As 2025 approaches, Egypt is set to attract bns in foreign direct investment, with a focus on key sectors including automotive, textiles, steel, renewables, green ammonia and fertilizers. Throughout 2024, the country secured commitments from companies and investors across the globe promising to pump funds into various industries — GCC nations were among the top investors in the Egyptian economy.

UAE- The UAE made the biggest investment Egypt has ever seen with the Ras El Hekma agreement and it didn’t stop there, the year saw a number of Emirati players pledge investments in the local economy.

ADQ’s USD 35 bn Ras El Hekma agreement contributed the lion’s share of Egypt’s FDI for the year and marked the “largest direct investment agreement in Egypt,” to use Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly’s words. ADQ paid USD 24 bn for the development rights to Ras El Hekma and converted some USD 11 bn worth of UAE deposits at the Central Bank of Egypt into money to be invested.

Investments in freezones: Dubai’s state-owned port operator DP World is exploring thepossibility of developing a public freezone in the new capital. The proposed project will span 500 feddans owned by New Administrative Capital for Urban Development and will focus on key industrial sectors, including electronics, automotive, fast-moving consumer goods, garments, and footwear.

Also in the pipeline: UAE’s Masdar and the Egyptian state’s Future of Egypt will set up a floating solar plant in Lake Nasser and a solar plant in Nag Hammadi. AD Ports could set up a renewables-focused industrial zone in East Port Said and UAE’s Global South Utilities, China’s Weiheng, alongside the Industry Ministry will set up a USD 12 mn battery storage factory.

KSA- Saudi Arabia started investing in Egypt again this year and pledged a lot more. Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman said back in September that he had directed the Public Investment Fund to invest USD 5 bn in Egypt as part of the “first phase” of a larger program.

To sweeten the pot: Egypt and KSA this year inked two agreements focused on streamlining mutual investments and providing investment guarantees. The inking of the Agreement on Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments between Egypt and Saudi is expected to bring in upwards of USD 10 bn in bilateral investments over the next three years.

And there’s another big acquisition on the way: PIF is working to acquire CIRA Education and use it as a regional platform. The Saudi Egyptian Investment Company — a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund — said in May that it would buy into CIRA majority shareholder Social Impact Capital. SIC has used the cash injection to launch its mandatory tender offer for the rest of CIRA’s shares — the offer got the green light from the Financial Regulatory Authority earlier this month.

QATAR-

Qatar is working on a “very important” real estate project on the North Coast and the Egyptian and Qatari sides are working to implement it quickly. The country is also looking into investments into the North Coast’s tourism and hospitality sectors and has expressed interest in making logistic zone and port investments, with discussion on the topic currently ongoing.

Other than Gulf nations, two countries emerged as some of the top investors in Egypt this past year — Turkey and China.

TURKEY-

A USD 7 bn Turkish industrial zone? In March, Egyptian Group For Multipurpose Terminals and Turkish firm Doğuş Construction and Trade signed an MoU to establish a logistics hub in Gargoub on the country’s northwest coast with over USD 7 bn in estimated investment. The project, which will include a commercial port and freezones, is expected to kick off operations in 2026.

Turkish investments in Egypt continue to grow: In June, Turkish ready-made garment maker Şirikcioglu received approval for a USD 700 mn denim factory in Port Said. Erciyas Holding also announced plans to set up a USD 60 mn factory for oil, gas and water pipes, with 60% of production directed towards exports. Apparel company Denim Rise will set up a garment factory in Qantara West, with investments of USD 8.8 mn. Snackmaker Saray Biskuvi will also invest USD 8 mn in a food factory, targeting global exports. Turkish clothing manufacturer Eroglu Holding also broke ground on a new garments factory in Qantara West this year in November to bring its total investments to USD 51 mn.

CHINA-

China is ramping up its presence in Egypt, with this past year witnessing a long list of Chinese investments announced. Steelmaker Wu’an Xin Feng is planning a USD 1.7 bn industrial complex in the SCZone, with nine factories producing automotive brake components, household appliance parts, standard fasteners, hot-rolled steel coils, and more. Textile manufacturer Kelida will set up a USD 30 mn home textiles plant in the Qantara West Industrial Zone. And Elite Solar is building a USD 150 mn solar cell factory in Ain Sokhna.

The automotive sector remains a focal investment point, with Chinese companies like FAW Group and Chery International preparing to enter the Egyptian market in 2025. Meanwhile, an unnamed Chinese player is working with the Arab Organization for Industrialization to set up a USD 360 mn tire factory in the SCZone. There’s also luxury SUV manufacturer Exeed, which has begun locally assembling its models.

El Nasr Automotive resumed operations in the second half of the year, delivering the first batch of electric buses in partnership with China’s Yutong to Transport Ministry-affiliated companies. There’s also Chinese automaker Jinbei, which is set to start assembling its models in Egypt at the beginning of 2025.

And that’s not all: Al Mansour Automotive and Chinese state-owned SAIC will set up a USD 135 mn factory for the manufacture of SAIC-owned brand MG vehicles. We have the full story in the news well, above.

Other Chinese investments include: Luggage manufacturer Hangzhou Henneway Travel Goods — whose client brands include Samsonite, Swissgear, Travelite, and Delsey — kicked off construction on its USD 50 mn factory in the Qantara West Industrial Zone. China’s New Hope Group is exploring a USD 100 mn investment to establish a feed production complex in an industrial zone

Want the full list: Check out our breakdown of Chinese investments in the country in an Inside Industry published earlier this year.

ALSO WORTH NOTING-

Poland is also increasing its investment in Egypt, with renewables player Hynfra planning a USD 10.6 bn green ammonia plant. The first phase of the project is set to be up and running by 2030.

German Investments are set to increase, with a EUR 1 bn direct reduced iron factory and EUR 30 mn flame-resistant material plant in the pipeline. Carmaker Volkswagen expressed interest in helping develop a shared production facility in the East Port Said Industrial Zone.

Norwegian renewables developer Scatec is setting up a USD 1.1 bn solar plant to power EgyptAlum’s Nagaa Hammadi industrial complex.

Industrial real estate developer Polaris Parks will develop two new major industrial parks in Egypt with investments of EGP 10.5 bn. The projects together are set to host a total of 1k factories and create 50k jobs.

Indian investments: India is looking into setting up a USD 60 mn carbon black factory in Egypt and Indian textile manufacturer Welspun wants to set up a project in Egypt to help it enter African markets and boost exports to European, Arab, and US markets.

On the auto front: Automotive player Stellantis plans to invest EUR 116 mn in the local manufacture of four vehicle models expected to hit the streets over the course of three years and Nissan Egypt inked an agreement with the government to invest USD 45 mn into manufacturing.

In the Golden Triangle, local and foreign investors have submitted three proposals to set up phosphate and phosphoric acid fertilizer factories with a combined USD 1.6 bn of investment.

Also being mulled: Hyundai for Home Appliances is looking to set up its own facility in Egypt to help it boost exports across the region.

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