A 4,000-year-old limestone painting housed in a tomb at Egypt's Saqqara necropolis has gone missing – making it the second ancient Egyptian artefact to be reported stolen in less than a month.
The painting, which dates back to the Sixth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom, between 2700 BC and 2200 BC, was housed in the tomb of Khentika, an official from the era whose burial site was discovered in the 1950s.
It is the second theft in recent weeks of an ancient artefact after a 3,000-year-old gold bracelet from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo was stolen last month, melted down and sold. The thefts have raised concerns over the security of Egypt’s archaeological treasures, which comprise thousands of items spanning millennia.
The painting missing from the Saqqara necropolis, a Unesco World Heritage site south of Cairo, reportedly depicted the ancient Egyptian calendar. It divided the year into three agricultural seasons – flooding (Akhet), planting (Proyat) and harvest (Shomu) – that mirrored the cycles of the Nile, symbolising the importance of the waterway to ancient Egyptian society.
Mohamed Ismail, secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, part of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, confirmed the painting’s disappearance and said prosecutors had opened an investigation.
Mr Ismail said the tomb had been closed since 2019, when it was last used to store artefacts. A committee led by Saqqara site director Amr Al Tibi was formed to audit the tomb's contents and determine the circumstances of the theft, Mr Ismail said.
“Upon receiving the committee’s report, the matter was immediately referred to the public prosecutor for further investigation,” he added in a statement.
The painting's disappearance was first reported by Egyptian media, with several saying a British archaeological mission working at the site discovered the artefact was gone in May. Officials have not provided details on when the theft may have occurred or how it was carried out.
The tomb of Khentika is a prominent site within Saqqara and is known for its inscriptions, including a rare curse on its facade warning any intruders of divine punishment. Saqqara, part of the ancient capital of Memphis, contains some of Egypt’s most significant archaeological treasures, including the Step Pyramid of Djoser and several smaller pyramids.
The necropolis has been a focal point for tourists and researchers, but the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is now facing heightened scrutiny over the security of treasures at the site. Measures have recently been taken by Egyptian authorities to prevent smuggling. Images of the missing painting are being circulated to all the country's airports, seaports and land border crossings, the ministry said.
Investigators are working to determine if the theft is linked to trafficking networks that have plagued the region.
Egypt is preparing to open its new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, where many of the country’s most prized artefacts will be displayed, but the recent thefts highlight the challenges of safeguarding the country's ancient heritage.
The theft of the bracelet last month led to the arrest of four suspects, including a museum employee, but the bracelet, which was adorned with the gemstone lapis lazuli and linked to the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Amenemope, was melted down after being sold in Cairo’s jewellery market.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Know your camel milk:
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