Photo courtesy of Egypt's cabinet
Minister Manal Awad said during a visit on Sunday that the site, located within Abu Galum Nature Reserve near the Red Sea resort town of Dahab, requires an integrated plan to upgrade visitor services while safeguarding its fragile coral reef ecosystem.
The Blue Hole is one of the world’s most famous diving destinations, known for its near-circular underwater sinkhole that drops to depths of more than 100 metres and for its rich marine biodiversity.
Awad said the redevelopment should include a unified visual identity, with infrastructure reflecting the site’s environmental and tourism value.
She also ordered tighter regulation of tourism activities, including stricter controls on vehicle access and visitor numbers, according to a ministry statement.
“Coral reefs are a national treasure and a right for current and future generations,” she said.
The minister directed officials to issue identification cards to residents who will act as environmental monitors, helping to protect the reserve and raise awareness among visitors.
She also called for the introduction of electronic payment systems for entrance fees to improve transparency and services.
During the visit, Awad met with local business owners, café operators and environmental groups to discuss the planned upgrades.
A day earlier, Awad and South Sinai Governor Ismail Kamal conducted a maritime inspection tour of Ras Mohammed National Park and several diving sites in Sharm El-Sheikh to review operations and marine activities.
The tour included inspections of environmentally friendly vessels, including a solar- and wind-powered boat and a tourist submarine, as part of efforts to promote sustainable tourism.
Awad also reviewed progress in digitizing fee collection at protected areas and called for tighter monitoring of waste disposal from tourist yachts to prevent damage to marine ecosystems.
She ordered maintenance and upgrades to environmental patrol boats. She urged coordination with the Chamber of Diving and Water Sports to expand and maintain mooring buoys, reducing pressure on coral reefs.
The measures form part of a broader plan to transform Sharm El-Sheikh into a regional model for sustainable tourism under the Green Sharm initiative.
The initiative is supported by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by Egypt’s Environmental Affairs Agency in partnership with the United Nations Development Program.
It runs until June 2028 and targets Sharm El-Sheikh and three protected areas: Nabq, Abu Galum and Ras Mohammed.
In a separate meeting on Sunday, Awad reviewed progress across six pillars of the Green Sharm initiative, including waste management, transport, renewable energy, water and sanitation, biodiversity and community development.
Officials also highlighted Sharm El-Sheikh’s accession to the ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability network, making it the first Egyptian city and the fourth in the Arab world to join.
They showcased newly launched applications for monitoring marine biodiversity and managing electronic permits at nature reserves, alongside the installation of solar panels and solar-powered street lighting at participating hotels.
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