Sokhna (Egypt, Cairo)

Ain Sokhna is a port town located on the Red Sea (Gulf of Suez's western shore), approx 55 km (35 mi) south of Port Suez and approx 120 km (75 mi) east of Egypt's capital city Cairo. Sokhna is one of the cruise ports to Cairo, together with Alexandria and Port Said.

Ain Sokhna Port (locode EGSOK) is at Suez Canal's southern entrance and serves the Suez Canal Economic Zone (total are 60,6 km2 / 23 m2, being developed as Egypt’s industrial, technological and logistics hub) located in close proximity to the northwest.

The Port covers a total area approx 25 km2 (9,6 mi2). Its largest dock has length 7 km (4,4 mi) and width 5,5 km (3,4 mi).

In 2008, a UAE company bought the Port and announced plans to build a new containership terminal with length 1,3 km (0,8 mi) and annual capacity 1 million TEU containers. The Port generally serves the Gulf of Suez's oil and gas fields, exporting petroleum products from the factories in the Sokhna region, as well as products of three factories specializing in ceramics, ammonia and sugar.

On November 8, 2017, Suez Canal Authority, SCZone ("Suez Canal Economic Zone") and DP World (Dubai-based corporation/port operator company) signed a partnership agreement to develop an integrated industrial-residential zone at Sokhna. A joint venture company was established between SCZone and DP World (51 to 49). The new Sokhna Economic Zone (SEZ) is managed by DP World. Construction works started in 2018-Q1.

The Sokhna Economic Zone covers a total area of 95 km2 (37 mi2) and includes an industrial area and a residential zone (sized 20 km2 / 7,7 mi2). The project also included the development of Port Sokhna to increase its capacity and link it to the industrial zone. By this project were developed (built/renovated/expanded) 4 turning basins, 18 km (11 mi) of quays (marine berths/ship docking facilities), commercial and logistics areas (sized 5,2 km2 / 2 mi2), and a rail network (total length 33 km / 20,5 mi) connecting to the high-speed electric railroad El Alamein-Ain Sokhna. The railway links Red Sea (Ain Sokhna) and New Alamein (2018-inaugurated/new city) on Egypt's Mediterranean coast.

The Port's industrial zone's businesses include smaller-sized industries (medical, electronics, communications, construction materials, textiles, auto parts, food processing, petrochemicals), logistics, service facilities.

The Port's residential zone (capacity 0,5 million people) groups coastal villas, residential units, shopping centers, nightclubs, entertainment facilities, mosques, schools, hospitals, parks/green spaces.

In 2023 was completed and inaugurated the Port's new berth.

On March 15, 2023, COSCO SHIPPING Ports Ltd (CSPL) acquired a 25% stake in Ain Sokhna's new (under construction) Container Terminal (budgeted ~US$375 million). CSPL also signed a 30-year concession agreement to operate the facility, which after completion, will increase the Port's annual TEU capacity to 1,7 million. CSPL also has a stake in the APM Terminals-managed SCCT (Suez Canal Container Terminal).

Also on March 15th (2023), Hutchison Port Holdings Ltd (1866-founded, BVI-incorporated port operator company/subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd) announced a significant investment (~US$700 million/EUR 660M/GBP 580M) in two Egyptian ports - Sokhna and Alexandria. Hutchison Port's investment for building two new container terminals - one in Sokhna (with annual TEU 1,7 million) and one in Alexandria (called B100 Terminal). As of 2023, Hutchison Port Holdings operated a total of 52 container ports (assets in 25 different countries) in Europe (Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Holland, UK), Africa (Egypt, Tanzania), Asia (Pakistan, Hong Kong, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea), Australasia (Australia) and the Americas (Argentina, Mexico, Bahamas).

On the following map of Sokhna Port are shown all terminals and facilities by the proposed Master Plan developments (part of the Suez Canal Area Development Project).

By this project are planned a total of six basins and the construction of a Power Plant, Sugar Factory, Laboratory, Logistics Terminal, Liquid Bulk Terminal (with storage/silos and two piers for tanker ships), Livestock Terminal (with storage) and a total of 3x Container Terminals (basins 2nd, 4th and 6th).