News from the land of the Pyramids: A glimpse into the new discoveries and developments in Egypt

Tourists started coming to Egypt over 5,000 years ago, but the list of treasures keeps growing. Recently a fabulous new statue of Ramses II has been unearthed, ancient tombs discovered, gold-tongued mummies brought to light, and an incredible 2,500-year-old funerary tunnel revealed. No surprise that Egypt is one of Lonely Planet’s Best Destination affordable choices for 2024, or that the culture and heritage of Egypt has filled museums all around the world.

Cairo itself is undergoing an ambitious programme of restoration and development that will make it an attractive city break option for European tourists. The Citadel of Saladin in Cairo, built in 1173, has been extensively revamped. Countless other architectural gems, including domes, minarets and a 12th century synagogue have also been restored while tourist infrastructure has been improved and extended. There is a new 4.7 km walkway along the Nile and exciting developments in hotels and resorts. Old Cairo is being restored and pedestrian zones established.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Eissa announced that tourist numbers are already up 5% in 2024, despite the difficult international situation. Numbers now exceed pre-pandemic levels and are projected to grow to 30 million by 2028. All this is easily accessible with a newly introduced 5-year multiple entry-visa, four-hour flight time from Berlin and new twice-weekly direct flights from Nuremburg starting this April.

Big changes at major sites

The Pyramids As Never Before

A major improvement of the visitor infrastructure around the Pyramids includes new hotels, restaurants, hop-on hop-off electric transport and shady seating areas, plus new photographic vantage points to guarantee that essential shot. Nearby, The Grand Egyptian Museum is opening in 2024 and will be the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilisation. Some areas are already open, including „Tutankhamun – The Immersive Exhibition”, a 3600 spectacle that takes visitors into the life of the legendary king.

Saladin Goes Centre Stage

In the heart of old Cairo, with magical panoramas of the entire city, Saladin’s formidable Citadel, founded in 1176 AD was home to the Egyptian government for 700 years. After extensive restoration work on its medieval towers, gardens and mosques this hilltop fortress is expected to become a major focus for tourism.

Museum Highlights

Alexandria’s Graeco-Roman Museum is reopening after 18 years of restoration, displaying around 6,000 artifacts from the times of Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Cleopatra. In collaboration with the University of Munich, and the Hildesheim Museum, The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir opened a permanent archaeological exhibition of stunning treasures from the Wadi al-Seboua Temple of King Amenhotep III, pharoah when ancient Egypt was at its peak of glory.

Behind the scenes

New tourist city on the Mediterranean

Egypt and the UAE are working together on a $24bn project to develop the Ras al-Hekma peninsula into a resort city with its own airport. With white sandy beaches and turquoise waters 212 km west of Alexandria, the location is expected to become a major luxury destination.

Become an Egypt specialist

A new Egypt e-Learning programme for the travel trade will inspire frontline travel agents and tour operator staff to become Egypt specialists. An agents’ resources section with a photo and video library plus a selection of downloadable brochures will help sales.

New hotels

Egypt’s first art hotel, Hyatt Centric Cairo West, is set to open in early 2024 and will feature 283 rooms near the new Grand Egyptian Museum. Also opening are the Mandarin Oriental Shepheard, the revamped historic Shepheard Hotel, and the 450-room luxury Cairo House, with the largest rooftop venue in Cairo. In Luxor, the Four Seasons Hotel Luxor will house 200 guestrooms and suites, each with views of the Nile River, the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. Open 2025. IHG Hotels & Resorts is constructing two new hotels in western Cairo and planning a major investment in the DOSE North Coast resort, featuring artificial lakes, swimming pools, spa, kids clubs, running and biking tracks and an aquapark.

Unique Wellness Therapies in Remote Desert Oases

Wellness is a growth area for Egypt with new resorts like Naya building on ancient traditions. Siwa Oasis has 230 natural springs and a thousand free-flowing wells that help with rheumatic conditions. In the Western Desert, the Bahariya Oasis has beneficial sulphur and mineral waters while the Kharga Oasis, situated in the far south, was once a way-station on the camel trade route to Africa and has deep therapeutic wells renowned for treating skin conditions and arthritis.

Wildlife and Bird-watching Tourism Developing Fast

Egypt is making great strides in environmental protection and biodiversity with a new Green List of accredited eco-lodges and diving centres. The once deserted Nilotic island of Bigeh, believed by the ancient Egyptians to be the birthplace of Osiris, is now home to Eco Nubia, an award-winning site dedicated to Nubian culture that offers kayaking and swimming. With mangroves, reefs, desert islands and coastal mountains, Wadi Al-Gemal, on the Red Sea is a haven for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts. Home to Bedouin tribes plus a spectacular array of wildlife including the rare Nubian ibex, green turtle and dugong, this unique ecosystem also has Al-Fustat ecolodge, built using traditional materials and architecture. Close to Cairo is Wadi Degla, famous for its deep canyons and home to a fascinating array of wildlife plus mountain biking and hiking trails.

Dates for the diary

March 5 – 7: With a huge pavilion modelled on the new Grand Egyptian Museum, Egypt will be a major presence at ITB, a measure of the massive effort and investment going into tourism. Join the press conference at 1500 on the 5th of March at the City Cube M4 to learn about the latest developments first-hand from the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities. Register for the press conference via egypttourism@mcgroup.com.

March 12 – April 12: Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. With its special foods, evening markets and unique atmosphere, Ramadan surprises many visitors as a great time to see Egyptian culture at its best. The festival, Eid al-Fitr, marks its conclusion.

May 6: Sham al-Nessim, literally 'inhale the breeze’ is a vibrant Spring festival which has roots in Pharaonic traditions. Families go for picnics and make gifts of painted eggs.

June: The Sphinx Festival is an annual five-day celebration of Egyptian heritage held in El Gouna on the Red Sea. With music and dancing it attracts many artists and travellers from abroad and locally.

October 22 and April 22: Twice a year the sun touches the faces of the 13th century BC monoliths deep inside the Abu Simbel temples. The October date marks the birthday of King Ramesses II, April his ascension to the throne.

Welcome to Cairo

A short break in this magnificent city holds many wonderful experiences, like shopping in the Khan al-Khalili market. Here’s a cozy read to inspire a getaway, and a taste of what to expect…

„Can anywhere match the sheer buzz and excitement of an oriental bazaar? Inside this 600-year-old labyrinth, you rub shoulders with Bedouin tribesmen searching for herbal remedies, housewives sniffing out bargains, and boys expertly bearing trays of sweet tea to men smoking shisha pipes in tiny street cafes. It was here that celebrated Cairo novelist Naguib Mahfouz drew inspiration, inhaling the fragrance of an Arabic coffee and dreaming up tales about the characters bustling past.

From here stroll south along colourful al-Muizz Street, a Cairo favourite, packed with markets, hammams, madrasas and delicious street food. Haggle for that beautiful piece of brasswork or a carpet, then discover the spectacular Bab Zuweila, a medieval gateway whose minarets give great views over the entire historic area.”