Antiquities Minister Mohamed al-Damaty has said that the total cost of the renovation of Cairo's eastern wall, which began in 1999, amounted to over US$8.5 million, while the total cost of the Tarabey al-Sharifi Dome restoration, which began in 2006, was $680,000. The projects were implemented in cooperation with the Aga Khan Culture Foundation in the al-Darb al-Ahmar area.
Mohamed Abdel Aziz, Deputy Minister for Islamic Antiquities Affairs, said the east wall renovation involved strengthening the structural interfaces and towers, and replacing the damaged stones with identical ones, in terms of the mechanical and chemical composition so as not to impact the monument.
The project included cleaning stones and removing accumulated salt, in addition to the installation of lighting and sound units, he added.
The eastern wall was built under Salah Eddin al-Ayoubi to protect Cairo. Ayoubi was keen to fortify Cairo. He built the Citadel of Saladin and ordered Bahauddin Karakush to build the walls of Cairo, in the year 566 AH. Karakush built a wall surrounding Cairo, the Citadel and Fustat.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
