The company is in talks with an international airport operator as Egypt prepares to put 11 airports under private sector management.

Orascom Investment Holding is positioning itself across more parts of Egypt’s tourism economy. Its airport management is joining its existing investments around the Pyramids, Sound and Light project, restaurants and transport.

Why You Should Care

The potential airport bid would give Orascom Investment a role in one of Egypt’s largest efforts to bring private operators into the aviation sector. For the company, the opportunity is less about managing an individual airport and more about building a broader tourism offering around the full visitor journey.

The Details

Orascom Investment Holding CEO Marwan Hussein told Asharq Business that the company is in discussions with a global airport management and operations entity to form a consortium. 

Egypt plans to offer 11 airports to private sector operators as part of a wider push to increase private participation in aviation assets. The International Finance Corporation is advising on the process. The holding company is studying several airports that could support tourism, although it is not pursuing Hurghada Airport.

Meanwhile, Orascom Investment expects to begin pilot operations at its USD 22 million Sound and Light project in the fourth quarter of 2026, having already invested around 75% of the required capital.

The company’s development around the Pyramids is also seeing occupancy and rental rates of around 75%, according to the CEO. Orascom is preparing a year-round events calendar and wants to gradually bring in more international event organizers.

The Ripple

The airport push would add another layer to Orascom Investment’s expanding tourism portfolio. Its strategy already spans the Pyramids area, Sound and Light, sleeper trains through Abela, and restaurants through Egypt for Tourism Investments.

The restaurant business is also being positioned for international growth, with the company targeting expansion in the Gulf and Europe. Its portfolio includes brands such as Khufu’s and Pier 88.

For Egypt’s aviation sector, the scale of the government program is significant. Eleven airports are expected to be opened to private sector management. Hurghada airport has already attracted substantial interest, with 74 consortiums reportedly obtaining tender documents and 64 submitting bids by February.

What to Watch

The next signal is whether Orascom Investment finalizes its partnership with the global airport operator and which airports ultimately make it onto its shortlist.

At the same time, the company’s 2026 investment program will put several of its newer businesses into execution mode. The progress of the Sound and Light project, Blue EV’s Moroccan expansion and the rollout of AutroVato will show how quickly Orascom Investment can turn its broader tourism and mobility strategy into operating businesses.

The company is pursuing these investments despite some losses from last year. Orascom Investment recorded EGP 518.39 million in losses in 2025, up from EGP 455.72 million in 2024. The CEO attributed the losses to investments in projects still in their early stages.