Ecoris, a civil society group focused on environmental protection and sustainable development, released a report Monday urging authorities to identify who is managing Hankorab Beach and collecting vague entry fees at the site, which lies within the public Wadi El-Gemal Reserve in the Red Sea Governorate.
The report, titled "Hankorab Beach: The End of a Crisis or the Beginning?", documented the environmental risks, legal ambiguities, and policy responses linked to the beach, which is protected under Egypt's constitution and environmental laws.
In the report, the group criticized what it called "a mysterious company" managing Hankorab and collecting entry fees without transparency about its legal mandate. It urged the Ministry of Environment to publicly identify the entity overseeing the beach and clarify whether it is affiliated with the ministry.
The controversy surrounding the beach began in February when news spread of construction activity using heavy machinery on Hankorab Beach, in violation of laws prohibiting damage to natural environments and biodiversity within protected areas.
According to Ecoris, the violations endangered sea turtles, damaged coral reefs, and disrupted the ecosystem in ways that could have hurt Egypt’s reputation as an eco-tourism destination and violated international conventions.
The report also noted that this was not the first such incident. In November 2024, the beach witnessed a similar violation that resulted in a police report and a court order fining three defendants 5,000 Egyptian pounds (around $99) each and requiring them to pay for restoring the area.
Government and grassroots mobilization
Ecoris noted that while the visible encroachments that triggered the original crisis have been removed—a positive development—serious questions persist over how the beach and the broader Wadi El-Gemal reserve are managed. These include concerns about transparency, government oversight, local community participation, and environmental sustainability standards.
The latest violations triggered urgent parliamentary interventions, including statements and inquiries from MPs Samira El-Gazzar and Maha Abdel Nasser, demanding investigations and an immediate halt to the infringements. Legal complaints were also filed to the public prosecutor and relevant agencies by the Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social Rights.
Community organizations, including Ecoris, launched appeals and initiatives such as the "Save Hankorab Alliance" and an online petition to stop the violations.
These pressures prompted the Ministry of Environment to organize a community dialogue, attended by Minister Yasmine Fouad. During the session, the minister outlined the protectorate's 2018–2024 management plan and stated that Hankorab is a high-tourism zone but not one of extreme ecological sensitivity. She said the area is being considered for eco-friendly tourism facilities.
Fouad also said the plan, approved in 2023, prohibits mangrove removal and activities altering the beach ecosystem. She denied that any digging or concrete works were ongoing at the time and said early concepts for developing the site included services such as snorkelling, gear rental, and a cafeteria.
On-the-ground findings
Ecoris conducted a field visit to the protectorate on April 30 to assess the situation amid a lack of official information. During the visit, the team observed a newly built stone gate guarded by unidentified personnel charging entry fees of 200 pounds (around $4) for Egyptian visitors, with an additional 200 pounds per vehicle, with no institutional identification on the tickets.
The site had no staff or official oversight from the Ministry of Environment present, except for a medic who declined to speak. Visitors were asked to sign liability waivers.
No construction equipment or limestone zoning markers were visible, and no buildings were found except a fabric tent, a metal caravan, a toilet facility, and a wooden shelter used by local residents to sell drinks and goods.
Despite the absence of major works, the report recommended a permanent presence of environmental and protectorate inspectors, publication of environmental impact assessments for any proposed developments, and a clear waste management strategy.
Ecoris also called for fair entry pricing for Egyptians, noting that Hankorab's entry fees are disproportionately high compared to other beaches, and urged greater community involvement, especially from local Ababda tribes, in managing natural resources and benefiting from them.
It further recommended improvements to waste management—especially plastic pollution near mangroves and coastal zones—provision of safety measures including lifeguards and signage, and the use of monitoring tools such as cameras and drones to detect early violations.
The report followed investigative articles, including one by Climate Action Network campaign director Ahmed El Droubi published in Al-Shorouk, which revealed illegal excavations to build a hotel in the protected area.
NGO Nature Conservation Society also launched a campaign titled "Advocacy to Protect Hankorab Beach: Egypt’s Environmental Treasure at Risk," which collected over 2,200 signatures demanding government intervention.
In a previous statement, the Ministry of Environment responded that all activities in the area are within the scope of permitted uses and conform to the protectorate's goals without harming natural resources.
However, other reports from the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency contradicted this, stating that the ongoing project lacked an approved environmental impact study, according to Sahih Masr news platform.
