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CAIRO: Egypt’s tourism sector is entering a new era of growth, driven by rising demand for luxury real estate and diversified experiences, according to the CEO of Red Sea destination El Gouna. 

In an interview with Arab News, Mohamed Amer said the resort has become a model for integrated, year-round tourism that is helping the country move beyond its traditional seasonal patterns. 

Egypt’s inbound tourism rose 22 percent in the first seven months of 2024 compared with the same period a year earlier, reaching 15.78 million visitors for the year — the highest on record and slightly above 15.7 million in 2023.

The government is targeting 30 million tourists annually by 2028. In June, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly highlighted efforts to open new opportunities for foreign investment in tourism to help reach that goal.

“Egypt’s tourism sector is in a very strong phase currently, with a steady expansion in the country’s potential, following the demand for luxury real estate and appetite for leisurely travel,” he said. “Destinations like El Gouna are part of that shift.” 

Home to more than 25,000 residents from over 50 nationalities and welcoming over 1 million visitors annually, El Gouna has developed into one of Egypt’s most prominent integrated towns. 

The resort currently has 18 hotels totaling 2,800 rooms, with three new luxury properties planned over the next five years that will add 600 –700 rooms. 

Amer said the resort’s accessibility is part of its appeal, with short flights from regional hubs such as Dubai, Riyadh, and Jeddah making it attractive to Gulf travelers. 

Citizens from Gulf Cooperation Council countries can enter Egypt visa-free, while other international guests benefit from electronic or visa-on-arrival options. This, he noted, positions El Gouna as “a natural extension for regional tourism.” 

On the investment front, El Gouna is the only destination in Egypt where real estate transactions are conducted in US dollars, a model Amer said strengthens international investor confidence. 

“This not only offers protection but also ensures greater financial security for international buyers,” he said. 

The town has expanded its infrastructure to support residents and visitors, with a fully equipped hospital already operating and specialized clinics under development. 

El Gouna also holds the distinction of being the Middle East’s first recipient of the UN “Green Town Award,” reflecting its sustainability commitments, which include generating 16 percent of electricity from solar power, recycling 75 percent of waste, and reusing 100 percent of wastewater. 

“Sustainability is not just a feature here — it’s part of our DNA,” Amer said. 

On the residential side, El Gouna is preparing new projects such as Highland by North Bay, Tuban WaterFalls, and Fanadir Shores, a development with marina and sea views. Another project is set to be announced in November. 

Amer said demand is anchored in lifestyle rather than speculation, ensuring resilience in property values. “Buyers want to be part of a vibrant community with year-round services, signature events, and strong sustainability standards,” he said. 

Cultural and lifestyle programming also play a role in the town’s positioning. International events such as the El Gouna Film Festival, squash tournaments, and new platforms in fashion and culinary arts have raised its profile globally. 

The festival alone draws more than 2,000 visitors annually, pushing hotel occupancy to full capacity and boosting activity across retail, dining, and services. “Such events stimulate economic activity and generate international exposure for Egypt,” Amer said. 

Looking ahead, Amer said El Gouna will continue to evolve as both a tourism and economic hub, guided by a 35-year master plan that envisions gradual expansion across its 48 percent developed area. 

“El Gouna is not just expanding physically but evolving into a dynamic, multi-faceted destination that combines luxury, sustainability, and innovation,” he said. “It is contributing directly to Egypt’s tourism growth story while offering a model for sustainable urban development on the Red Sea.”

RIYADH: ����ֱ��’s cybersecurity sector added SR18.5 billion ($4.9 billion) to the Kingdom’s economy in 2024, marking a 19 percent jump from the previous year, official data showed. 

In its latest report, the National Cybersecurity Authority said the sector represented 0.40 percent of the country’s total gross domestic product and 0.71 percent of non-oil activities. 

The study noted that the size of the Kingdom’s cybersecurity market — representing total spending by public and private entities — reached SR15.2 billion in 2024, up 14 percent year on year. 

Ensuring cybersecurity is a key priority for ����ֱ�� as it seeks to position itself as a regional hub for technology and innovation under Vision 2030. 

This comes as ����ֱ�� maintained its position as the top-ranked country in global cybersecurity for 2025, according to the International Institute for Management Development’s World Competitiveness Yearbook. 

In a further endorsement of its international standing, ����ֱ�� was designated a Tier 1 “role-modeling” nation in the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 published by the UN’s International Telecommunication Union. 

“This sustained growth (in cybersecurity market) is driven in part by NCA’s ongoing initiatives to enhance the security and resilience of the Saudi cyberspace, which have elevated awareness, regulatory compliance, and investment across the various demand segments,” NCA said in its latest report. 
 
The authoruty, the national reference point for cybersecurity, is tasked with strengthening digital resilience by protecting critical infrastructure, key sectors, and government services. It also sets policies, frameworks, and standards while promoting innovation, investment, and sector growth. 

According to the data, public sector spending stood at SR4.8 billion, or 32 percent of the market, while private sector outlays reached SR10.3 billion, accounting for 68 percent. 

Expenditure on cybersecurity products made up 51 percent of the total market at SR7.7 billion, while services accounted for 49 percent at SR7.5 billion. 

The authority noted that 420 providers were registered in the sector, with 98 percent based in Riyadh, Makkah or the Eastern Province, underscoring the concentration of demand and supply in the country’s main business hubs. 

The report also showed that ����ֱ��’s cybersecurity workforce surpassed 21,000 professionals in 2024, a 9 percent rise from the year before. Women made up 32 percent of the workforce, exceeding the global average of 24 percent. 

“This progress is attributed to various programs and initiatives aimed at developing current and future cybersecurity skills and meeting national needs — ultimately supporting the Kingdom’s economic and social development,” said NCA. 

In a column for Arab News in August, Majid Rafizadeh, a Harvard-educated Iranian American political scientist, called ����ֱ��’s cybersecurity model a “blueprint for the future,” adding that the Kingdom’s approach to cybersecurity “stands out so prominently in 2025.” 

“The Kingdom has built one of the most advanced, comprehensive, and forward-looking cybersecurity frameworks in the world. It has not only recognized the importance of cybersecurity but has acted decisively, creating institutions, strategies, and educational pipelines that are now viewed as models for other nations to follow,” he said.