For years now, Egypt's antiquities authorities have carefully monitored auctions and exhibitions of ancient artefacts to see if they include pieces that might have been taken out of the country illegally. When an object is identified as such, they frantically contact the sellers or curators and use diplomatic channels to demand its immediate return.
The homecoming of such objects is celebrated, with reports of their recovery betraying a nationalist slant and showering lavish praise on the officials responsible.
This happens even when the pieces in question are not rare or of relatively little historical or artistic significance. It is a whole different ball game when the artefact being pursued is linked to King Tutankhamun, the definitive symbol of Egypt's ancient civilisation.
The tomb of the 18th dynasty pharaoh was discovered by the English Egyptologist Howard Carter nearly a century ago in the Valley of the Kings on the Nile river's western bank in the southern city of Luxor. Artefacts connected to Tutankhamun have proved to be a big draw for tourists and museum goers wherever they are shown.
So when Christie's auction house announced it was putting under the hammer in London a brown quartzite head of King Tutankhamun that is more than 3,000 years old and which portrays him as the ancient god Amun, Egyptian officials went into crisis mode.
Working through the foreign ministry, Cairo's embassy in London and direct contacts with Christie's, the Egyptians expressed concern that the artefact might have been taken out of Egypt illegally.
Christie's insists that the head was acquired legally and had been a part of the Resandro collection, the world's most famous private collection of Egyptian art, for decades. Egyptian antiquities officials are not convinced but have provided no evidence to back their suspicions. They have in the past enlisted Interpol's help to regain artefacts and might do so in this case.
Egypt makes its claims based on a law passed in 1983 that stipulates that any antiquities found in the country are immediately considered state property, with the exception of those whose ownership or possession was already established at the time the legislation came into effect.
Mostafa Waziri, head of the Supreme Antiquities Council, said the law has enabled Egypt get back thousands of artefacts from across the world. He contends that the 28.5cm-high head of Tutankhamun was not among the more than 5,000 pieces discovered in his tomb in 1922 and that it most likely came from one of Luxor's ancient temples on the east bank of the Nile, possibly the Karnak Temple.
"We need to know how they got that piece," he said.
The case is a reminder of the enormity of the challenge facing Egyptian authorities as they try to stop the illegal export of antiquities.
Historical sites can be found across Egypt, from the Mediterranean coastline all the way south to the border with Sudan. They are not all ancient Egyptian. They belong to a wide range of periods: Roman and Hellenic, late antiquity or Arab and Islamic, including the Fatimid, Mamluk and Ottoman eras. With resources meagre or stretched thin, many archaeological digs or warehouses where artefacts are kept are not adequately protected, leaving them prey to modern day grave robbers.
In some parts of the country, such as villages in the Luxor area or around the Giza Pyramids just west of Cairo, artefacts are known or suspected to be buried just a few metres below the surface. That has tempted thousands to dig under their homes, away from the eyes of the authorities, in hopes of finding gold artefacts or statues that could be sold for thousands of dollars. There have been cases where these excavations caved in, burying the treasure seekers in the sand.
Finds from such illegal digs are mostly destined to be smuggled out the country. Almost daily there are media reports about ancient artefacts being found in the possession of travellers leaving the country.
Police reports frequently mention crime rings specialised in the smuggling and illegal trade of antiquities. The business is believed to have flourished during the months of turmoil following the 2011 uprising that toppled autocratic ruler Hosni Mubarak.
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Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
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Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
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Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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The Indoor Cricket World Cup
When: September 16-23
Where: Insportz, Dubai
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
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Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
