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development efforts are complicated because the Sinai Peninsula is a "national security area" due to the sensitive nature of the Egypt's border with Israel and Gaza, and the terrorist attacks in three Sinai resort towns from 2004-2006

recent Bedouin-government tensions as a result of crackdown on illegal practices such as smuggling drugs and trafficking in arms and humans, which hinder development efforts

said that GOE ignored the Sinai for many years, after it was returned to Egypt in the peace treaty with Israel

comprehensive economic development is the solution to resolving Sinai's problems including providing security, eliminating smuggling and controlling terrorism

Al Roqei also encouraged the development of the handicraft industry as a way for Sinai Bedouin women to contribute to the family income

1 million acres of arid desert in central Sinai into farmland, at a rate of 200,000 acres per year. The plan includes settling some 1 million Egyptians in the new agricultural regions.

that 3,500 acres will be distributed to recent university graduates and small farmers, who will each be given 2 greenhouses for agricultural use.

a new underground water reservoir was discovered in the northern part of the Sinai’s western desert, which will supply 320 million cubic meters (84.5 billion gallons) of water yearly, enough to irrigate 70,000 acres during the project’s initial stage.

Transport also contributes to economic development through job creation and its derived economic activities. Accordingly, a large number of direct (freighters, managers, shippers) and indirect (insurance, finance, packaging, handling, travel agencies, transit operators) employment are associated with transport. Producers and consumers take economic decisions on products, markets, costs, location, prices which are themselves based on transport services, their availability, costs and capacity.

The Al-Salam Canal brings water from the Damietta Branch of the Nile, under the Suez Canal to the Sinai Peninsula. First, the project provided irrigation waters to the area west of the Suez Canal. In October 1997, the culvert under the Suez was completed and water became available for irrigation in Block 1, the Tina Plain Zone (50,000 acres). Fields soon began to appear.

The cost of the project is estimated to exceed 7.5 billion Egyptian pounds (about $2 billion).

According to Minister of Local Development General Adel Labib, LE100 million would be allocated to North Sinai of which LE18.4 million would be allocated to the development of electricity networks and public lighting, LE49 million to paving roads, LE8.5 million to environmental improvement, LE4.4 million to support local security, traffic and firefighting agencies, and LE20 million to fund the urgent needs of municipalities

The following activities are planned: New markets, especially markets abroad, are being explored through market surveys for traditional crafts products. The studies will provide feedback about customer preferences concerning quality standards, colors and designs, as well as information about products that appeal to the customers in the respective markets. At the same time they are meant to identify potential customers. The market feedback will be integrated into training activities that aim to improve not only the quality of finished products, but also foster the development of new products and designs. Trainings in sewing, embroidery or beadwork skills, as well as training in quality management, will lead to higher quality products. On the administration level, trainings for entrepreneurial and marketing skills will be developed. These activities will be adapted to the local situation while at the same time preparing partners to communicate with, and meet the expectations of, customers beyond the local tourism markets in Sina

The population of Sinai is less than 500,000, which is less than 1% of the Egyptian population.