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Why was the Bibliotheca Alexandrina built in Alexandria?

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Abu El-Abbas mosque in Alexandria, Egypt, featuring ornate domes, arched entrances, intricate stonework, and a large patterned courtyard in the foreground. — Alexandria The mosque of Abū al-ʿAbbās al-Mursī, Alexandria, Egypt.

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina was built in Alexandria to revive the legacy of the ancient Library of Alexandria, which was the greatest library of the classical world.12

The project was first proposed in 1972 by Mostafa El-Abbadi, a professor at Alexandria University, with the goal of restoring the city's historical role as a center of learning and culture. The Egyptian government sponsored the initiative, which also received significant international support through UNESCO.12

The site for the new library was specifically chosen to be adjacent to Alexandria University and near the historical location of the ancient library, physically connecting the modern institution to its predecessor. Completed in 2001 and opened in 2002, the facility was designed as a comprehensive research institution to house millions of volumes, preserve rare manuscripts, and provide a space for scholarly and cultural exchange.12