Egypt’s Hotels Near Full Capacity Ahead of Eid Al-Adha

Egypt’s tourism sector is witnessing a sharp rise in hotel occupancy rates ahead of the Eid Al-Adha holiday, fueled by robust domestic travel, the return of Egyptians living abroad, and sustained inflows of foreign tourists, industry officials said Tuesday.

Hotel occupancy across several of the country’s major tourist destinations is approaching maximum capacity, with Cairo hotels already fully booked in some areas and Red Sea resorts expected to exceed 95% occupancy during the holiday period.

Atef Abdel Latif, head of the Travelers Tourism Association and deputy chairman of the Marsa Alam Investors Association, described current booking levels as “highly encouraging,” saying occupancy rates are projected to reach around 85% in many tourism hubs, including Hurghada, Marsa Alam, and Sharm El-Sheikh.

He added that Egypt’s North Coast and the city of El Alamein are recording occupancy rates nearing 90%, reflecting strong summer demand from domestic travelers.

Hotels overlooking the Nile in Cairo are already operating at full capacity, while most other hotels across Cairo and Giza have surpassed 90% occupancy, according to Abdel Latif.

The Eid holiday this year coincides with the end of the academic year and the beginning of summer vacations, factors that are significantly boosting domestic tourism demand. The return of large numbers of Egyptians working abroad is also contributing to the surge in bookings.

In South Sinai and Red Sea destinations, occupancy levels continue to climb steadily. Sharm El-Sheikh is expected to reach 85% occupancy, while Dahab is forecast at 72%, Nuweiba at 50%, and Taba at 55%.

Marsa Alam, currently operating at around 70% occupancy, is projected to reach full capacity during the Eid holiday as local demand accelerates.

Industry executives also pointed to the continued strength of international tourism to Egypt, with significant numbers of visitors arriving from Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and several Latin American countries.

Separately, Abu Dhabi Tourism Investments Company, owned by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development — reported strong booking momentum at its Egyptian properties, including the Mercure Hurghada and Mövenpick Sharm El-Sheikh hotels.

Yahya Kotb, the company’s chief executive, said occupancy rates at Mercure Hurghada ranged between 80% and 90% during April and May, while Mövenpick Sharm El-Sheikh recorded rates between 70% and 80% over the same period.

He projected occupancy at both hotels would exceed 95% during the Eid holiday, driven by rising demand from regional and international markets.

Kotb said the strong performance highlights the resilience of Egypt’s Red Sea tourism destinations and reflects ongoing efforts to enhance guest experiences and upgrade hospitality services and facilities.

The latest indicators point to a strong summer season for Egypt’s tourism industry, particularly across Red Sea resorts and Mediterranean coastal destinations, with demand expected to remain elevated in the coming weeks.