The Egyptian government has recently reviewed progress on its Hurghada Green City initiative, a five-year program set to conclude in 2028. The main objective is to transform the Red Sea resort into a model of sustainable tourism.
Carried out in cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, the project is supported by more than $3 million in funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Key Measures and Achievements
The project focuses on several strategic areas:
- Reducing environmental impact: Acting Environment Minister Manal Awad highlighted the need to integrate green technologies into the tourism, energy, and transport sectors in order to cut carbon emissions.
- Protecting biodiversity: Initiatives have been launched to conserve local ecosystems, including monitoring medicinal plants and marine turtles.
- Encouraging green investment: The program aims to attract financing for low-carbon infrastructure and improve the competitiveness of the tourism sector.
- Awareness and training: Training on eco-certification and waste management has been provided to tourism professionals. In addition, awareness campaigns and digital platforms have been set up to promote more environmentally responsible practices.
Next Steps
During a meeting with the project team, Minister Manal Awad emphasized the importance of speeding up the implementation of planned actions. She specifically called for immediate measures to protect coral reefs from damage caused by diving fins, and for the gradual elimination of single-use plastic bags in Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh in favor of reusable alternatives.
According to the minister, this project strengthens Egypt’s position as a leading destination for sustainable tourism, while creating new long-term economic and environmental opportunities.
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