280218_Luxor-Egypt SECAP Final_revised

Image 1: Location of Al-Qurna in the west bank of the
Governorate of Luxor
Image source: Googlemaps
Image 2: Natural barriers surrounding Al-Qurna
Image source: Googlemaps
a. Agriculture b. Tourism c. Sailing d. Alabaster factory
Source:http://www.apersonalguide.co.uk
/egypt/visit/pics/Alabaster-outside.jpg
Image 3: Activities in AlQurna
2.2. Institutional and Legal framework
A Presidential decree was issued by the late President Sadat in 1980, supported by a UNESCO declaration in
1979 considering Al-Qurna and the whole West Bank area as a World heritage site. That is how the whole
area, administratively, came under the responsibility of the Supreme Council of Antiquity (SCA), the Ministry of
Antiquities.
The non-archaeological sites, predominantly all the agricultural green belt along the Nile River and the urban
zones outside the walled-up premises of the archaeological sites and all their demands and municipal
problems are the responsibility of the governorate and the concerned locality.
Article 29 of the Egyptian Constitution criminalises violations on the agricultural areas, yet it has not proven
any efficiency.
“The State shall protect and expand agricultural land, and shall criminalise encroachments thereon. It shall
develop rural areas; raise the standard of living of their population and protect them from environmental risks;
and shall strive to on develop agricultural and animal production and encourage industries based thereon. 2 ”
PS. Law enforcement is not efficient for there are no other alternatives to provide for necessary lands for
development due to the growing demand in Al-Qurna for housing.
Yet, based on research, there is no exact law relevant to sustainable urban growth and sprawl.
2
Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt, 2014
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