Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company and Egypt’s New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) have formalized one of the region’s largest development agreements, transforming the Matrouh Governorate’s Mediterranean shoreline into a comprehensive tourism and investment hub.
The Alam El Roum development will cover approximately 4,900 acres stretching along 7.2 kilometers of beachfront, featuring residential neighbourhoods, luxury resorts, tourism facilities, three marinas (one international, two local), artificial lakes, golf courses, and entertainment zones designed to international standards.
Project Scale and Infrastructure
Spanning more than 20 million square metres, the development will include over 4,500 hotel rooms, positioning it among the Mediterranean region’s largest projects. Infrastructure provisions encompass electricity distribution, water desalination and treatment plants, educational institutions, medical facilities, and a service free zone to support operations.
Land allocation within the project is structured as follows: residential areas account for approximately 60 percent of total land, service zones comprise 15 percent, while roads, squares, and green spaces occupy the remaining 25 percent.
Financial Framework and Terms
The agreement includes a cash price of $3.5 billion and in-kind consideration of 396,000 square metres of built-up area, expected to generate at least $1.8 billion in revenues. Once Qatari Diar recovers full investment costs, 15 percent of project profits will be allocated to NUCA from returns generated by Qatari Diar and its subsidiaries. Land delivery is scheduled across two main phases and several sub-phases, provided free of encumbrances.
Official Endorsement and Strategic Significance
Dr Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt, emphasized that the partnership reflects
the depth of the fraternal relations between Egypt and Qatar
and strengthens economic cooperation between the two nations. He described the venture as embodying
the vision of both leaderships for integrated economic cooperation that supports sustainable development and attracts high-quality investments to the Egyptian market.
Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah, Minister of Municipality and Chairman of Qatari Diar, confirmed the project will provide more than 250,000 job opportunities and described it as a strategic step enhancing Egypt’s North Coast status as a global destination. He stated the initiative demonstrates Qatar’s commitment to supporting Egypt’s sustainable development and year-round coastal operations.
Eng. Ali Mohammed Al Ali, CEO of Qatari Diar, characterized Alam El Roum as
a new step in developing luxury destinations in Egypt
within a broader strategy for high-value tourism investments. Implementation will proceed through a special-purpose company wholly owned by Qatari Diar, working in coordination with NUCA to ensure designs meet international standards.
Regional Context
This agreement arrives as the UAE tourism sector targets $122.5 billion contribution and Gulf nations intensify investment in regional tourism infrastructure. The project underscores Qatar’s expanding role in reshaping Mediterranean tourism and Egypt’s attractiveness as an investment destination for regional capital.
