Qatar's Qatari Diar has launched works on the first phase of its massive "Alam El Roum" project on the North Coast in Matrouh Governorate, being developed in partnership with the Egyptian government. This took place in the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Moustafa Madbouly during his visit to Matrouh Governorate to inspect and inaugurate a number of service and development projects.
The Prime Minister and his delegation were received at the Alam El Roum project by Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Eng. Randa El Menshawy; Sheikh Hamad bin Talal Al Thani, CEO of Qatari Diar; and a number of leaders from the Ministry of Housing and Qatari Diar.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the continuation of all efforts to drive comprehensive development in the northwest coast region, making the most of its promising assets and potential to attract local and foreign investment and turning it into a sustainable tourism, urban, investment and development destination.
He pointed to the directives of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and his emphasis on drawing up and implementing integrated development plans for the northwest coast, as well as offering facilities to encourage local and foreign private sector institutions to invest more, whether by expanding existing projects or establishing new urban and development projects and activities in this promising region.
Dr. Moustafa Madbouly said the launch of works on the first phase of the Alam El Roum project is an important step in the urban and investment development of the northwest coast and reflects the region's promising investment and tourism assets as one of the most important tourism and investment destinations on the Mediterranean.
Minister of Housing Eng. Randa El Menshawy said that projects of this size entering implementation strengthen the competitiveness of the Egyptian market and open new fields for foreign and local investment.
Alam El Roum in numbers
Qatari Diar's launch of works on the first phase of its massive Alam El Roum project lays the foundation for one of the most ambitious urban and tourism destinations on the Mediterranean, delivering the following:
Total investments of $29.7 billion for the entire project, including $3.5 billion in direct cash investment.
Delivery of the first phase begins in 2030.
The first phase will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, out of more than 250,000 jobs the entire project aims to create on completion, while opening wide opportunities for Egyptian and international contractors to take part in construction, strengthening the competitiveness of the local sector and underlining Qatari Diar's commitment to maximizing the project's local added value.
Sheikh Hamad bin Talal Al Thani, CEO of Qatari Diar, presented the plan and timetable for launching the first phase ahead of the start of construction, and the Prime Minister and his delegation reviewed the project's master plan during the tour.
Al Thani said the project is one of the largest integrated urban and tourism projects developed by Qatari Diar worldwide and the largest in Egypt, including:
A total area of 20.58 million square meters.
Mediterranean frontage with a 7.2-kilometer seafront promenade.
An integrated coastal city combining residential, tourism, commercial, cultural, entertainment, educational and health uses, according to a modern urban vision aimed at creating a sustainable community for future generations.
22 km of lagoons opening directly onto the sea, integrated with a waterfront promenade and extended beaches.
850,000 square meters of swimmable artificial lagoons across the entire project.
An international marina equipped to receive yachts, with capacity for up to 370 berths.
A local marina with 120 berths.
A world-class 18-hole golf course covering around 980,000 square meters with direct sea views.
More than 3,500 hotel rooms across a collection of international hotels and resorts, establishing the project as a regional hub for yachting, sports and global events.
The first phase
Al Thani noted that the first phase of the project essentially has the strength and potential of a complete standalone project, as it:
Covers an area of 4 million square meters.
Has a total built-up area of 1.4 million square meters.
Includes a 2 km beach and promenade.
Features natural lagoons connected to the sea suitable for swimming and yachting, as well as 195,000 square meters of swimmable artificial lagoons.
Includes open spaces making up around 85% of its total area.
Has a city-center marina with 50 yacht berths.
Includes 4 hotels offering more than 1,000 rooms, strengthening the first phase as an integrated tourist destination.
Sports centers, shops and international commercial restaurants.
The first phase will create around 30,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Investments reach EGP 220 billion.
Sheikh Hamad bin Talal Al Thani explained that the company's urban planning philosophy for the project is based on the concept of a walkable city, through an integrated network of pedestrian and cycle paths and smart mobility solutions, along with the latest environmental sustainability standards in water resource management, biodiversity protection and enhancing the region's ability to adapt to climate change.
He added that Alam El Roum is a new landmark that redraws the map of Egypt's North Coast on the Mediterranean, with its components to be delivered in stages from 2030, coinciding with the completion of the first phase.
The project has a strategic location linking North Africa, Europe and the Middle East, benefiting from its proximity to Ras El Hekma and Marsa Matrouh airports and its connection to the international coastal road and the high-speed electric train line under development, qualifying it to be one of the most prominent tourism and investment destinations on the Mediterranean.
Qatari Diar is one of the world's largest real estate development companies, backed by the Qatar Investment Authority, with a portfolio of 42 projects in more than 20 countries and total investments exceeding $35 billion. The company has been investing in the Egyptian market for more than two decades, with total investments of around $7 billion, according to the official Facebook page of the Egyptian Cabinet.
In November 2025, Prime Minister Dr. Moustafa Madbouly witnessed the signing of a new investment deal through a partnership between the Ministry of Housing, represented by the New Urban Communities Authority, and Qatari Diar to develop a plot of 4,900.99 feddans (equivalent to 20,588,235 square meters) in the Samla and Alam El Roum area on the northwest coast in Matrouh Governorate.
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