Egypt-Qatar trade rises 80% in 2025 as ties deepen – minister

Egypt and Qatar are seeking to double trade and investment flows as economic ties gather pace, with bilateral trade rising 80 per cent in 2025, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Atty said on Thursday.

Speaking at the seventh session of the Egyptian-Qatari Joint Higher Committee in New Alamein, Abdel-Atty said Egypt was keen to expand partnerships between business communities, increase trade delegations, and strengthen the role of the Egyptian-Qatari Business Council.

Egypt was also open to further Qatari investment, Abdel-Atty said, highlighting the rapid growth of Qatari investments in the country.

Among the major projects is Alam Al-Roum, a Qatari-backed development covering about 4,900 feddans in the Samala and Alam El-Roum areas on Egypt’s North Coast in Marsa Matrouh. The first phase, covering about 20 per cent of the overall project, was launched this month.

Qatari investment also includes a project to produce sustainable aviation fuel in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, with direct Qatari investment exceeding $200 million in its first phase, Abdel-Atty said.

He called for building on the momentum from the Egyptian-Qatari Investment Forum held in Cairo in December 2025 and said Egypt looked forward to hosting its third edition in Cairo, with business councils and companies from both countries taking part.

The two countries also aim to deepen cooperation in conventional and renewable energy following the signing of an energy memorandum of understanding in January 2026, as well as through QatarEnergy’s investments in oil and gas exploration projects in Egyptian offshore areas.

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said Doha was keen to strengthen economic and investment cooperation with Egypt and increase bilateral trade.