Some people raised their eyebrows as they followed news of the sale of dozens of villas and apartments in the North Coast for tens of millions of pounds each a few days ago.
The question reverberating among people following news of the sale of these apartments and villas was about whether these real estate properties were worth this very high price.
Those who went to the North Coast, vacationed there or passed by it realise why real estate properties in this part of Egypt are that expensive.
The North Coast is a piece of heaven, as some people like to describe it.
It is actually the next major attraction in Egypt. This is why it has dominated the attention of real estate developers, tourist investors and major local and international construction companies.
The area extending from Alexandria, northeast of Egypt to the shared border with Libya, northwest of Egypt, contains by far Egypt’s most beautiful beaches.
The North Coast is the closest tourist destination to Cairo. It is a one and a half hour drive from the Egyptian capital.
In the last decade or so, all tourist investments, including by the Egyptian government and the local and international private sector, started moving to the North Coast, realising the potential importance of the area.
Hundreds of billions of pounds were invested in the area, turning it from a mere barren desert facing the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean into one of the most developed areas in this country.
Dozens of luxury tourist and resort compounds were constructed along the coast, functioning as an irresistible magnet for wealthy Egyptians and Arabs.
The Egyptian government has also chosen to follow in the same footsteps by specifying billions of pounds for the construction of New Alamein City.
The North Coast is now a favourite destination for wealthy vacationers, beating out traditional resort cities on the Red Sea, including Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada and old resorts on the Mediterranean, including Alexandria.
In addition to its proximity to Cairo and accessibility, the North Coast has an exceptional set of features that make it a top summer destination for moneyed Egyptians and Arabs.
Almost all the residential projects and tourist villages constructed in the area overlook the picturesque beaches of the North Coast.
The North Coast is 1,050 square kilometres long. It extends from Alexandria in the east to Salloum in the west.
From Alexandria it passes through New Alamein and Mersa Matrouh on the road to the border crossing point between Egypt and Libya.
The North Coast has been an attractive tourist destination since the 1980s. However, the billions of pounds invested in the area since then have but made it more attractive and provided it with whatever is needed to make it memorable for visitors.
The coast is home to some of the softest sand beaches in Egypt. These beaches border the clearest and purest Mediterranean waters.
The area is also known for its mild climate during the summer. It has some of the easiest and most paved roads. These features have made the North Coast a distinctive upscale destination for many people.
The area offers visitors a rare chance to indulge in a wide range of water and recreational activities.
The investments poured in it also provided it with the most up-to-date facilities needed for the pleasure of tourists, including entertainment parks, cinemas, malls and restaurants.
The North Coast contains a group of the most beautiful beaches, including al-Yashmak Beach, Flamingo Beach, Amwaj Beach, and Lafam Beach.
One of the most famous areas in the area is Ras al-Hekma Bay area, which extends from kilometre 170 on the North Coast Road to kilometre 220 in Mersa Matrouh.
The Sidi Abdel Rahman area, which extends from kilometre 132 west of Alexandria to kilometre 190 east of Mersa Matrouh is also one of the most attractive areas in the region.
