Egypt Leads Africa’s Hotel Development Pipeline for Ninth Year
The hotel pipeline reached 185 properties and 46,000 rooms in 2026, up from 143 hotels and 33,900 rooms a year earlier.
Egypt ranked first in Africa for hotel development for the ninth consecutive year in 2026, according to Cabinet Media Centre infographics citing W Hospitality Group data.
The country’s hotel pipeline reached 185 properties and 46,000 rooms under construction, compared with 143 hotels and 33,900 rooms in 2025.
The pipeline has expanded steadily over the past several years. In 2018, 43 hotels with 13,600 rooms were under development. That rose to 109 hotels and 26,200 rooms by 2024 before accelerating further over the past two years.
Tourist arrivals also increased despite regional tensions. Around 12.7 million visitors arrived between January and August 2026, compared with 12.2 million during the same period in 2025. Tourism revenues edged up from USD 11.8 billion to USD 12 billion.
The World Travel and Tourism Council expects the sector’s contribution to GDP to reach USD 35.4 billion in 2026, up from USD 34.4 billion in 2025, while employment is projected to rise to 3.03 million.
The IMF also expects tourism revenues to continue increasing, from USD 20.8 billion in FY2026/27 to USD 29.8 billion by FY2030/31.
