The North Coast’s landscape has shifted significantly in the past two years. Beyond the established resort villages, a handful of genuinely large-scale developments — some backed by sovereign investment from the UAE and Qatar — are reshaping which parts of the coast are worth watching. Here’s where the real activity is right now.
Ras El Hikma
Ras El Hikma is the North Coast’s biggest story by far: a $35 billion joint development between Egypt and the UAE’s Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company, announced in 2024 and described as the largest single investment deal in Egypt’s history. The zone spans over 40,600 feddans between Marsa Matrouh and New Alamein, roughly 2.5 hours from Cairo, and is projected to become the North Coast’s second-largest real estate market after East Cairo. Several established developers now have projects within the broader Ras El Hikma zone, including the ones below.
Alam El Roum
A $29.7 billion joint venture between Egypt and Qatar’s Qatari Diar, launched in phases with construction underway and first handovers targeted from 2030. The development covers roughly 4,900 acres and 7.2 kilometres of Mediterranean coastline, about 12km east of Marsa Matrouh and close to Ras El Hikma. Beyond the scale, the site has genuine history — the name traces back to a Roman-era presence on this stretch of coast, with remnants of an old fortification still nearby. The masterplan is split roughly 60% residential, 15% services, and 25% green space.
Ramla
Developed by Marakez, the real estate arm of Saudi Arabia’s Fawaz Al Hokair Group, Ramla sits within the Ras El Hikma zone at kilometre 215 of the Alexandria–Marsa Matrouh road, a short drive from Almaza Bay. The village spans over 750 acres with 1.4km of beachfront, and includes swimmable lagoons, a sports campus, and a working farm alongside its residential units — chalets, duplexes, penthouses, and villas.
Almaza Bay
Developed by Travco Properties near Sidi Heneish, Almaza Bay is one of the more established names on this stretch of the North Coast, with a genuine summer season running roughly May through October and direct seasonal charter access from several European cities. It’s substantial enough that we cover it separately in more depth — get in touch if it’s your main interest and we’ll send you the full picture.
Marassi
One of the North Coast’s longest-established large-scale developments, Marassi is known for its architectural variety — chalets across seven different regional design influences, from Greek and Italian to Moroccan and Tunisian — alongside shared health clubs, gyms, and landscaped grounds with sea views. Unit sizes typically range from around 72 to over 300 square metres.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ras El Hikma deal?
A $35 billion joint development agreement between Egypt and the UAE’s Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company, signed in 2024 — the largest single foreign investment deal in Egypt’s history, covering a new city on the North Coast between Marsa Matrouh and New Alamein.
Is Alam El Roum part of Ras El Hikma?
They’re separate developments in the same part of the North Coast — Alam El Roum sits close to Ras El Hikma, about 12km east of Marsa Matrouh, but is its own project backed by Qatar’s Qatari Diar.
Where is Ramla located relative to Almaza Bay?
Ramla sits within the Ras El Hikma zone, a short drive from Almaza Bay — both are accessible via the same stretch of the Alexandria–Marsa Matrouh coastal road.
Browse our current North Coast listings, or get in touch and we’ll walk you through which of these developments fits what you’re looking for.
