Egypt's Mediterranean North Coast Emerges as a Major New Summer Destination

Egypt's Mediterranean coastline west of Alexandria is being rapidly transformed into a rival summer destination to Greece, Spain, and Turkey, according to a travel feature published by The National on 18 October 2026. The 250-kilometre stretch running from New Alamein (km 100) to Ras El Hekma is the epicentre of massive investment: Abu Dhabi's ADQ sovereign fund is building a 170-million-square-metre resort city at Ras El Hekma, including the Montage Hotel and a Nammos beach club, with completion targeted for 2028. Charter flights into El Alamein International Airport grew by 540% in 2025, then by a further 50% during summer 2026, and officials now expect 300,000 visitors to the Alamein region this year, up from 170,000 previously. Egypt overall welcomed 14.4 million international tourists by September 2026, with a target of 20 million by year-end. The Grand Egyptian Museum, which opened in November 2025, drew around 4 million visitors through August 2026. Beyond the resort corridor at Sidi Abdel Rahman and Marassi — which offer golf courses, water parks, and luxury accommodation — the article highlights WWII history sites around El Alamein, Bedouin cultural experiences at Marsa Matrouh with its hidden coves, and Siwa Oasis as an inland ecotourism alternative. New Alamein sits under three hours from Cairo by road, and Borg El Arab airport near Alexandria provides an alternative gateway.