The seventh edition of the Decision Makers Conference concluded under the theme "Towards an Integrated Vision between the Tourism and Real Estate Sectors to Support the Egyptian Economy." Held under the auspices of the Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority, the conference brought together senior government officials, investors, business leaders, experts, and media representatives. The event witnessed high-level participation, including Mostafa Mounir, Executive Chairperson of the General Authority for Tourism Development; Ahmed Youssef, CEO of the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority; Tarek Shokry, Vice Chairperson of the Housing Committee and CEO of Arab Development Company; Ayman Amer, General Manager of SODIC; and Samer Farag, CEO of San & Sam, the conference organiser. Other prominent attendees included Walid Mokhtar, CEO of IWAN; Nabil Amasha, Founder of Places & People; Maha Abdel-Razek, CEO of Egypt Real Estate Asset Management; Dalia Abou El-Majd, CEO of DDA; Hisham Zaazou, former Minister of Tourism; Moataz Raslan, Chairperson of the Canadian-Egyptian Business Council for International Cooperation; Mohamed Matawa, Chairperson of Matawa Group; Mounir Ghabour, Owner and Chairperson of Marriott JW; and Omar Islam, Chairperson of ITC Group. The conference's partners and sponsors included Amr Sultan, CEO and Managing Director of LMD; Mohamed Islam, Executive Director of Ibny; Amr El-Adl, CEO of MBG; Omar Al-Taybi, CEO of TLD; Ahmed Ehab, CEO of MADAAR Developments; Ahmed Saleh, CEO of Dar Al-Alamia for Real Estate Development; Moataz Amin, CEO of Prime Hotel Management Group; and Ibrahim El Missiri, CEO of Soma Bay Tourism Group. During the sessions, participants presented a set of recommendations aimed at strengthening the synergy between tourism and real estate as drivers of Egypt's economic growth. They called for stimulating investment in hotel projects and new urban centres to enhance Egypt's capacity to attract more tourists. Emphasis was placed on developing tourism infrastructure, accelerating licensing procedures, and improving legal facilitation to support investors and developers. The participants also urged the state to expand partnerships with the private sector and adopt innovative tourism models, including floating hotels connecting destinations such as the North Coast, Ras Sidr, and Hurghada — offering travellers mobility without dependence on specific airports. Speakers highlighted the upcoming Grand Egyptian Museum opening as a major opportunity to reposition Egypt on the global tourism map. Further recommendations included enhancing the visitor experience across all stages — from arrival at airports to on-site services — and promoting domestic tourism to capitalise on Egypt's diverse local resources. Participants also underscored the importance of exporting real estate and converting units into hotel apartments, positioning this hybrid product as an emerging area that merits state-backed promotion and international marketing. By aligning tourism and real estate strategies, the conference concluded, Egypt can build a more resilient and competitive economic framework capable of attracting investment, boosting employment, and showcasing the country's diverse cultural and natural assets.
