Naguib Sawiris leads $47 million Pyramids of Giza upgrade

Key Points

• Naguib Sawiris and the Egyptian government invest $47 million to renovate and upgrade the Pyramids of Giza, addressing tourist complaints and site management issues.
• The renovation plan includes refurbishing tombs, launching an online ticketing system, and banning private vehicles, replacing them with electric buses for visitor transport.
• Sawiris defends relocating horse and camel vendors, prioritizing the preservation of Giza over vendor interests, amid protests and animal welfare concerns.

Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris, through his company Orascom Pyramids Entertainment, is teaming up with the government to invest $47 million in renovating and upgrading the Pyramids of Giza. This comes after growing complaints from tourists about poor management, aggressive traders, and disturbing reports of animal cruelty at the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The newly announced plan, backed by Sawiris, Egypt’s second-richest man with a fortune of $5 billion, aims to give the historic site a fresh start. Orascom Pyramids Entertainment Services Company, one of Sawiris’ businesses, will lead the project, which is expected to cost €45 million ($47 million). The focus is on cleaning up the site’s management, improving visitor experience, and introducing stricter regulations.

New upgrades aim to boost tourism in Egypt

Visitors over the years have raised serious concerns, citing everything from overcrowding and harassment by pushy vendors to heartbreaking scenes of animals being mistreated. But change is finally on the way. Under the new plan, several tombs will be refurbished, an online ticketing system will be launched, and a revamped visitor center will welcome guests.

In a big shift, private vehicles and tour buses will no longer be allowed to enter the main plateau. Instead, visitors and their guides will use electric vehicles to move around. Orascom has already introduced 45 electric buses at the site, with rides departing every five minutes. Meanwhile, experts have also detected a mysterious “anomaly” beneath the surface of the plateau, adding even more intrigue to the ancient wonder.

Sawiris defends Giza vendor relocation

However, not everyone is happy with the changes. Horse and camel tour operators, who have been relocated to new parking areas, have protested by blocking access roads. They argue the new locations are too far from the entrance and will hurt their business. For years, these vendors have been accused by tourists of harassment and even extortion.

Responding to the backlash, Naguib Sawiris took to X (formerly Twitter) to make his stance clear. “The well-being of society and the preservation of this treasure are far more important than serving the interests of 2,000 people who have been causing harm to the country for years,” he wrote, emphasizing that vendors who refuse to move will no longer be allowed to sell their products on site.

Animal welfare activists have also weighed in. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) revealed disturbing findings from investigations around the pyramids, documenting cases of horses and camels being punched, whipped, and starved. Jason Baker, PETA’s vice president, said, “Animals are literally being ridden to death and then dumped like garbage at the gate. The Pyramids of Giza should symbolize the beauty and history of Egypt, not rampant animal abuse. The Egyptian government must act to remove these suffering animals from Giza.”