Inside the scheme to grab ‘holy’ land in Jerusalem’s Armenian quarter Local activists are working to stop a megadeal signed by the Armenian patriarch to lease land to a luxury hotel developer. Palestine
What we know about Algeria’s mega mosque, the largest in Africa The inauguration of the mosque culminates years of delay, partially prompted by country’s political history but also with construction controversies. Algeria
Iraq's Mosul rises from Islamic State ashes to rebuild minarets, museum As Mosul makes a slow revival from the remnants of war, a host of challenges remain, including corrupt officials and institutional weaknesses in Iraq. Iraq
UAE discovers Gulf's oldest known pearling town The town discovered on Siniyah Island showed clear evidence of its pearling industry from the sixth century AD. Gulf
Egypt to make oldest Islamic capital in Africa into open museum Egypt is planning to turn the city of Fustat, the oldest Islamic capital in Egypt and Africa, into an open museum that offers tourists a distinctive experience. Egypt
Restoration of Virgin Mary Monastery in southern Egypt sparks controversy The Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church is on the defensive after tiles were placed over the traditional flooring at a historic monastery in Assiut governorate. Culture
Palestinian team wins international competition to redesign Beirut port Four young Palestinian architects won an international competition to design reconstruction plans for the destroyed Port of Beirut. Palestine
Egyptian Museum of Antiquities gets makeover to compete for tourists The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities in downtown Cairo's Tahrir Square is undergoing a facelift that tourism officials and curators hope will allow it to compete with the Grand Egyptian Museum, soon to open its doors to visitors. Culture
Egyptian architects win UNESCO award for reconstruction of Mosul mosque destroyed by IS The UNESCO announcement that Egyptian architects won the international competition for the reconstruction of the historic Al-Nouri Mosque complex in Mosul sparks debate as to whether their design fits Iraq’s Islamic heritage. Egypt
Old doors turn into booming business in Egypt Antiques dealers in Egypt are rushing to recover the old doors of buildings that are being demolished as part of an urban development plan. Egypt
Baghdad’s Mustansiriya Madrassa ready for World Heritage List Baghdad’s Mustansiriya Madrassa established by Abbasid Caliph Al-Mustansir around 1230 suffers obsolescence, dampness, environmental pollution and urban sprawl. Iraq
A trip down memory lane in this ancient neighborhood of Nablus A tour in al-Yasmineh (Jasmine) neighborhood in the old city of Nablus takes you to the different civilizations that have passed through Palestine over the centuries. Palestine
Behind the scenes of Egypt’s project to face-lift Khedivial Cairo The Egyptian state has started unifying the facades of buildings and shops in the downtown area of Khedivial Cairo. Egypt
Cairo to turn 15th century sultan's caravansary into heritage hotel to boost tourism The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced Oct. 24 that it will convert the 15th century Wakala al-Sultan Qaytbay into a heritage hotel after its restoration. Egypt
Egypt’s city of Esna is slowly regaining its glory amid renewed interest in its heritage The Ministry of Antiquities and an urban development company, with US funding, are advancing a major project to revive tourism in the city of Esna in Luxor governorate, by not only promoting its ancient heritage but also by implicating the locals. Egypt
Cairo’s downtown slow revival amid efforts to restore architectural heritage The collapse of an old building in downtown Cairo has shed light on the state of historic buildings in the area, while heritage preservation is the focus of various projects. Egypt
