One of the world’s leading architecture and design firms, WATG has shared an update on its collaboration with the Egyptian government to lead a major master-planning initiative for the Giza Pyramids region. The project is a key part of Egypt’s national tourism vision and broader economic growth strategy.
From WATG’s advisory and planning teams, the proposed master plan will reimagine a significant area covering the Western Desert plateau overlooking the Nile Valley, with the aim of delivering a more impactful and sustainable visitor experience. The plan aims to conserve one of the world’s most well-known UNESCO sites and culturally significant landscapes, while supporting Egypt’s tourism boom, infrastructure development, and local communities.
Integrating Global Best Practice with Local Expertise
This project offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect these major cultural assets and reimagine how both residents and travelers can engage with this iconic aspect of Egypt’s past.
WATG’s multi-disciplinary team includes international heritage planners and local Egyptologists. By integrating global best practices with deep local expertise, the team has developed a master plan that is both visionary and sensitive to the unique historic and cultural fabric of the region.
Over two intensive site visits, WATG has conducted detailed analysis of the plateau, necropolises, and floodplain, covering all major sites — Giza, South Saqqara, Dahshur — and their surrounding communities. The plan also emphasizes an implementation framework, which ensures an adaptable, future-proofed process that enables Egypt to evolve this region sustainably for decades to come.
This week, the WATG team will present the final package to the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Housing, New Urban Communities Authority, the Deputy Governor of Giza, and others. The master plan will also be presented to Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.
Rob Sykes, Associate Principal and Director of Advisory at WATG, comments: “It is a rare privilege to engage with a place that holds such immense meaning for humanity. Helping to reimagine this cultural landscape — with respect, sensitivity, and a commitment to its long-term stewardship — has been an honour for everyone on our team. We are excited to have unlocked a wide range of compelling tourism investment opportunities, and we look forward to working with the private sector to realise their potential in the coming years.”
Bassem Fahmy, Head of the Scientific Committee, states: “This project is a strategic move to protect, organize, and elevate the area sustainably and competitively on a global scale, while carefully unlocking opportunities for investment, infrastructure, and community benefits. Our main focus now is to turn these strategies into concrete actions, ensuring every development honours the site’s sanctity while providing the modern efficiency needed to handle millions of future visitors.”
Major steps in this development are already being made, with the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in November 2025. Looking ahead, this plan is designed to guide tourism development over the next 15 years and contribute to Egypt’s 2040 vision.
