One of the popular beaches in Alexandria, Egypt, which received the ominous nickname “death beach”, has reopened after a three-year hiatus. As the local authorities assure, the beach has undergone a significant renovation, and strict restrictions are now being introduced in the bathing rules.
The beach in Al Ajam, officially known as Palm Beach but nicknamed the “beach of death”, earned its grim nickname due to the huge number of fatal water accidents. Their surge forced the Egyptian authorities to close the beach three years ago. The approaches to the beach were blocked by barbed wire with threatening signs that the beach is closed by order of the prosecutor’s office and entry to it is strictly prohibited, and the barricades stretched for more than 1,600 meters.
And so the beach is reopened – promising tourists new safety rules, field supervision, and compliance with the standards set by the Egyptian Federation of Diving and Rescuers. As Mohamed Abdel Razek, head of the Central Tourism and Resorts Administration, told local media, the authorities ordered rescue equipment, such as jet skis, to be placed in the water, not on the shore, and lifeguards to be stationed along the coastline. Strict restrictions on swimming outside specially designated places are also introduced. “If necessary, we will forcibly remove anyone who violates these rules to protect life,” he added.
“Ahead of the summer of 2023, the Central Authority of Tourism and Resorts in Alexandria announced the reopening of Palm Beach, establishing all requirements to ensure the safety of visitors. Measures include certified lifeguards stationed both on breakwaters in the sea and watchtowers on the beach, and teams patrolling the sandy shore. In addition, three or four jet skis had to be at sea at all times to cover the length of the beach. Rescue equipment approved by regulatory standards was also provided. Four first aid stations are distributed along the beach,” the authorities also reported.
We will remind you that the coast of Alexandria is a popular resort among local tourists, and that is why it is not particularly recommended for foreign tourists. One of the most budget-friendly vacation options for residents is Alexandria, a city in northern Egypt that stretches for many kilometers along the Mediterranean coast.
“In the summer in Alexandria, there is a feeling that there are 5 times more people. The beaches are completely crowded,” writes a foreign blogger. Moreover, according to her, there are not just tours for a couple of days, but even “one-day tours” from the surrounding villages – tourists are brought in the morning and taken back at sunset. The disadvantages of such popularity are obvious – this is not the Egypt that tourists know and “the beaches in Alexandria surprise foreigners”, as the blogger writes. “First of all, there are no sunbeds there – only plastic chairs. Secondly, there are so many people that one can understand the meaning of the expression “the apple has nowhere to fall.” Many people come with their food supply – pasta pots, mahshas… Women, of course, bathe in closed swimsuits or even just in their clothes. Other options here are allowed only on private beaches. Bathe is only near the water’s edge (most Egyptians are bad swimmers and afraid of water). The sea on city beaches is not very clean, and there is a lot of garbage on the sand,” the blogger explains.
A more upscale option is the northern coast or Egypt’s “Mediterranean Riviera” stretching to the border with Libya. “There are hotels here – of course, not as many as in Hurghada and Sharm, but there are. And mostly these are good “fives”. However, the season does not last the whole year, as on the Red Sea, but from approximately April-May to September-October,” the blogger says. According to her, these places are “a suitable option for the middle class and above”.
Among the famous resorts, she names El Alamein and Marsa Matruh. “El Alamein is still little known to tourists (most have not even heard of it), but it is a very promising place in terms of tourism. So far, the resort is being completed and is actively developing. El Alamein is a premium resort, called the Egyptian Maldives for the white sand on the beaches. There are luxury hotels, a waterfront (Marina), restaurants, nightclubs – everything you need for a rest. When it is completely rebuilt and if they can attract wealthy customers, it may be the number 1 resort for the Egyptian high class,” the blogger explains.