Egypt has opened the first stage of a plan to bring private-sector management into one of its busiest airports, Hurghada, a move aimed at supporting a tourism industry that has rebounded sharply in recent years. The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced on Wednesday that it is inviting consortia and specialised companies to apply for prequalification to manage, operate, and develop Hurghada International Airport on the Red Sea. The initiative is part of a broader government programme, launched in 2023 with support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), to expand private-sector involvement in public assets. Hurghada — Egypt's second-busiest airport and a major gateway for foreign visitors drawn to the country's beach resorts — has seen record traffic as tourism recovers. Minister of Civil Aviation Sameh Hefny said modernising the airport is necessary to handle rising demand and to help the government meet its goal of attracting 30 million tourists by 2030. "This is a pivotal step to raise operating efficiency and expand capacity," said Hefny, emphasising that the state would retain full ownership while the private partner takes on development and operations under government oversight. Egyptian airports recorded more than 50 million passengers last year, according to the state airports holding company. Hurghada alone handled roughly 10.5 million travellers in the 2024–25 fiscal year, a 22 percent jump from the year before. In March, the government began working with the IFC to help shape its airport partnership program. The World Bank's investment arm is drafting a nationwide strategy for bringing private operators into several airports and is acting as the lead adviser on the Hurghada project, the first airport selected under the new initiative and the country's second busiest by passenger traffic. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
