- Egypt opened its 2026 oil and gas licensing round, offering 14 exploration blocks to attract investment and boost production.
- The blocks span key onshore and offshore areas, with nearby infrastructure supporting faster development.
Karim Badawi, MInister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has opened Egypt’s 2026 international bidding round for oil and gas exploration, with 14 new blocks available to investors. The government hopes the latest offering will attract fresh capital, increase domestic production and support its five-year plan to expand output.
Badawi announced the round during a meeting with executives from international oil companies operating in Egypt. The discussions covered current production, exploration activity and plans to develop fields over the next five years. Eight of the blocks are being offered by the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS). They cover areas in the Mediterranean, Nile Delta and North Sinai. Companies have until noon on December 11, 2026, to submit bids.
The Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) is offering six additional blocks. These areas are located in the Gulf of Suez, Sinai and the Western Desert. The deadline for those bids is noon on November 11.
Investors can submit applications through the Egypt Upstream Gateway (EUG). The digital platform will also provide technical data and handle investor enquiries.
Authorities will use the platform to receive and evaluate both the technical and financial aspects of submitted bids.
Badawi said the blocks offer a range of geological opportunities for investors. Several are also close to existing oil and gas fields and supporting infrastructure. That proximity could lower development costs and allow companies to connect new discoveries to existing production systems more quickly.
The minister also highlighted the availability of pipelines, processing facilities and export terminals near several of the proposed areas. These assets could make the blocks more attractive to companies seeking faster development timelines. The bidding round covers both offshore and onshore prospects. Badawi said the variety could help existing investors expand their operations while attracting international oil companies that have yet to enter Egypt’s upstream market.
The latest offering forms part of Egypt’s broader push to strengthen exploration, increase domestic energy supplies and attract investment into its oil and gas sector.