Egypt Invests with KSA, Kuwait to Boost Airports Capacities

According to Al-Monitor, Egypt decided to cooperate with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Kuwait in projects to expand Cairo and Sphinx airports, to attract more foreigners and put Egypt on the global transit map.

On December 12, Egypt’s Minister of Civil Aviation Mohamed Manar Enabah received investment offers from KSA and Kuwait to compete in the recommendations of the cargo village projects at Cairo and Sphinx International Airports.

Saudi investments rank first among Arab countries investing in Egypt, and second in terms of global investment. The total investments of KSA in Egypt in 2019 reached $54 billion, of which $44 billion is allocated to Saudi companies or their partners in Egypt.

Kuwait investments in Egypt range between $16 billion and $19 billion, in addition to the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development's support for many projects in Egypt.

The funds were donated to some 56 programs and grants over the years; development projects in South Sinai cost $3 billion and included the opening of the Sharm el-Sheikh tunnel road connecting Sharm el-Sheikh to Cairo through a tunnel under the Suez Canal.

Enabah said that his ministry aims to establish cargo village and logistical areas at the Cairo and Sphinx airports on the Cairo-Alexandria desert highway.

He added that the ministry coordinated with the General Authority for Investments of Egypt to take over investment tenders to implement these projects.

The minister continued that works are underway to expand Sphinx International Airport to increase the total area from 4,500 square meters to 23,000 square meters, helping provide for a capacity of 900 passengers per hour instead of 300.

The airport building is expected to include a travel hall with an area of 6,500 square meters, an arrival hall of 7,000 square meters, a food and beverage area of 1,000 square meters, duty-free shops, passport offices, an X-ray area and 28 check-in counters.

The project at the Sphinx airport also includes the building of a 310-meter-long 1,000-foot electric walker, a 60-meter bridge, a 1,200-meter waiting hall and duty-free areas. Officials say 35% of the project has been implemented.

It is noteworthy that The Aviation Ministry is aiming to turn Egyptian airports into pioneers at the African level and to compete at the regional and global level, through the development of airports to accommodate an expected increase in air traffic, in addition to maximizing the resources of non-navigational activities to achieve the highest return on investment.