As Secretary General of the SCA, Zahi Hawass has worked tirelessly to preserve and protect Egypt’s ancient monuments through the implementation of the following programs:

1 - Introducing the concept of site management to Egypt. As Secretary General of the SCA, Hawass has begun to implement the following strategies to ensure that Egypt’s antiquities sites are properly maintained:

•    Enforcing zoning around ancient monuments, using natural boundaries and constructing walls to delimit and protect antiquities areas
•    Constructing visitors’ centers with facilities and educational materials including films to introduce visitors to the sites
•    Building sidewalks to guide tourists around the sites and improve access
•    Developing a comprehensive conservation plan for each site
•    Instituting training programs for the personnel who maintain the sites

2 - Revitalizing Egypt’s museum system, transforming Egyptian museums from outdated storage facilities into modern, world-class cultural institutions. New museums are under construction or have recently been completed throughout Egypt, including:

•    The Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza
•    The National Museum of Egyptian Culture, Cairo
•    The Imhotep Museum, Saqqara
•    The Crocodile Museum, Kom Ombo
•    The Tell El-Amarna Museum
•    The Site Museum for the Temple of Merenptah, Luxor
•    The Alexandria National Museum
•    The Sohag National Museum
•    The El-Arish National Museum
•    The Rashid National Museum
•    The Suez National Museum
•    The Sharm El-Sheikh National Museum
•    The Hurghada National Museum
•    The Citadel Coin Museum, Cairo
•    The Textile Museum, Old Cairo
•    The Akhenaten Museum, Minya
•    The Mosaic Museum, Alexandria
•    The Faiyum Portrait Museum, Faiuyum

In addition, Egypt’s existing museums are under redevelopment - their designs are being re-envisioned, their collections re-organized, and their facilities updated.

3 - Improving security at antiquities sites. Theft and vandalism have taken an immeasurable toll on Egypt’s monuments over the centuries, but as Secretary General of the SCA Hawass has taken the following measures to protect the country's antiquities from further losses:

•    Strengthening Egyptian laws regarding theft and vandalism of antiquities. Changes to law 117 of 1983 have imposed more severe penalties for antiquities-related crimes, and a new law,  will make it possible for us to pursue legal action in Egypt against international offenders suspected of theft or vandalism to monuments.
•    Building 33 new storage facilities to house objects that have not been registered as part of museum collections. These new facilities include electronic equipment to improve security, and are also equipped with modern photography and conservation labs.
•    Having electronic databases created to record all of the objects in museum collections and storage facilities throughout Egypt
•    Providing better training and pay for security personnel at antiquities sites, museums, and storage facilities

4 - Supporting educational programs to raise awareness of Egypt’s history among both children and adults. Hawass has encouraged the establishment of organizations such as the Friends of the Egyptian Museum, and the development of museum education programs for children and adults. The SCA now also supports programs in the schools and at the seashore, along with summer programs at museums and educational opportunities abroad for our personnel.

5 - Working to bring stolen artifacts back to the people of Egypt. Hawass has actively promoted the return of illegally obtained objects in museum and private collections abroad, and Egypt’s efforts to have important artifacts repatriated have become an inspiration to other countries around the world. Since he became Secretary General of the SCA, over 5,000 stolen treasures have been returned to Egypt.

6 - Supporting the professional development of Egyptian scholars. Hawass has worked to ensure that young Egyptians have access to the best training available in modern excavation and conservation techniques, and the SCA now helps obtain scholarships and placement in programs abroad for promising young archaeologists, conservators, and museum professionals. It his belief that this is the most important step that can be taken to protect Egypt’s monuments – ensuring that Egyptians, who are charged with the primary responsibility for the care of our antiquities, are prepared to accept the challenges facing Egyptology as we move into the future.