Lagoons, public spaces and walkable districts define the year-round coastal city, one of the Mediterranean’s most ambitious planned destinations.
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has unveiled plans for a new 20.6-million-square-meter coastal city on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, near Marsa Matrouh and west of Alexandria. Developed by Qatari Diar, Alam Al Roum is envisioned as a year-round coastal city and international destination influenced by the landscape and climate of Egypt’s North Coast.
“The Mediterranean is home to some of the world’s great cities, shaped over centuries by climate, culture and economic forces,” said SOM Principal Thomas Hussey. “Alam Al Roum presents a rare opportunity to imagine a new city from the ground up, one that responds to the realities of climate change while offering an exceptional quality of life.”
Extending across 7.2 kilometers of Mediterranean coastline, Alam Al Roum is organized as a network of interconnected districts spanning beachfront and lagoon neighborhoods, mixed-use town centers, hospitality and resort areas, a golf community, an education district and a business hub, supporting a permanent population alongside visitors from Egypt and abroad. More than 30 kilometers of planned walking paths and trails connect shaded streets, gardens, waterfronts, promenades and public spaces, supported by cycling routes, smart mobility systems and future regional transit connections.
Water is one of the master plan’s defining elements, with 22 kilometers of seawater-connected lagoons weaved throughout the new city. Alongside extended beaches and waterfront promenades, approximately 850,000 square meters of swimmable lagoons extend the experience of the Mediterranean inland. Informed by the site’s natural hydrology and surrounding watersheds, the lagoon system also supports stormwater management.
The city is structured around two principal points of arrival, an inland mobility hub and an international marina on the Mediterranean. A grand boulevard connects the two, forming an urban spine that links the city’s arrival points with its principal civic and cultural destinations. A cultural pier, lighthouse, civic amphitheater, yacht club, signature mosque, markets and spaces for major public events establish a recognizable downtown along the waterfront. These destinations position Alam Al Roum within a wider Mediterranean network of culture, tourism and exchange.
Commenting on the launch, Sheikh Hamad bin Talal Al-Thani, Chief Executive Officer of Qatari Diar, said:
“Alam Al Roum represents our vision for a new generation of Mediterranean destinations—one that goes beyond the traditional seasonal resort to create a vibrant, year-round coastal city. We are bringing together nature, the sea, hospitality and everyday life within a carefully planned environment that reflects the unique character of Egypt’s North Coast. Through our partnership with SOM and our global network of experts, we are creating a destination that is rooted in its landscape and climate, while setting a new benchmark for integrated coastal development in the Mediterranean.”
Throughout the city, buildings, neighborhoods and public spaces are oriented to take advantage of coastal breezes, sunlight and local microclimates. Renewable energy generation is envisioned across multiple scales, while riparian buffers, stormwater wetlands, stabilized dunes and a living shoreline strengthen the waterfront, with development also elevated in response to changing coastal conditions.
The first phase of Alam Al Roum is planned across approximately 4 million square meters and is scheduled to begin delivery in 2030. It will include 2 kilometers of beachfront and promenade, open-sea-connected lagoons, residential and hospitality development, a town-center marina, retail and dining, and extensive public landscapes.