Chamber head: The Minister of Transport approved extending the deadline by an additional year to protect establishments' interests and support Egyptian tourism
The option of new construction is available if dry-docking is not possible, replacing old restaurants with ones that meet the requirements
The Chamber of Tourist Establishments and Restaurants announced an additional one-year grace period ending on 31 December 2026 for fixed floating restaurants and establishments to regularize their status, within the framework of coordination and joint cooperation between the chamber and the General Authority for River Transport of the Ministry of Transport.
For his part, Yasser El-Tagoury, head of the chamber, stressed that the situation of floating restaurants was presented to Lieutenant General Kamel El-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, who approved granting owners of fixed floating restaurants an additional grace period from January 2026 until the end of December 2026, as part of the Ministry of Transport's support for Egyptian tourism in general and Nile tourism in particular, provided that owners comply with a number of regulatory measures and controls during the grace period.
El-Tagoury praised the positive role of the Ministry of Transport, represented by the General Authority for River Transport headed by Major General Mofeed Salah El-Din, noting his full understanding of the chamber's views and his response to its demands, achieving a balance between protecting the interests of the chamber's members and supporting the interests of Egyptian tourism, while ensuring the highest levels of safety and quality in the services provided to tourists.
The head of the chamber explained that the required measures include preparing a technical condition study by a consultancy office approved by the General Authority for River Transport, including underwater photography, with the study to be approved by an Egyptian university with departments specializing in shipbuilding, along with committing to provide the authority with proof of a contract with an approved shipyard or workshop 3 months before the end of the grace period, stating the date of dry-docking.
He added that if dry-docking is not possible for any reason, construction of a new floating restaurant will begin at an approved workshop in accordance with the dimensions and specifications approved by the General Authority for River Transport, with the new restaurant replacing the old one, noting that owners who opt for new construction will be granted an additional one-year grace period starting from the end of the main grace period ending in December 2026.
In a related context, Sameh El-Gendy, the chamber's treasurer and head of the Floating Vessels and Nile Restaurants Committee, noted that the chamber had previously succeeded in obtaining a grace period that ended on 31 December 2025, pointing out that, in light of continued cooperation and coordination with the General Authority for River Transport, the grace period has been extended until the end of 2026.
El-Gendy called on floating restaurant owners to comply with the requirements and conditions of the General Authority for River Transport within the set period, stressing the need to make serious use of this period to complete all technical and legal obligations and apply the approved rules and controls.
The Chamber of Tourist Establishments and Restaurants urged owners of fixed floating restaurants to take all safety and security measures, ensuring the safety of visitors to these establishments, preserving the image of Egyptian tourism and enhancing the quality of services provided to visitors.
