The rather nondescript town of Marsa Alam is nothing more than a few scattered buildings surrounding a large army base, though this is set to change in the years to come. The area has been targeted as the site of the massive new Port Ghalib marina and resort complex being constructed near Marsa Alam airport which, once opened, will give tourism in the region an entirely different profile.
The primary reason for this intense tourism push is simple – the seas lying just off the rugged coastline offer some of the best diving in Egypt, though up until now only serious divers have set their sights on this far-flung destination. With that said, the diving here truly is world-class, and there are a number of all-inclusive resorts in the area that serve as convenient bases for getting your feet wet.