El Gouna

El Gouna | The one, and the only

El Gouna is not just a resort town on Egypt’s Red Sea. It is a world carefully imagined and brought to life, where turquoise lagoons meet golden shorelines, and where architecture, community, and nature harmonize in ways that feel almost otherworldly. Conceived in 1989 by the visionary Samih Sawiris and shaped by Orascom Development Egypt, El Gouna was designed to embody “life as it should be.” Over three decades later, this pioneering town has become Egypt’s most successful coastal community — a place where holidaymakers, residents, and investors converge to embrace a lifestyle unlike anywhere else.

From iconic Orascom neighborhoods like Tuban, Kamaran, Northbay, and Fanadir Shores, to luxury addresses such as Ancient Hill, Cyan, Shedwan, Fairways, and The Nines, every part of El Gouna feels distinct yet interconnected. Add to that the refined Swan Lake Encore by Hassan Allam Properties, and you begin to understand why El Gouna is considered the crown jewel of the Red Sea coast.

This is more than a holiday destination. It is a town with schools, hospitals, banks, cultural venues, marinas, and golf courses. It is a home for families, a playground for water sports lovers, and an investment magnet for those who see the future of Egypt’s Red Sea as the new Mediterranean dream.

A Vision Turned Reality

When Samih Sawiris first looked at the barren stretch of coastline north of Hurghada, most saw desert. He saw possibility. He envisioned a town built not around concrete and asphalt, but around lagoons, marinas, gardens, and light. A town where you could live as comfortably year-round as you would in Cairo or Alexandria — but with the serenity of the sea at your doorstep.

From its inception, El Gouna was never meant to be a seasonal escape. It was imagined as a complete ecosystem — a town with its own power grid, water treatment plants, and environmental standards. It would have hospitals, schools, churches, mosques, shops, and cinemas. It would grow organically, neighborhood by neighborhood, each adding a different chapter to the same story.

Three decades later, that vision has matured into one of the most successful masterplanned communities in the Middle East. El Gouna is now home to more than 20,000 residents and countless seasonal visitors. Its lagoons stretch like turquoise veins through neighborhoods, connecting homes to the water. Its marinas hum with life, yachts bobbing against the horizon. Its downtown squares bustle with cafés, galleries, and boutiques. And its identity as “Egypt’s Venice” feels both poetic and accurate.

The Masterplan – Designed for Harmony

El Gouna’s masterplan is vast yet human-scaled. Spanning over 36 million square meters, with more than 10 kilometers of shoreline and dozens of artificial lagoons, the town balances grandeur with intimacy.

Each neighborhood is designed with a theme:

• Tuban thrives with vibrancy — a place where retail, residences, and social spaces flow together.
• Kamaran whispers calm, offering families privacy, gardens, and lagoon-side sanctuaries.
• Northbay is the definition of water-centric living, with an immense central lagoon and homes that open directly onto the water.
• Fanadir Shores and Fanadir Seafront put the sea front and center, where every balcony captures the horizon.
• Ancient Hills brings timeless architecture and elevated views of the Red Sea and golf courses.
• Cyan is contemporary, clean-lined, and minimalist, designed for modern coastal living.
• Shedwan mixes authenticity with a bohemian soul.
• Fairways caters to golf lovers, blending green fairways with resort-style residences.
• The Nines is boutique exclusivity, designed for those who want a community within a community.

Water is central to the entire plan. Nearly every home in El Gouna is either lagoon-front, marina-front, or beach-front. Cycling paths, pedestrian promenades, and canal bridges link communities in ways that feel both practical and poetic. The result is a town that feels less like a grid and more like a living organism, always in dialogue with the sea.

Location and Connectivity

El Gouna’s location has always been one of its greatest strengths. Just 25 kilometers north of Hurghada and about 445 kilometers from Cairo, it is close enough for quick access yet far enough to feel like another world.

• From Cairo: a four-to-five-hour drive via the Sokhna–Hurghada Road or through Upper Egypt Desert Road connections.
• From Alexandria: reachable through Cairo, with road and flight connections.
• By Air: Hurghada International Airport, just 40 minutes away, receives more than 60 daily flights from across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Seasonal charter flights connect El Gouna directly to European cities, making it an international hub in its own right.

Accessibility has made El Gouna not just a holiday town but a second home for thousands of Europeans, particularly from Germany, Italy, the UK, and Switzerland. For Egyptians, its proximity to Cairo makes weekend escapes and long-term stays equally appealing.

Everyday Life in El Gouna

Life in El Gouna feels like a dream carefully curated. Imagine waking to sunlight bouncing off a turquoise lagoon, sipping coffee on a shaded terrace as sailboats drift by. The day might begin with yoga on a beachfront deck, followed by hours of kitesurfing in Makani Beach, or a round of golf surrounded by desert mountains and sparkling sea views. Afternoons could be spent exploring Downtown’s boutiques, while evenings glow with dining at Abu Tig Marina or enjoying a film at the open-air cinema.

The magic of El Gouna lies in its flexibility. For some, it is a retreat of stillness — long walks on Fanadir Beach, quiet swims in private pools, evenings reading by the shore. For others, it is a playground of energy — wakeboarding at Sliders Cable Park, beach parties at La Playa, or cultural gatherings at the annual El Gouna Film Festival.

Housing options reflect this diversity. From compact apartments for young professionals to lagoon-front chalets for families, from penthouses overlooking marinas to palatial villas in Ancient Hills, there is a home for every lifestyle. Many residences offer private docks, infinity pools, or direct beach access. Interiors often blend modern design with traditional Nubian accents, keeping the town’s aesthetic cohesive yet varied.

Facilities – More Than a Holiday Destination

El Gouna is one of the few resort towns in the Middle East where you can live permanently without compromise. Its facilities rival those of major cities:

• Education: Gouna International School provides primary and secondary education, while the Technische Universität Berlin campus offers higher education and research opportunities.
• Healthcare: El Gouna Hospital is a modern facility with emergency services, supported by private clinics and wellness centers.
• Banking and Business: Multiple banks, co-working hubs, and conference facilities make it possible to live and work here seamlessly.
• Shopping and Dining: With more than 100 restaurants and cafés, from Mori Sushi to Pier 88, from Lebanese flavors at Mer Bey to seafood at El Bahr, dining is a daily adventure. Downtown boutiques offer fashion, crafts, and everyday necessities.
• Sports and Recreation: Championship golf courses, tennis clubs, horse-riding academies, yoga studios, kitesurfing and diving centers. Sliders Cable Park is one of the largest cable parks in the world.
• Culture and Entertainment: El Gouna Film Festival has become one of the Arab world’s premier cultural events. Art galleries, concerts, and live performances fill the town’s calendar.

Beaches and Marinas

The beaches are legendary.

• Makani Beach Club is the epicenter of kitesurfing, music, and social life.
• La Playa is lively, filled with beach parties and youthful energy.
• Zouni Beach offers calm, family-friendly relaxation.

The marinas are equally distinctive.

• Abu Tig Marina was El Gouna’s first iconic project, and remains its beating heart, lined with restaurants, shops, and nightlife.
• Fanadir Marina is more exclusive, designed for larger yachts and high-end dining.
• Abydos Marina offers a quieter sailing atmosphere, perfect for residents seeking tranquility.

Community Spirit

What makes El Gouna so unique is its sense of belonging. This isn’t a place of anonymous hotel rooms. It is a community where families return year after year, where children make lifelong friends, where neighbors wave from kayaks and bicycles. Events, festivals, and even small gatherings at clubhouses create a sense of shared life.

Each neighborhood has its own culture. Tuban pulses with café culture. Kamaran nurtures family intimacy. Northbay is cosmopolitan and water-focused. Fanadir Shores is exclusive and elegant. Swan Lake Encore is refined and curated. Together, they form a town that feels larger than its parts yet intimately personal.

Orascom Development

Orascom is the lifeblood of El Gouna. Since 1989, they have built not just homes but a philosophy: towns that are self-sustaining, eco-conscious, and lifestyle-driven. In El Gouna, Orascom has developed a stunning array of neighborhoods:

• Tuban– The central hub where residences, retail, and social spaces mingle.
• Kamaran– Lagoon-side sanctuaries emphasizing family life and privacy.
• Northbay– Centered around a vast lagoon, with homes that open directly to water.
• Fanadir Shores and Fanadir Seafront – Premium seafront addresses with direct horizon views.
• Ancient Hills – Elevated, timeless homes with panoramic vistas.
• Cyan – Sleek, modern residences blending minimalism with coastal elegance.
• Shedwan – Cultural authenticity meets laid-back charm.
• Fairways – Golf course living at its finest.
• The Nines – Boutique exclusivity with carefully curated residences.

Beyond El Gouna, Orascom has created destinations like Makadi Heights on the Red Sea, O West in 6th of October City, and Andermatt Swiss Alps in Switzerland. Their ability to transform raw landscapes into thriving communities is unmatched.

Hassan Allam Properties – Swan Lake Encore

Hassan Allam Properties brings a different but complementary touch to El Gouna. Swan Lake Encore is a study in refinement: villas and chalets designed with elegance, private beaches, fine dining, and carefully managed communal spaces.

Known for projects like Swan Lake Katameya, Swan Lake October, and Park St., Hassan Allam has a reputation for luxury and precision. In El Gouna, Swan Lake Encore is their contribution to the Red Sea dream, offering a quieter, elevated lifestyle within the wider vibrancy of the town.

Destination Privilege

El Gouna’s privilege lies in its completeness. Few places in Egypt offer such a blend of accessibility, lifestyle, and environment.

• Accessibility: Hurghada International Airport connects it to the world. Road links bring Cairo and Alexandria within reach.
• Lifestyle: Residents enjoy everything from education and healthcare to marinas and nightlife without leaving town.
• Surrounding Services: Nearby destinations like Hurghada offer urban amenities, while Sahl Hasheesh and Safaga expand the Red Sea’s recreational horizons. Islands off the coast provide some of the world’s best diving and snorkeling.

Investors see privilege in stability. El Gouna has proven resilience, with property values steadily appreciating and rental markets thriving thanks to global demand. For families, the privilege is quality of life — safe, inclusive, full of opportunity.

Conclusion – Belonging to a Red Sea Dream

El Gouna is not simply a place. It is a philosophy. It embodies what happens when vision, commitment, and natural beauty converge. With neighborhoods like Tuban, Kamaran, Northbay, Fanadir Shores, Ancient Hills, Cyan, Shedwan, Fairways, and The Nines by Orascom, and with Swan Lake Encore by Hassan Allam, the town offers endless expressions of the Red Sea dream.

To live here is to belong to more than a home. It is to belong to a legacy: sunrises over turquoise lagoons, evenings in marinas lit by lanterns, weekends filled with festivals and sails, nights stilled by desert stars. El Gouna is where Egypt’s Red Sea meets the Mediterranean lifestyle — timeless, aspirational, unforgettable.