By Mohamed Attia
At a major milestone in Egypt's aviation sector, the country was officially selected to hold the World Annual Meeting (WAGA) of the Airport Council of Sharm El Sheikh (ACI World) in 2027.
The announcement was made at the 73rd ACI Africa Conference and Exhibition in Arusha, Tanzania. Ayman Fawzy Arab has signed a hosting agreement with the International Aviation Agency. The signing ceremony was attended by Justin Erbacci, Director of ACI World, and ACI Africa's Secretary General Ali Tounsi, along with senior aviation executives from both sides.
“This choice is evidence of Egypt's status as a regional and global hub for aviation,” Eng said. Ayman Arab added that Sharm El-Sheikh will host such an honorable event, providing the ideal infrastructure, geographic location and organizational expertise.
Waga's hosting, considered the most important annual meeting of the world's airport leaders, is expected to enhance Egypt's position on the map of international conferences, attract foreign investment and promote tourism and economic opportunities in line with the country's broader development vision.
Waga brings together representatives from all five ACI regions – North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa to discuss global airport strategies, cooperation and innovation. The event will include a high-level forum, technical panels and international exhibits introducing cutting-edge airports and aviation technologies.
Previous Wagga summits were held in Marrakech (2022), Barcelona (2023) and Riad (2024), while Toronto is set to host the 2025 edition, highlighting the global scope of the event.
The Egyptian delegation also participated in the ACI African Committee meeting and the African Airport CEO Panel. The Arabs addressed key issues such as operational efficiency, digital transformation, sustainability and innovation in the presence of industry leaders and top airport executives in Africa.
