Massive Emirati investment in Egypt's tourism industry

With flights from UAE airports to Cairo heavily booked for the holiday period and attractive Eid Al Fitr holiday packages to Egypt offered by Abu Dhabi based Etihad Holidays, special Eid Al Fitr direct-to-Sharm El Sheikh flights offered by Air Arabia and Ramadan October offers from Emirates Airlines.

'Egypt has become an increasingly attractive destination offering a striking change of pace for UAE travellers,' said Ahmed El Khadem, Chairman of the Egyptian Tourist Authority.

For both Western and Eastern expatriate travellers from UAE, Egypt features the most sublime and unmissable antiquities on earth as well as spectacular resort destinations with some of the world's most spectacular scuba diving spots. For UAE nationals and Arab expatriates Cairo has a rich Eid Al Fitr offering of popular music and theatre, the latest Egyptian cinema releases and cosmopolitan dining.

El Khadem underscored that the common language and religion, shared values and tastes, the close proximity and Egypt's relaxed, vibrant atmosphere have made Egypt the perennial favourite for short break holidays for Emiratis and Arabs living and working in the UAE.

According to the United Nation's World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) 2005 Index, Egypt is one of only two Arab countries (along with Saudi Arabia) to rank in the world's top 25 tourism destinations during 2004. The UNWTO's Global Tourism Highlights 2005 stated that within the Middle East, Egypt recorded the biggest increase in the region, with visitor arrivals increasing by more than 2 million arrivals (+34%) to over 8 million (including some 5% of same-day visitors).

Long considered the entertainment capital of the Arab world, Egypt has undertaken an extensive tourism development program aimed at expanding and upgrading its already rich offering with a special focus on short break holidays for GCC visitors. One sign of increasing GCC interest in Egyptian tourism is massive Saudi and Emirati investment in Egypt's tourism infrastructure, most notably Emaar's recently announced AED 6.30 billion (US$1.74 billion) investment in the 1544-acre, Marassi development at Sidi Abdul Rahman set along 7 kilometres of Egypt's Mediterranean north coast, which Emaar won at a highly publicized auction.

The new development will include a resort with up to 3,000 hotel rooms, a marina, golf course, hospital, healthcare facilities and total township development, according to Dr Nader Mohamed, Managing Director, Emaar Misr for Development S.A.E. In addition, work is underway on Emaar's landmark AED 15 billion (US$4 billion) Uptown Cairo master planned community set at the highest point of downtown Cairo.

Over the last year, tourism to Egypt has increased sharply, particularly around major holiday seasons, with Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh ranking as the top two travel destinations. UAE recorded an 11.9% jump between January and June of 2006.

To encourage and capitalize on the Eid holiday traffic to Egypt, Etihad Holidays is offering special Ramadan and Eid packages starting from AED 1,460.00.

Nick Wood, General Manager of Etihad Holidays says, 'Egypt is one of our top selling destinations and the business has been growing progressively through the year. Etihad has increased its services to Egypt, which has certainly helped. However, the demand for trips to Egypt is very strong. Eid packages have been heavily booked over the last one or two weeks.'

For UAE travellers wishing to fly directly to Sharm El Sheikh, Air Arabia offers direct flights to the Egypt's premier Red Sea resort.