Arab Finance: Egypt has led Africa’s hotel development pipeline for a ninth consecutive year, with 185 hotels and resorts, comprising about 46,000 rooms in 2026, according to figures from W Hospitality Group highlighted by the Egyptian Cabinet Media Center.

The pipeline grew from 143 properties and 33,900 rooms in 2025.

The pipeline has expanded steadily from 43 properties and 13,600 rooms in 2018. It stood at 51 properties and 15,200 rooms in 2019; 54 and 17,200 in 2020; 67 and 19,300 in 2021; 85 and 21,300 in 2022; 103 and 24,900 in 2023; and 109 and 26,200 in 2024.

Tourist arrivals reached 12.7 million in the first eight months of 2026, up from 12.2 million in the same period of 2025, the Cabinet figures showed. Tourism revenue rose to $12 billion from $11.8 billion over the same period, despite regional tensions.

Citing estimates from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the Cabinet said Egypt’s travel and tourism sector is projected to grow 3% in 2026. Its contribution to gross domestic product is expected to reach $35.4 billion, up from $34.4 billion in 2025, while employment supported by the sector is forecast to rise to 3.03 million people in 2026 from 2.97 million in 2025.

The Cabinet also cited International Monetary Fund (IMF) projections showing tourism receipts rising from $19.9 billion in fiscal year 2025/2026 to $20.8 billion in 2026/2027, $22.9 billion in 2027/2028, $25.4 billion in 2028/29 and $27.9 billion in 2029/2030, before reaching $29.8 billion in 2030/2031.