Cairo, Egypt – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed strong interest in managing airports in Egypt, according to Egyptian cabinet spokesperson Mohamed El-Homsani. This announcement followed a high-level meeting Sunday between Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and UAE ministers, focusing on strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly within Egypt's industrial sector.
The discussions centered on accelerating existing joint projects and exploring new avenues for collaboration, with airport management emerging as a key area of focus. This aligns with Egypt's recent push for airport privatization. Earlier this year, Asharq Bloomberg reported that Egypt had offered the management of 11 airports, excluding Cairo International Airport, to private entities. This move follows Prime Minister Madbouly's December 2024 announcement outlining plans to privatize airport operations through public-private partnerships (PPPs) facilitated by a contract with the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Beyond airport management, El-Homsani stated that the UAE is keen to broaden its partnership with Egypt across several strategic sectors, including data centers and petroleum and gas fields.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to review the progress of industrial projects planned for the Ras El-Hekma area, a rapidly developing region crucial to Egypt's long-term development goals. The $35 billion Ras El-Hekma project, signed between Egypt and the UAE in February 2024, has already made a significant impact. The project contributed to a historic 84% surge in foreign direct investment in Africa in 2024, reaching a record $94 billion, according to a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report. This represents the highest FDI figure ever recorded on the continent.
El-Homsani emphasized the tangible progress of these joint ventures, highlighting the deepening collaboration between Egypt and the UAE across a diverse range of sectors. He reaffirmed both nations’ commitment to driving mutual development and prosperity. The UAE's interest in Egyptian airport management signals a further strengthening of economic ties and underscores the growing confidence in Egypt's investment climate.
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