage.
In response, the minister of tourism said that his ministry would draft a detailed vision to be submitted within a month. This plan, he added, will assess sites suitable for development as diving locations or for artifact recovery, in line with UNESCO regulations.
