H.E. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, visited Sharm El-Sheikh, accompanied by Major General Khaled Mubarak, Governor of South Sinai, and Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Egypt Resident Representative. During the visit, they inspected various environmental projects in the city. These projects were implemented under the Green Sharm El-Sheikh project launched with the Ministry during COP-27 and funded by the European Union (EU), the Government of Japan and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), along with investments from the private sector. This visit is part of the 2025 National Environment Day’s celebrations, featuring the participation of Ms. Hoda El-Shawadfy, Assistant Minister of Environment for Environmental Tourism, Dr. Mohamed Bayoumi, Assistant UNDP Egypt Resident Representative, and Eng. Mohamed Elewa, Manager of the Green Sharm Project, along with several relevant Ministry leaders.

H.E. Dr. Yasmine Fouad emphasized that today marks a testament to the Ministry's strenuous efforts in making environmental investment a tangible reality supporting the economy and development. This aims at achieving low-carbon economic growth through innovative solutions encouraging the private sector and entrepreneurs to engage in environmental and climate investment and communication with funding institutions. The aim is to create real opportunities to implement green projects across all sectors, particularly tourism. These projects target developing reserves and providing various services to visitors, thereby offering a unique ecotourism experience compatible with the nature as well as the cultural and environmental heritage of the reserves, which in turn places Egypt as a distinguished destination for ecotourism.

The tour included H.E. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Major General Khaled Mubarak, and Alessandro Fracassetti visiting the solar car shed on top of the car and bus parking areas at Sharm El-Sheikh Airport. This shed has been established to promote renewable energy usage and transform Sharm El-Sheikh into a green city. The shed has a capacity of 280 KW of PV solar energy, covering an area of 2000 m². It is funded by the Government of Japan to cover the electricity needs of the car parking area. This project is implemented under Egypt's Strategy and 2030 Vision to achieve sustainable development, with the aim of transforming Sharm El-Sheikh Airport into an eco-friendly airport.

The tour also included a visit to the solar car shed above the bus stops at Sharm El-Sheikh Museum, boasting a capacity of 280 KW. This project is funded by the EU, where solar panels were installed to reduce electricity consumption and increase reliance on clean energy sources. They also visited the lampposts with energy-saving LED lights in El Wasil Street, which were installed as part of infrastructure development works. These works included the installation of solar-powered lampposts in several areas, such as the Sharm El-Sheikh-Dahab Road, where 891 lampposts were installed. Also, 53 solar roofs were installed in other areas around the city.

They also visited various projects to promote the use of renewable energy in educational institutions. These projects included the installation of solar energy systems in various public schools with a capacity of 10 KW per school. The King Salman University car shed, funded by the Government of Japan and boasting a capacity of 80 KW and an annual production capacity of 147 MW, was also visited. These projects aim at generating clean energy in educational facilities and supporting SDGs, as an important step towards achieving sustainable development and promoting the use of clean energy in Egypt.

During the tour, the group also visited Sharm El-Sheikh International Hospital as the first model of green hospitals in Egypt affiliated to Egypt Health Care Authority. In the hospital, a medical waste treatment unit was installed with a capacity that covers the city's needs entirely, in addition to a solar station of 50 KW capacity with the financial support from the EU. A visit was also paid to the solar power station with a capacity of more than 800 KW at the Monte Carlo Hotel, which represents the private sector participation in converting hotels into eco-friendly facilities with the financial and technical support from the GEF in cooperation with the Industrial Modernization Center. The group also explored the 70 KW solar power station on the Middle Road that feeds street lighting in the city with generated solar power.

Her Excellency the Minister of Environment stressed that all these efforts prove Egypt's commitment to promoting the use of renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions in Sharm El-Sheikh, which will further be enhanced through the "Green Sharm" project. This project is an initiative, implemented by the Ministry of Environment in cooperation with the South Sinai Governorate, and with the support of the UNDP and funding from GEF. It focuses on transforming Sharm El-Sheikh into a green and sustainable city.

After the visit, UNDP Egypt Resident Representative Alessandro Fracassetti noted: "Sharm El-Sheikh is a prominent example of Egypt's true commitment to climate action and the transition to clean renewable energy. It is remarkable to see solar power plants and energy efficiency measures implemented in key locations in the city, compared to the situation just three years before COP27. Thanks to the strong support from the Ministry of Environment, the Governorate and development partners, there are unlimited opportunity to capitalize on this transformation."

He added: “The participation of development partners in the "Supporting the COP27 Presidency" project, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has played a pivotal role in advancing efforts to transform Sharm El-Sheikh into a green city, such efforts were initiated during COP27 and are currently continuing through the Green Sharm project.”