Ashraf AboArafe
El Gouna, the fully integrated and sustainable town developed by Orascom Development on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, has entered a strategic collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Egypt to raise awareness of humanitarian and social causes — particularly strengthening food and nutrition security across the country, one of WFP’s core priorities.
The signing ceremony gathered senior representatives from El Gouna, Orascom Development, and WFP Egypt, reaffirming their shared commitment to fostering partnerships that generate tangible social impact. The collaboration underscores El Gouna’s enduring dedication to sustainability and community well-being, in line with WFP’s mission of transforming lives and advancing national development priorities.
To mark this partnership, El Gouna announced the launch of “Cycling for Humanity”, a symbolic event that blends sport, art, and purpose, set to take place on October 22 as part of the town’s 35th-anniversary celebrations. The initiative invites representatives from El Gouna, WFP, the El Gouna Film Festival (GFF), local residents, and visitors to join a 3.5-kilometer ride through the town — beginning at the El Gouna Conference and Culture Center (GCCC) and ending at Abu Tig Marina, the vibrant waterfront that stands as one of the Red Sea’s most iconic marinas.
In a gesture symbolizing shared humanity, El Gouna has pledged EGP 350,000 per kilometer cycled to WFP, supporting efforts to enhance food and nutrition security in Egypt — turning every movement into a meaningful stride toward a more equitable future.
Mohamed Amer, CEO of El Gouna and Executive Board Member at Orascom Development Egypt, commented:
“This collaboration with the World Food Programme reflects our shared vision of linking community engagement with social impact. As we celebrate El Gouna’s 35th anniversary, Cycling for Humanity transforms the joy of movement into purposeful action, channeling our town’s spirit toward advancing food security and sustainable development. Through our continued support for the El Gouna Film Festival and initiatives like this, we reaffirm our belief that progress is most powerful when driven by compassion, creativity, and collective purpose.”
Jean-Pierre de Margerie, WFP Egypt Country Director, added:
“Ensuring food and nutrition security in Egypt requires innovative partnerships that unite purpose with action. Our collaboration with El Gouna exemplifies how community engagement and creativity can drive meaningful change. This initiative bridges sport, community, and purpose to advance food security for all.”
As participants cycle through El Gouna, they will experience firsthand the town’s living model of sustainability — from its eco-conscious urban design and renewable energy solutions to its culture of active living and integrated community infrastructure. Each stop along the route reflects El Gouna’s holistic approach to development and its belief that thriving communities are built on a balance between people, planet, and progress.
This collaboration also extends to El Gouna’s commitment to humanitarian storytelling through the El Gouna Film Festival. In partnership with WFP, this year’s edition features the “Eish” Short Film Competition — a platform inviting young filmmakers to tell compelling stories of resilience, food security, and human perseverance. By spotlighting such narratives, El Gouna reinforces its conviction that creativity can drive awareness and inspire collective action. The competition aligns seamlessly with this year’s GFF theme, “Cinema for Humanity”, uniting art, empathy, and purpose under one vision.
Through this partnership and its ongoing initiatives, El Gouna continues to exemplify how communities can thrive when sustainability, compassion, and innovation come together — breathing life into its timeless promise of “Life as it should be.”
About El Gouna
El Gouna, the fully integrated town by Orascom Development, has been Egypt’s premier Red Sea destination for over 35 years, spanning 36.9 million square meters. The town encompasses 9,200 delivered residential units, 18 hotels offering 2,800 rooms, international schools (Swiss and British curricula), a world-class hospital, start-up hub, four marinas, two championship golf courses, an Egyptian Premier League football club, and the El Gouna Conference and Culture Center.
Each of El Gouna’s hotels embodies distinct architectural charm — from the Upper Nubian-inspired Steigenberger to The Chedi’s Asian elegance (a member of The Leading Hotels of the World), and Casa Cook’s earthy yet stylish design. Culinary experiences feature locally sourced ingredients, including produce from El Gouna’s own farm, while spa offerings merge oriental and Far Eastern therapies for a holistic wellness experience.
With a vibrant community of 25,000 residents from over 50 nationalities, El Gouna is just 30 minutes from Hurghada International Airport and a four-hour flight from major European capitals.
For more information, visit elgouna.com and follow @elgounaredsea, @elgounapulse, and @elgounarealestate on Instagram.
About Orascom Development
Orascom Development Holding is a leading international developer of fully integrated, vibrant towns across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. For more than 35 years, the company has pioneered destinations where people are inspired to live, work, and play with passion and purpose.
From El Gouna on Egypt’s Red Sea coast to Andermatt Swiss Alps in Switzerland, each destination embodies Orascom’s philosophy of place-making at its finest — combining residential communities, hotels, and world-class leisure and commercial amenities such as golf courses, marinas, sports facilities, retail, and dining.
With a land bank exceeding 100 million square meters, more than 40% already developed, Orascom Development’s portfolio spans Egypt (El Gouna, Makadi Heights, O West, Taba Heights, Byoum), the GCC (Jebel Sifah and Hawana Salalah in Oman), and Europe (Andermatt Swiss Alps, Luštica Bay in Montenegro, and West Carclaze Garden Village in the UK). Its hospitality portfolio includes 33 premium and luxury hotels with over 7,000 rooms across three continents.
