Autumn Wind Brings the Kitesurf Season Back to El Gouna, North Hurghada, Soma Bay and Makadi
Red Sea beaches are busy with kitesurfers as autumn wind speeds pick up, Youm7 reports. Local instructors name El Gouna and north Hurghada as the main gathering points, with Soma Bay, Makadi Bay and Marsa Alam also among the best spots.
17 October 2026
Kitesurfers are out in numbers on Red Sea Governorate beaches as autumn wind speeds rise and waves build along parts of the coast, the Egyptian daily Youm7 reported on 17 October. Both conditions matter for a sport that depends on wind movement and on the rider's control of board and sail.
Where the wind is
The report names El Gouna and north Hurghada as the areas where kitesurfers gather, alongside the beaches of Soma Bay, Makadi Bay and Marsa Alam. All are described as open stretches where the wind reaches the shore with more force.
Shaaban El-Refaei, who manages a kitesurf centre in Hurghada, told Youm7 that north Hurghada is well known for the sport because of its open position and its wind speeds. The surrounding terrain shapes how the wind moves, he said, which makes some spots more suitable than others depending on the weather and the wind direction on the day.
He named Soma Bay and Makadi Bay — south of Hurghada and north of Safaga — as leading destinations too, because of the stretch of open water there and the absence of natural obstacles that would otherwise break up the wind and the waves.
Who is riding
European visitors are among the keenest, the report says, particularly those arriving from Germany, Britain and Italy, along with guests from other countries including Russia. Many bring their own boards, sails and equipment with them rather than hire on arrival.
The kitesurf instructor El-Sayeh told the paper that a number of foreign visitors learned the sport on Red Sea beaches and went on to become instructors here themselves, and that Hurghada receives visitors who put kitesurfing among the reasons for the trip. Board speeds can climb sharply in strong wind, he said, which is part of the appeal for riders who want the challenge.
What the report does not say
El-Refaei's point is the practical one for anyone planning a session: the range of spots along the coast gives riders options according to their level of experience and the weather on the day. The report carries no wind measurements, no centre names, prices or opening times, and conditions change with the wind direction — so check locally before travelling to a particular beach.