Alam Al Roum: Qatari Diar Egypt Unveils Master Plan Designed by SOM

Qatari Diar Egypt has officially unveiled the master plan for Alam Al Roum, one of the largest mixed-use coastal developments on Egypt’s North Coast. The company introduced the master plan during a site visit attended by senior executives and a distinguished group of international consultants leading the project’s planning and development.

Moreover, Qatari Diar Egypt confirmed that the project reflects its long-term vision of creating a world-class Mediterranean destination that combines sustainable urban planning, exceptional waterfront living, and year-round tourism experiences.

The company appointed Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), one of the world’s leading architecture, engineering, and urban planning firms, to develop the master plan. Accordingly, SOM will lead the planning process while integrating international best practices with the site’s unique environmental and geographical characteristics.

The site visit formed part of Qatari Diar Egypt’s strategy to present the project’s comprehensive vision and highlight the progress achieved with its international development partners. Furthermore, the company aims to establish Alam Al Roum as one of Egypt’s most prominent coastal destinations by combining advanced planning principles with the natural beauty of the Mediterranean coastline.

Spanning approximately 20.5 million square meters (4,900 acres), Alam Al Roum occupies a strategic location on Egypt’s North Coast. The development lies around 20 minutes from Marsa Matrouh and 50 minutes from Ras El Hekma. In addition, it features 7.2 kilometers of private Mediterranean beachfront, making it one of the largest waterfront developments in the region.

The development represents total investments of approximately USD 29.7 billion, including USD 3.5 billion in direct cash investments. Consequently, the project ranks among the largest tourism and mixed-use developments currently under development in Egypt and the wider region.

Furthermore, SOM plays a central role in shaping the project’s planning philosophy. The firm combines global design expertise with the site’s environmental identity to create a sustainable coastal destination that redefines waterfront living while preserving the area’s natural landscape.

To ensure world-class execution, Qatari Diar Egypt has assembled a consortium of internationally recognized consultants. The development team includes SWA, the global landscape architecture specialist, Marina Projects, a leading marina planning and operations consultancy, and Setec, one of the world’s leading transportation and traffic engineering firms. Together, these partners will deliver the project according to the highest international standards of quality, sustainability, and innovation.

Commenting on the project, Sheikh Hamad bin Talal Al Thani, Chief Executive Officer of Qatari Diar, stated that Alam Al Roum represents a historic milestone in the company’s expansion strategy in Egypt and further strengthens its long-term commitment to one of the region’s most promising real estate and tourism markets.

He explained that the project expands Qatari Diar Egypt’s land portfolio to more than 40 million square meters, reflecting the company’s strong confidence in Egypt’s investment climate and its growing position as a leading destination for tourism, real estate, and sustainable urban development.

Furthermore, Sheikh Hamad noted that Qatari Diar’s investment portfolio in Egypt currently exceeds USD 7 billion, demonstrating the company’s long-term commitment to supporting Egypt’s comprehensive development strategy through landmark projects developed in partnership with internationally recognized experts.

He added:

“Alam Al Roum reflects our confidence in Egypt as one of the region’s most attractive destinations for investment and tourism. Through our partnership with world-class firms, led by SOM, we are creating a fully integrated coastal destination that combines international expertise with Egypt’s exceptional natural and cultural heritage.”

Moreover, he emphasized that the company remains committed to delivering the project through Egyptian talent while benefiting from Qatari Diar’s global experience across 22 countries, creating a sustainable destination that supports Egypt’s long-term economic development objectives and reinforces its global competitiveness.

Taleb Al-Athba, Chief Development & Project Delivery Officer – Asia & Africa at Qatari Diar, stated that the collaboration with SOM, together with internationally renowned consultants including Setec, Marina Projects, and SWA, has resulted in a comprehensive master plan designed to establish Alam Al Roum as a fully integrated smart coastal city.

He explained that the master plan carefully combines the site’s natural Mediterranean setting with contemporary architecture, sustainable infrastructure, and advanced mobility solutions to create an environment that enhances residents’ quality of life while delivering an exceptional visitor experience throughout the year.

Furthermore, Al-Athba confirmed that Qatari Diar Egypt is investing approximately USD 3.5 billion in direct cash investments to ensure efficient project delivery according to the highest international standards.

He added that the development will feature:

• An international yacht marina.

• Luxury hospitality destinations.

• Premium beachfront hotels.

• Sustainable energy solutions.

• Smart infrastructure.

• Environmentally responsible construction practices.

• Extensive use of locally sourced materials.

Accordingly, these elements will support the creation of a sustainable mixed-use destination that balances environmental responsibility with long-term investment value.

He also highlighted the project’s strategic location between Marsa Matrouh and Ras El Hekma, together with its 7.2-kilometer Mediterranean beachfront, positioning Alam Al Roum as a year-round tourism destination capable of attracting both local and international visitors.

Thomas Hussey, Principal of SOM’s City Design Practice, said the master plan introduces an entirely new vision for waterfront living on Egypt’s North Coast.

He explained:

“Our master plan for Alam Al Roum presents a new vision for waterfront living on Egypt’s North Coast, shaped by the Mediterranean climate, landscape, and cultural character of its setting. Our ambition is to create a sustainable, resilient coastal destination that offers residents and visitors a more immersive way to live by the water.”

Furthermore, Hussey noted that the planning approach focuses on creating a resilient coastal community where architecture, open spaces, mobility, and environmental sustainability work together to deliver an exceptional lifestyle while preserving the site’s unique natural identity.

Qatari Diar Egypt confirmed that Alam Al Roum represents the latest addition to its growing portfolio of landmark developments in Egypt. The company’s portfolio includes several flagship projects, most notably CityGate, NEWGIZA, and The St. Regis Cairo, reflecting its long-term commitment to developing integrated destinations that create lasting economic and social value.

Moreover, the launch of Alam Al Roum reinforces Qatari Diar Egypt’s position as one of the country’s leading real estate developers. The project also supports Egypt’s national vision for sustainable urban expansion by introducing a world-class Mediterranean destination that combines tourism, hospitality, residential communities, and commercial opportunities within a single master-planned development.

Furthermore, Alam Al Roum demonstrates the company’s strategy of partnering with internationally recognized consultants and operators to deliver projects that meet the highest global standards of planning, sustainability, and quality. Consequently, the development is expected to become one of the most significant mixed-use waterfront destinations in the Mediterranean region.

The project also reflects Qatari Diar Egypt’s commitment to creating destinations that remain active throughout the year rather than serving only seasonal tourism. Therefore, the master plan integrates residential neighborhoods, hospitality facilities, entertainment destinations, public spaces, commercial districts, and recreational amenities into a unified urban environment designed to support long-term growth.

In addition, the development places sustainability at the center of its planning philosophy. Smart infrastructure, environmentally responsible construction practices, efficient mobility solutions, renewable energy integration, and extensive landscaped open spaces all contribute to creating a resilient coastal community that meets future environmental and economic challenges.

Through Alam Al Roum, Qatari Diar Egypt aims to redefine contemporary waterfront living by combining exceptional natural assets with innovative urban planning. At the same time, the project creates new investment opportunities while strengthening Egypt’s competitiveness as one of the Middle East and North Africa’s leading destinations for tourism, real estate, and sustainable development.

Accordingly, Alam Al Roum represents more than a large-scale mixed-use development. Instead, it establishes a new benchmark for integrated Mediterranean destinations by bringing together international expertise, sustainable planning, premium hospitality, luxury residential communities, and advanced infrastructure within one of Egypt’s most strategic coastal locations.

With investments totaling USD 29.7 billion, a development area exceeding 20.5 million square meters, and 7.2 kilometers of private Mediterranean waterfront, Alam Al Roum is positioned to become one of the region’s most iconic coastal destinations while supporting Egypt’s long-term vision for tourism, investment, and sustainable urban development.