Egypt to Build $80 Million Int'l Marina in New Alamein to Boost Yacht Tourism

The Egyptian government plans to establish an international marina in the Mediterranean city of New Alamein with an estimated investment of $80 mn, as part of its broader strategy to develop yacht tourism and increase foreign currency revenues, Asharq News reported.

The project, spanning about 180,000 square meters, will be implemented in stages. According to one official, the private sector will manage, operate, and later finance the superstructure, while the government’s role will focus on developing the necessary infrastructure. The initiative forms part of a wider national plan to enhance the competitiveness of Egypt’s coastal destinations and diversify its tourism offerings.

New Alamein has emerged as one of Egypt’s most prominent summer destinations, attracting visitors from 104 nationalities last season — a figure that Minister of Tourism Sherif Fathy described earlier as “an achievement amid ongoing geopolitical challenges.”

The project comes as Egypt’s tourism revenues rose by about 20% during the first nine months of 2025, reaching $13.6 bn, with projections to hit $17.5 bn by the end of the year as the country expects to welcome more than 18 mn Tourists, according to Minister Fathy in an interview with Asharq earlier this month.

Speaking on the sidelines of the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, the minister said Egypt had already received more than 14 million visitors between January and September. Tourism remains one of Egypt’s key sources of foreign currency, with last year’s arrivals reaching a record 15.78 million tourists, generating $15.3 bn in revenues.

The Cabinet revealed earlier that the number of visiting tourist yachts to Egypt nearly doubled last year to 393 yachts, compared to the previous year. The increase follows the government’s decision to streamline entry and exit procedures through the electronic yacht tourism platform, launched in late 2022, which allows for licensing approvals within just one hour.

The total number of yacht passengers in 2024 reached 3,371, representing a mix of nationalities including Egypt, Spain, the United Kingdom, France, India, the United States, South Africa, and the Philippines.