The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities announced on July 26 the formation of a committee to restore the archaeological area in the village of al-Wadi that is part of the city of al-Tur in South Sinai. The move is part of Egypt's effort to restore its neglected monuments in the Sinai Peninsula to revitalize tourism.

“The area dates back to the 6th century AD and is one of the most important archaeological sites in South Sinai,” the director of the South Sinai Antiquities Area, Ahmed al-Hashash, said in a press statement July 26. He added that the committee will work "within the framework of the state's plan to develop the archaeological sites in Sinai," which includes new infrastructure, beautification of squares and streets, and new hotels and restaurants.

The importance of the archeological area in al-Wadi village stems from the monastery known as Deir el-Wadi, which is one of the oldest monasteries in Egypt and the only monastery in South Sinai that retains all its architectural elements from the 6th century AD. The monastery was built as a fortress against the Persians’ invasions during the rule of Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. 

Deir el-Wadi monastery is distinguished by its construction method, as it was built of sandstone, clay stone, square blocks of bricks that were added in the Islamic era, and mud bricks that were used mainly in roofs, ovens and sanitary drains. The walls, towers, columns and arches are made of large blocks of stone.