Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities signed an agreement on June 2 to transfer Cairo’s historical area of Bab al-Azab, which includes the imposing Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi Citadel, to the control of the Egyptian Sovereign Wealth Fund to develop and manage the site in order to increase its tourism appeal.

Overlooking Egypt’s capital and dominating its eastern skyline, the Cairo Citadel, was erected in the 13th century and for nearly 700 years was the home of the country’s rulers. The fortress, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of Islamic Cairo in 1979, features towers and gateways and its walls encircle a number of museums and three mosques, including the famous Mohamed Ali Mosque, commissioned in the 19th century. It is one of the main non-pharaonic tourist attractions of Cairo.

“Bab al-Azab includes very important monuments of medieval heritage and it is one of the main sites in Historic Cairo, so it is very important to develop the site,” cultural heritage researcher Karim Badr told Al-Monitor. 

“There were many development projects, but they were for developing the archaeological sites, restoring monuments, antiquities and buildings, and the area is still in need of an integrated development that can enhance visitors’ experience,” Badr said.