Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt's Ain Sokhna Port breaks depth record
In a moment filled with national pride and a shared sense of achievement, Egypt’s Ain Sokhna Port on the sparkling Red Sea coast has made history, earning a much-coveted spot in the Guinness World Records.
The port’s newly built artificial basin, plunging to an impressive depth of 19 meters (62.34 feet), now holds the title of deepest man-made port basin constructed entirely on land.
The joyous occasion was commemorated on December 15, 2025, as Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel El-Wazir received the official Guinness certificate during a special visit. The document was presented by Kanzi Al-Defrawi, a Guinness World Records adjudicator, who confirmed that Ain Sokhna met all stringent requirements for this prestigious global recognition.
For El-Wazir, this record is more than just a number, it is a reflection of collective ambition and tireless effort. “This global accomplishment reflects the tremendous development Egypt is witnessing across all sectors,” he shared warmly, expressing gratitude for the thousands of Egyptian workers, engineers, and more than 200 national companies who poured their expertise and energy into the project.
He underscored the deeper purpose behind the port’s transformation: to reshape Ain Sokhna into a premier gateway for Egypt’s exports and imports, and to realize the country's vision of becoming a powerhouse in regional logistics and international trade.
Behind this world record lies an awe-inspiring feat of modern engineering. Engineers meticulously excavated five new basins, each reaching the record depth of 19 meters.
They removed an astonishing 120 million cubic meters of earth in the process. To prepare the site, they dredged 70 million cubic meters, a figure that was ingeniously reduced by 25 million through pioneering local drying methods.
The project also saw the construction of 18 kilometers of quays and 3.3 kilometers of robust breakwaters. To support the expanded port, engineers created an extensive internal infrastructure, including 17 kilometers of roads and a state-of-the-art 30-kilometer railway network seamlessly linked to Egypt’s high-speed rail system.
These advances empower Ain Sokhna Port to welcome the world’s largest container ships, dramatically lowering shipping costs and boosting efficiency, not just for Egypt, but for international shippers linking three continents.
Nestled in the Suez Governorate, just a short drive east of Cairo, Ain Sokhna Port serves as a vital node in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone). Its proximity to the Suez Canal positions it as both a complementary and alternative hub for international maritime routes—a bridge between Europe, Asia, and Africa.
This Guinness World Record is more than a symbolic milestone. It is part of a broader masterplan to modernize Egypt’s ports, attract global investment, and build brighter futures for Egyptian communities. Recent milestones for the port include the launch of the Red Sea Container Terminal, operated by Hutchison Ports—marking a new era in efficiency, capacity, and global connectivity.
While ports in Portugal and China claim even deeper drafts, Ain Sokhna’s achievement is unique: the Guinness distinction specifically celebrates basins excavated entirely on land, highlighting the innovative engineering that sets Egypt apart.
This recognition reinforces a growing list of awards for Egyptian ports and signals the country’s confident stride onto the global maritime stage. As Minister El-Wazir beautifully put it, Egypt’s infrastructure achievements are now “clearly visible to the world.”
With this new record, the people of Egypt can look to the horizon with optimism and pride, knowing that Ain Sokhna Port is ready to play a pivotal role in the thriving maritime future of the Red Sea, and beyond.