Egypt to open Nile Corniche lands to investors to boost revenues

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly leads a meeting at the government headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. Facebook/@EgyptianCabinet
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Updated 20 October 2025
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Egypt to open Nile Corniche lands to investors to boost revenues

RIYADH: Egypt is set to offer prime real estate along the Nile Corniche to private investors, aiming to monetize underutilized state assets and boost government revenues, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said. 

In a meeting at the government headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, Madbouly directed authorities to accelerate plans to transform lands and buildings overlooking the Nile into investment opportunities, according to an official statement from the Cabinet. 

The authorities have identified 110 sites along the Nile Corniche in Cairo, covering 430 acres, and 82 sites in Giza, spanning 315 acres.

The move comes as the government reported a record primary budget surplus of 629 billion Egyptian pounds ($13 billion) for fiscal year 2024–2025, despite a 60 percent decline in Suez Canal revenues. 

The initiative complements broader industrial development efforts. Last month, the government offered 1,386 fully serviced industrial plots across 23 governorates and 35 industrial zones, totaling 6.8 million sq. meters, to attract local and foreign investors. 

In its official Facebook account, the Egyptian Cabinet stated: “The Prime Minister directed that work be accelerated to transform lands overlooking the Nile Corniche into investment opportunities for various activities.”  

It added: “He clarified various details related to these lands, including height restrictions, their prices, and the proposed activities. He also outlined the various procedures and steps required to obtain the necessary licenses to commence operations there.” 

Counselor Mohamed El-Homsany, the Cabinet’s official spokesperson, said the Prime Minister also reviewed the executive steps taken to identify properties available for investment, in coordination with the relevant authorities. 

“A geographic database has been prepared for the various state assets overlooking the Nile Corniche in the two governorates, including the jurisdiction over these lands, the nature of the lands currently occupied, and the activities utilized therein,” the statement added. 

Furthermore, the official spokesperson stated that the meeting reviewed a detailed report on these sites, documenting each plot’s area, administrative jurisdiction, land characteristics, and current uses.


Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Samref ink deal to study Yanbu refinery upgrade

Updated 08 December 2025
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Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Samref ink deal to study Yanbu refinery upgrade

RIYADH: Energy giants Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, and Samref have signed a venture framework agreement to upgrade the Yanbu refinery and expand it into an integrated petrochemical complex.

As a part of the deal, the companies will explore capital investments to upgrade and diversify production, including high-quality distillates that result in lower emissions and high-performance chemicals, according to a joint press statement.

The agreement will also see the parties explore opportunities to improve the refinery’s energy efficiency and reduce environmental impacts from operations through an integrated emissions-reduction strategy.

Samref is an equally owned joint venture between Aramco and Mobil Yanbu Refining Co. Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corp.

The refinery currently has the capacity to process more than 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, producing a diverse range of energy products, including propane, automotive diesel oil, marine heavy fuel oil, and sulfur.

“This next phase of Samref marks a step in our long-term strategic collaboration with ExxonMobil. Designed to increase the conversion of crude oil and petroleum liquids into high-value chemicals, this project reinforces our commitment to advancing Downstream value creation and our liquids-to-chemicals strategy,” said Aramco Downstream President, Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani.

He added that the deal will help position Samref as a key driver of the Kingdom’s petrochemical sector’s growth.

The press statement further said that companies will commence a preliminary front-end engineering and design phase for the proposed project, which would aim to maximize operational advantages, enhance Samref’s competitiveness, and help to meet growing demand for high-quality petrochemical products in Saudi Arabia.

The firms added that these plans are subject to market conditions, regulatory approvals, and final investment decisions by Aramco and ExxonMobil.

“We value our partnership with Aramco and our long history in Saudi Arabia. We look forward to evaluating this project, which aligns with our strategy to focus on investments that allow us to grow high-value products that meet society’s evolving energy needs and contribute to a lower-emission future,” said Jack Williams, senior vice president of Exxon Mobil Corp.