Sisi Orders Ban on Construction Within 200 Metres of Egypt's Shoreline, Beach-Access Inspections

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has ordered the immediate formation of a national committee to inspect Egypt's beaches and ensure public access, while banning new construction within 200 metres of the shoreline without prior government approval, according to a presidential statement issued Monday, 10 August.

The directive came during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk in New Alamein City, where officials also discussed economic and financial developments, according to Egyptian Streets.

The new committee will include representatives from relevant state agencies and is tasked with field inspections to confirm citizens can access beaches freely, in line with existing law. El-Sisi also ordered authorities to strictly enforce the rules governing land allocated for tourism activity along Egypt's coastline — any facility or structure built within 200 metres of the shoreline will now require prior approval from the relevant state bodies.

A separate committee was ordered to inspect real estate projects under construction nationwide, checking whether housing units are delivered to buyers on schedule and contracts honoured.

What it means for the Red Sea coast

The Red Sea governorate's economy runs on beachfront hotels, resorts and tourism villages from El Gouna to Marsa Alam, making this directive directly relevant to future development along the coast. The presidential statement does not specify how or when the rule will be applied in the Red Sea governorate specifically, whether it affects developments already under construction, or what penalties violators face — those details were not given in the source and will likely follow in implementing regulations.