When I became secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) in 2002, I turned my attention to the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA). When I visited this museum in 1995, I could not stay inside for more than half an hour. The museum was so poorly lit and arranged that the beautiful artefacts were hidden from sight. 

The MIA has been closed for restoration since 2002. Unfortunately, the previous renovation plan that was developed for the museum was never put into action. Simultaneously, Dar Al-Kotob, the Egyptian National Library and Archives in Cairo, was also under renovation. One of the major concerns we faced was that both institutions shared a single basement, leaving the MIA with less storage space. Finally in 2002 I initiated a new strategy plan for the renovation of the MIA.

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