Leading developer Qatari Diar has officially announced the launch of the first phase of its landmark Alam Al Roum development on Egypt's North Coast, marking the beginning of one of the Mediterranean's most ambitious mixed-use urban and tourism destinations.
The project represents a total investment of $29.7 billion, including $3.5 billion in direct cash investments, with handover of the first phase scheduled to begin in 2030.
The first phase is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities as part of the project's overall target of creating more than 250,000 jobs upon completion. It will also open significant opportunities for Egyptian and international contractors to participate in the construction works, strengthening the competitiveness of the local construction sector and reinforcing Qatari Diar's commitment to maximising local value creation.
The announcement was made during a site visit by Prime Minister Dr Mostafa Madbouly, accompanied by the Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities Eng. Randa El Menshawy, as part of his tour to review major development and investment projects and monitor implementation progress across Egypt's North Coast.
Upon arrival, the Prime Minister was welcomed by Qatari Diar CEO Sheikh Hamad bin Talal Al Thani, along with the company's senior executives, who presented the implementation roadmap and timeline for Phase One ahead of construction.
The Prime Minister and the accompanying delegation reviewed the project's masterplan. The development is one of Qatari Diar's largest integrated urban and tourism projects worldwide and its biggest investment in Egypt.
Spanning 20.58 million sq m, the project boasts 7.2 km of Mediterranean waterfront and is envisioned as a fully integrated coastal city combining residential, hospitality, commercial, cultural, entertainment, educational, and healthcare components within a modern urban framework designed to create a sustainable community for future generations.
Although it represents the first step toward achieving this vision, the project's first phase embodies the scale and potential of a fully integrated development in its own right. The phase spans 4 million sq m and features a total built-up area of 1.4 million sq m.
It includes a 2-km beachfront and promenade, open-sea connected lagoons suitable for swimming and yachting, as well as 195,000 sq m of swimmable artificial lagoons, and open spaces accounting for approximately 85% of the total land area.
The development also features a town-center marina with capacity for 50 yacht berths, and four hotels offering more than 1,000 hotel rooms, sports centers, and international retail and dining venues, further reinforcing its position as a premier destination. The first phase is expected to generate approximately 30,000 direct and indirect jobs, backed by investments reaching up to EGP220 billion.
Speaking on the occasion, Al Thani said: "Phase One embodies our vision of creating a world-class coastal city that introduces a new lifestyle on the Mediterranean, guided by the highest international standards of urban planning and sustainability. From the earliest stages, we have partnered with leading global experts in master planning, marina design, hospitality consulting, landscape architecture, and infrastructure engineering to ensure the project meets international best practices."
The project's overall masterplan includes 22km of seawater-connected lagoons, integrated with waterfront promenades and extended beaches, 850,000 sq m of swimmable lagoons, an international marina accommodating up to 370 yacht berths, a domestic marina with 120 berths, and an 18-hole championship golf course spanning nearly 980,000 sq m with direct sea views.
The development will also feature more than 3,500 hotel rooms across a collection of internationally branded hotels and resorts, positioning it as a regional hub for yacht tourism, sports, and global events.
"We are implementing Phase One according to a carefully structured timeline targeting starting delivery in 2030. The project will help attract further investment, strengthen Egypt's tourism sector, and capitalize on the exceptional advantages of the North Coast. We are confident that this milestone will make a significant contribution to the Mediterranean's investment, tourism, and urban development landscape," he added.-TradeArabia News Service