Sokhna Port

Shipping Arabia, October 10, 2026 – The AROYA cruise ship visited Egypt’s Sokhna Port on Sunday, October 4, carrying 1,327 tourists of various nationalities. The vessel arrived from Sharm El Sheikh and berthed at the DP World terminal within Sokhna Port, which operates under the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE).

The cruise ship is owned by Cruise Saudi, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Its visit formed part of an Egyptian itinerary that included Sharm El Sheikh, Sokhna and Alexandria.

During the Sokhna port call, passengers were scheduled to travel to Cairo for sightseeing excursions before returning to the vessel on the same day. The visit highlighted the port’s role in accommodating international cruise ships and facilitating access to Egypt’s tourism destinations.

AROYA Cruise Ship Specifications and Sokhna Port Call

The Malta-flagged AROYA measures 303 meters in length, with a beam of 39.2 meters and a draft of 8.2 meters. Rhapsody served as the vessel’s shipping agent during the visit.

Following its arrival from Sharm El Sheikh, the cruise ship berthed at the terminal operated by DP World at Sokhna Port. The vessel was scheduled to depart later that evening for Alexandria Port, continuing its cruise itinerary along Egypt’s coastline.

The port call brought 1,327 international tourists to Sokhna, with Cairo included in the planned shore excursion program. Passengers were expected to return aboard before the ship’s scheduled evening departure.

SCZONE Highlights Sokhna Port’s Cruise Handling Capabilities

According to the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the arrival of AROYA demonstrated Sokhna Port’s operational readiness and its ability to accommodate different types of vessels.

SCZONE emphasized that the port maintains the operational capabilities required to handle vessel calls in accordance with high standards of efficiency and safety. The cruise ship’s visit also reflected the port’s role in supporting maritime tourism alongside its wider shipping activities.

The economic zone continues to work on improving the efficiency and operational readiness of its ports. These efforts aim to strengthen their ability to receive vessels and support maritime traffic, international trade and tourism.

Supporting Egypt’s Maritime and Cruise Tourism Activities

SCZONE considers the development of its port infrastructure and operational capabilities an important component of strengthening Egypt’s position within regional and international maritime transport networks.

The authority’s ongoing efforts focus on enhancing port readiness and improving services for different vessel categories, including cruise ships.

AROYΑ’s visit to Sokhna Port formed part of these maritime activities, connecting a Red Sea port call with planned tourism excursions to Cairo and an onward voyage to Alexandria.

By continuing to improve port capabilities and operational efficiency, SCZONE aims to support shipping, trade and tourism while reinforcing the position of its ports within the regional and international maritime industry.

Source: Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE)

Shipping Arabia, October 1, 2026 – The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) has signed a contract with Nafith Egypt Logistics Services to develop and operate a digitally managed Sokhna Port truck yard, with investments exceeding EGP 1 billion. The 167,000-square-meter project will have capacity to handle 1,100 trucks per day when fully operational.

SCZONE Chairman Moustafa Shaikhon witnessed the signing ceremony for the project, which will introduce a digital system to manage truck movements at Sokhna Port.

The contract was signed by Captain Ahmed Gamal, Vice Chairman of SCZONE for the Southern Region; Abir Leheta, Chairman of Nafith Egypt Logistics Services and Managing Director of Egytrans Nosco; and Noura Mehyar, Vice Chairman of Nafith Egypt and Managing Director of Nafith International.

Sokhna Port Truck Yard to Use Real-Time Digital Planning

The new truck-management system will use advanced technology through Nafith’s digital platforms. It will also employ real-time planning of truck movements to reduce congestion inside Sokhna Port.

At full operation, the yard will have capacity for 1,100 trucks per day. Its 167,000-square-meter footprint and investment of more than EGP 1 billion make the project a significant addition to the port’s logistics infrastructure.

Shaikhon said the project represents another step in strengthening Sokhna Port’s logistics capabilities. He added that the digital system will support more efficient management of truck movements by using technology and real-time planning to limit congestion within the port.

The project also supports SCZONE’s efforts to position the economic zone as an integrated route for logistics services and activities at both regional and international levels.

SCZONE Continues Port Development With Private Sector

Shaikhon said SCZONE continues to comprehensively develop the infrastructure and superstructure across its ports, while also upgrading working methods and operating systems in partnership with local and international private-sector companies.

He said these efforts follow state directives to strengthen SCZONE’s position as a preferred destination for global investment. In particular, he highlighted the integration between the authority’s ports and industrial zones.

According to Shaikhon, this integration plays an active role in connecting global supply chains. It also supports the state’s objectives of increasing exports and localizing industry within targeted sectors.

The Nafith Egypt project forms part of this wider approach by combining physical logistics infrastructure with digital management of truck traffic. The system is intended to improve the organization of truck movements within Sokhna Port while supporting the port’s broader logistics capabilities.

Strategic Location Supports SCZONE Logistics Role

Shaikhon also pointed to the strategic location of SCZONE’s ports, describing them as a link between the world’s continents. He said this geographic position strengthens the economic zone’s role as an integrated platform for logistics services and activities.

In addition, he highlighted international free-trade agreements that provide access to more than 3.5 billion consumers worldwide. SCZONE sees the combination of its ports, industrial zones and logistics activities as an important element in integrating supply chains and supporting Egypt’s export and industrial development objectives.

The new Sokhna Port truck yard will add a digitally managed truck-handling facility to that network, with Nafith’s platforms providing the technological framework for real-time traffic planning and congestion reduction at the port.

Source: Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE)

Shipping Arabia, September 21, 2026 – Egypt has launched trial operations at the first phase of a new general cargo and bulk terminal at Sokhna Port, with the facility designed to handle up to 10 million tonnes annually and accommodate large vessels at berths with depths of up to 18 meters.

Trial operations began with the arrival of GAMBELLA, represented by Dominion Shipping Agency, carrying around 1,460 metric tonnes of battery units for an energy storage system. The vessel was berthed and its cargo discharged and handled as part of the terminal’s operational testing programme.

Cargo discharge was carried out by Suez Stevedoring Company, while the terminal is operated by Egypt Marine Ports Company.

Transport Minister Kamel El-Wazir said the trial phase will test the terminal’s complete operating system, including the readiness of its berths, yards, equipment, workforce and operational systems, as well as performance during vessel reception, discharge, cargo transfer and storage before progressing toward full operations.

The terminal occupies approximately 397,000 square meters and includes two marine berths with a combined length of 1,200 meters and depths of up to 18 meters, enabling it to receive large vessels and handle both general and bulk cargo.

Its targeted annual capacity of around 10 million tonnes will add substantial handling capability at Sokhna while supporting industrial and logistics activity across the Suez Canal region and surrounding economic zones.

Rear Adm. Abdel Qader Darwish, Chairman and Managing Director of Egypt Marine Ports Company, said the first vessel call represents an important step toward full operation of the facility as part of the wider development of Sokhna into a strategic Red Sea port.

Further phases will include the development of customs warehouses and value-added logistics services, with the company planning to progressively utilize the terminal’s full area and reach its targeted operating capacity.

Source: Ministry of Transport – Egypt