Egypt’s 2026 Growth Outlook Takes Center Stage at the 8th Decision Makers Conference

Mohammed Kamal

Last updated 25-06-2026

4 min

Cairo’s Grand Egyptian Museum hosted the 8th “Decision Makers” Conference on growth.

Focus fell on investment, real estate and tourism as an economic “triangle”.

Leaders urged faster adaptation to global shifts and tighter public-private coordination.

Calls included simplifying procedures, boosting digital property markets and partnerships.

Strong consensus said integration, clear roadmaps and execution will drive growth.

Cairo’s Grand Egyptian Museum played host this week to the 8th edition of the Decision Makers Conference, an event that has steadily carved out a space for serious conversations between Egypt’s public and private sectors. This year’s theme — “The Investment, Real Estate, and Tourism Sectors: Egypt’s Economic Growth Triangle in 2026” — set the tone from the outset. The message was clear: these three sectors are not working in silos, and they shouldn’t be.

Organised by San & Sam, the gathering brought together senior government officials, investors, developers and policy advisers, all trying to make sense of a global economy that feels, well… a bit unpredictable. If you’ve been around the startup and investment scene in the region, you’ll know that these cross-sector conversations can sometimes feel like a bit of a faff. But this one struck a more practical note.

Among those taking part were Dr. Ahmed Ghoneim, CEO of the Grand Egyptian Museum Authority; Walid Hassouna, Founder and CEO of Valu; Dr. Medhat Nafae, Chairman of Nym Consulting and a member of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council; and Ayman Soliman, Managing Partner at Morpho Investments. The line-up also included Eng. Mahmoud Moneeb of Finest Integrated Hospitality Solutions, Eng. Tarek Shoukry of the Arab Real Estate Development Company, and Mohamed Motawaa of MG Developments.

And that was only part of it. Mostafa Kamel from Dall Developments, Eng. Ahmed Ehab of Madar Developments, and Maha Abdel Razek of Misr Real Estate Asset Management were also in attendance. On the tourism and hospitality side, Eng. Mohamed El Aasar of Margins Developments and Eng. Mostafa Mounir, CEO of the Tourism Development Authority, added their perspectives. The discussions were further enriched by contributions from Eng. Nabil Ammasha of People & Places, Omar Islam of ITC Group, Amr Gazzarin of Orascom Pyramids, and Abdel Khaleq Ibrahim, Member of Parliament and CEO of Nivira Egypt.

Sessions were moderated by media professionals Saeed Gamil, Ahmed Yacoub, Managing Editor of Youm7, and Mena Shaheen. They steered conversations around topics such as “Investment Amid Global Transformations” and the future of real estate under both local and international economic pressures. Another session explored how real estate and tourism are, in many ways, two sides of the same coin — a phrase that kept popping up throughout the day.

There was a recurring argument that Egypt’s investment climate must adapt quickly to shifting global realities. Speakers explored how international economic changes are influencing capital flows and how Egypt can sharpen its edge as a regional investment hub. I’ve seen similar debates play out across MENA, and in my experience the real challenge is not generating ideas — it’s execution. That said, there seemed to be genuine appetite in the room for turning recommendations into action.

At the heart of the conference was the call for tighter coordination between the government and private sector. Participants stressed the need to improve the business environment, support productive sectors, and increase the overall contribution of investment, real estate and tourism to GDP. Public-private partnerships were highlighted as a key lever, along with simplifying investment procedures and accelerating digital transformation in property markets.

One point that felt spot on was the link drawn between tourism investment and sustainable economic growth. Expanding tourism attraction programmes, especially around landmark destinations such as the Grand Egyptian Museum, could have a multiplier effect across hospitality, infrastructure and services. It’s a reminder that economic strategy is often about integration, not isolated wins.

In the closing remarks, there was a strong consensus that greater alignment between these three sectors could act as a powerful engine for Egypt’s growth in the coming years. Enhanced cooperation, streamlined processes and a clearer investment roadmap were described as essential ingredients. I reckon the ambition is certainly there; the next step is ensuring that the momentum doesn’t quietly fade once the conferance lights dim.

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