Egypt constructs concrete security wall to safeguard popular Red Sea resort

Egypt has announced the completion of a 36-kilometer concrete and wire barrier surrounding Sharm el-Sheikh, designed to bolster security and protect tourism at the renowned Red Sea destination at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula.

Authorities in southern Sinai are aiming to revive tourism, which has struggled due to the aftermath of Egypt's 2011 revolution, the 2015 crash of a Russian passenger jet in Sinai, and the global COVID-19 pandemic. In 2005, a bombing in Sharm el-Sheikh claimed dozens of lives, marking one of Egypt's deadliest militant attacks.

The security wall consists of concrete panels, interspersed with stretches of wire fencing, which separate the resort from the surrounding desert. Some of the panels feature black peace symbols.

Visitors entering the city by road must pass through one of four security gates, each equipped with surveillance cameras and scanning systems.

Sharm el-Sheikh lies about 360 km (224 miles) south of the northern Mediterranean coast of Sinai, where an insurgency by Islamist militants has been concentrated.

South Sinai Governor Khaled Fouda told journalists during a weekend tour, 'The distance between the two areas is significant, and security is reinforced with Egypt's Second Army securing North Sinai and the Third Army securing South Sinai.'

'Visitors will undergo thorough searches, security cameras will track their movements, and vehicles will be scanned, ensuring that anyone entering the city does so after a comprehensive security check,' he added.

A museum showcasing ancient Egyptian artifacts opened in Sharm el-Sheikh last year, part of ongoing efforts to expand tourism offerings at the beach resort. The city also recently welcomed a university named after Saudi Arabia’s King Salman.

Prior to the pandemic, Sharm el-Sheikh frequently hosted international summits, with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in attendance.