Many Hurghada hotels reported 90–100% booked for Christmas and New Year
Expected occupancy in Marsa Alam is put at 80 to 90%, and tourism police and civil defence have told hotels not to erect celebration marquees or camps without licences.
13 November 2026
Hotels and holiday villages along the Hurghada coast have started putting up Christmas trees, lights and Santa figures weeks before the season and are building programmes for Christmas and New Year. Bookings at a large number of the city's hotels run between 90 and 100%, according to a report by the Egyptian daily Al-Masry Al-Youm, which puts expected occupancy in Marsa Alam at 80 to 90%.
Hurghada expects visitors of more than 25 nationalities over the season, led by the German, English, French, Russian, Polish and Czech markets along with the Baltic and Scandinavian countries.
Mohamed Shamroukh, managing director of a hotel group in Hurghada and Sahl Hasheesh, said the celebrations are now a fixed part of resort programming rather than a seasonal extra, with indoor and outdoor camps being prepared for parties and local and international musicians booked. Alaa Badawy, who manages a Hurghada hotel, said Santa carts drawn by camels, horses and deer, dinner parties, fireworks and photographs with Santa are part of the plans.
Tourism police and civil defence have raised the alert level for hotels and resorts and said no temporary marquee or celebration camp may be set up over Christmas and New Year without the required approvals and licences.
Venues must show working and maintained firefighting systems, enough emergency exits that are easy to reach, checked electrical connections and a stated capacity that is not exceeded. Sites are inspected before they may be used.
The tourism ministry's Red Sea office is monitoring compliance with inspection campaigns during the season and says legal action will follow against any establishment that runs events or camps without the required licences.