H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Qena Governor, and UN Resident Coordinator Witness Signing of Agreement Between UN-Habitat and UNDP to Support Sustainable Tourism and Economic Development in Qena

September 13, 2025

Group of people standing behind a table with a white cloth outdoors; flags and banners nearby.

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, Dr. Khaled Abdel Halim, Governor of Qena, and Ms. Elena Panova, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt, attended the signing of an agreement between the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) The agreement aims to develop an integrated and sustainable model for rural tourism in Qena Governorate, linking cultural heritage with local economic opportunities. It falls under the project “Reviving the Dendera Area: Supporting Sustainable Rural and Cultural Tourism for Local Economic Development in Qena.”

The agreement was signed by Mr. Ahmed Rizk, Head of UN-Habitat Egypt, and Ms. Chitose Noguchi, UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt.

The project is centered on the world-renowned Dendera Temple Complex, which is surrounded by rich agricultural landscapes. It will focus on Qena city and the Dendera area, engaging local communities in designing a practical roadmap for rural tourism and local economic development