"The statues were in a very poor condition due to weathering," Saghir says, adding that the project is the largest restoration carried out by Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities at the complex in recent years.

"We are very proud that this project was carried out by Egyptian hands despite the challenges we faced due to the spread of the pandemic, as well as the limited capabilities."

The official says that, last year, many projects have been implemented and a number of discoveries have been made in Luxor, which greatly helped to create job opportunities.

Saghir says implementing such projects has helped seasonal workers in the city earn money to sustain their families after they lost their jobs due to COVID-19 containment measures imposed by the government.

"This mainly benefited those who work in the tourism sector, which was suspended for months," Saghir says.

Egypt, one of the world's oldest civilizations, has been working hard to preserve its archaeological heritage and discover the secrets of its ancient artifacts.

Over the past few years, the country has witnessed several big archaeological discoveries, including Pharaonic tombs, statues, coffins, mummies, burial sites and funerary gardens.