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9 June 2025
Sharm El-Sheikh makes history as the first city from Egypt to join ICLEI
In a landmark moment for Egypt’s sustainability journey, the event Sharm El-Sheikh Becomes the First Egyptian City to Join the ICLEI Global Network for Sustainable Cities was held in Cairo to formally recognise Sharm El-Sheikh as the country’s first city to join the ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability global network. By joining ICLEI, a global network working with more than 2500 local and regional governments, Sharm El-Sheikh is positioning itself as a trailblazer for sustainable urban development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
This high-level event marked a major milestone in Egypt’s efforts to promote sustainable urban development. The event was attended by prominent dignitaries, including: H.E. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment; Major General Dr. Khaled Mubarak, Governor of South Sinai; Ghimar Deeb, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme Egypt and Eng. Mohamed Elewa, Green Sharm Project Manager. On this occasion, the city’s Green Sharm sustainability platform , an interactive knowledge hub, was launched. The platform highlights the City’s environmental achievements, community-driven initiatives and green tourism offerings.
Sharm El-Sheikh leads Egypt’s green revolution
Sharm El-Sheikh’s journey towards sustainability has been guided by the locally tailored Green Sharm initiative, which focuses on renewable energy, sustainable transport, water conservation, biodiversity protection, local communities and waste management. Through this initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment in partnership with UNDP Egypt and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the City has made impressive strides, including:
- Investing over EGP 800 million in renewable energy to generate 51 megawatts of clean power, covering around 18% of its electricity needs.
- Infrastructure improvements, for example, 145 km of cycling lanes, a public bike-sharing system, and a fleet of electric buses to promote low-carbon transport.
- Introducing an integrated solid waste management system with strong community participation.
- Banning single-use plastic bags across 50 hotels and leading Egypt’s first public awareness campaign on plastic reduction.
- Installing a desalination unit in the Nabq Protected Area.
- Rolling out a biodiversity action plan focused on protecting coral reefs.
Governor Mubarak emphasised that these actions are part of a broader sustainable development strategy for 2025/2026, which envisions expanded public-private partnerships, with over USD 19.7 million mobilised, greater empowerment of local communities, especially in protected coastal zones and the implementation of more than 39 green infrastructure projects across the city.
Opening pathways for collaboration, innovation and regional leadership
Photo caption: (Pictured left to the right): Ghimar Deeb, Deputy Resident Representative UNDP Egypt, the H.E. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, the Minister of Environment, ICLEI Africa’s Amina Omar Elsherif and Major General Dr. Khaled Mubarak, the Governor of South Sinai.
ICLEI Africa’s Cairo-based representative, Amina Omar Elsherif, attended this prestigious event on behalf of ICLEI and officially handed over the ICLEI membership certificate to the H.E. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, the Minister of Environment and Major General Dr. Khaled Mubarak, the Governor of South Sinai. By formally joining the ICLEI network, Sharm El-Sheikh gains access to opportunities for technical support, peer learning and advocacy in key international fora. The milestone also affirms ICLEI’s growing footprint in North Africa and reflects the value of multi-stakeholder collaboration.
