El Gouna, Egypt – 17 October, 2025: El Gouna, the fully integrated and sustainable town by Orascom Development on the Red Sea coast, has signed a collaboration agreement with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Egypt to raise awareness on humanitarian and social causes, including strengthening food and nutrition security across Egypt, one of WFP’s key priorities.
The signing ceremony brought together senior representatives from El Gouna, Orascom Development, and WFP Egypt, underscoring the shared commitment to creating meaningful partnerships that drive positive social impact. The event served as a platform to reaffirm El Gouna’s dedication to sustainability and community well-being, while aligning with WFP’s mission to changing lives and supporting national development priorities.
To mark the collaboration, El Gouna launched “Cycling for Humanity”, a symbolic event that will be held on October 22, merging sport, art, and purpose. The initiative invites senior representatives from El Gouna, WFP, El Gouna Film Festival, El Gouna community and visitors to take part in a 3.5 km ride through El Gouna, commemorating the town’s 35th anniversary. The route will begin at El Gouna Conference and Culture Center (GCCC) and conclude at Abu Tig Marina, El Gouna’s vibrant waterfront hub and one of the Red Sea’s most iconic marinas.
In a gesture symbolizing this spirit, El Gouna has pledged EGP 350,000 to WFP for every kilometer cycled, supporting efforts to enhance food and nutrition security in Egypt and turning every movement into a step toward a more equitable future.
Mohamed Amer, CEO of El Gouna and Executive Board Member at Orascom Development Egypt, said: “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 of 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.”
WFP Egypt Country Director Jean-Pierre de Margerie said: “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 with El Gouna bridges sport, community, and purpose to advance food security for all.”
As participants cycle through the town, they experience firsthand El Gouna’s model of sustainability, from its eco-friendly urban design and renewable energy solutions to its emphasis on active living and integrated community infrastructure. Each stop along the route reflects the town’s holistic approach to development and its belief that thriving communities are built on balance between people, planet, and progress.
The partnership also extends El Gouna’s commitment to humanitarian storytelling through its hosting of El Gouna Film Festival (GFF). In collaboration with WFP, this year’s festival features the “Eish” short film competition, an initiative that invites emerging filmmakers to capture powerful stories of resilience, food security, and human perseverance. By providing a platform for such narratives, El Gouna reinforces its belief that creativity can drive social awareness and inspire action. The competition echoes this year’s GFF theme, “Cinema for Humanity,” underscoring how El Gouna connects art, empathy, and purpose under one vision.
Through this new collaboration and its ongoing initiatives, El Gouna continues to demonstrate how communities can thrive when sustainability, compassion, and innovation come together, bringing to life its enduring promise of “Life as it should be.”
-Ends-
About El Gouna
El Gouna, the fully integrated town by Orascom Development, has been the most prominent destination nestled on the Red Sea on an area of 36.9 million square meters for more than 35 years. The town encompasses 9,200 delivered residential units, 18 hotels with 2,800 rooms, schools offering various international curricula including Swiss and British certifications, an international hospital, start-up workspace facility, four marinas, two world-class golf courses, an Egyptian Premier League football club, a culture & conference center, and an array of services.
Each of El Gouna’s hotels is characterized by unique architectural charm. From the Upper Nubian flair of Steigenberger to the Asian-inspired design of The Chedi, which is part of The Leading Hotels of the World portfolio, and Casa Cook’s down-to-earth yet stylish aesthetic, there’s a hotel for every taste. The interior design across these hotels is sleek and understated, prioritizing maximum comfort. Dining in El Gouna is a culinary delight, with impeccable options featuring flavors from locally sourced ingredients, including supplies from El Gouna’s own farm. The town also offers a curated selection of spas, blending oriental and far Eastern treatments for a holistic relaxation experience.
With a population of more than 25,000 residents of 50+ nationalities, El Gouna is only 30 minutes from Hurghada International Airport, which is only a four-hour flight from Europe’s major capitals.
For more information, please visit elgouna.com and follow El Gouna on Instagram @elgounaredsea, @elgounapulse, and @elgounarealestate.
About Orascom Development
Orascom Development Holding is a leading international developer specializing in vibrant, integrated communities in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. For more than 35 years, Orascom Development has been a pioneer in creating destinations where people are inspired to live, work, and play with passion and purpose.
From El Gouna’s stunning Egyptian coastal town by the Red Sea to Andermatt Swiss Alps’ breath-taking, year-round mountain destination, each master-planned community is a testament to Orascom Development’s commitment to place-making at its finest. The integrated towns harmoniously combine residential areas with private villas and apartments, hotels, and award-winning leisure and commercial amenities – including golf courses, marinas, sports facilities, retail shops and restaurants.
Orascom Development owns a land bank of more than 100 million square meters with more than 40% developed into thriving communities in Egypt (El Gouna, Makadi Heights, O West, Taba Heights, and Byoum), in the GCC (Jebel Sifah and Hawana Salalah in Oman), and in Europe (Andermatt Swiss Alps in Switzerland, Luštica Bay in Montenegro and West Carclaze Garden Village in the UK). Orascom Development’s hospitality portfolio includes 33 premium and luxury hotels with more than 7,000 rooms across Europe, the Midde East, and North Africa.
