Business & Investment

Exploration Opportunities

The 2026 international bid round: 14 blocks across the Mediterranean and the Western Desert.

2026 International Bid Round

Fourteen blocks in some of the region's most prolific basins

Egypt has launched the 2026 international bid round for oil and gas exploration across 14 blocks in the Mediterranean Sea and the Western Desert, inviting qualified companies to bid for exploration and exploitation rights.

The round is run through the Egypt Upstream Gateway, the digital platform that provides online access to data packages, bid documents and submission. Blocks range from acreage close to existing infrastructure, where discoveries can be tied in quickly, to frontier areas with significant untested potential.

Bid rounds remain the cornerstone of the strategy to attract investment, intensify exploration and sustain national production.

See the concession map

Fourteen blocks in some of the region's most prolific basins

Round summary

The 2026 round at a glance

Blocks offered

Regions: Mediterranean & Western Desert

Online data access & submission

Round launched

How bid rounds work

Block selection

Acreage chosen for its potential

EGAS geoscientists screen open and relinquished acreage, integrate the latest seismic and well data, and define blocks that offer a balance of near-infrastructure and frontier opportunities.

Data & evaluation

Data packages online

Registered companies access seismic surveys, well logs and regional studies through the Egypt Upstream Gateway to evaluate each block before bidding.

Competitive award

Transparent evaluation

Offers are evaluated on the committed work programme, signature bonus and fiscal terms against the model agreement. Winning bidders then negotiate and sign concession agreements that are ratified by law.

Participation

How to participate

Step 1

Register on the Egypt Upstream Gateway

Create a company account and complete pre-qualification.

Step 2

Obtain the data package

Access seismic surveys, well logs and regional studies online.

Step 3

Prepare technical & commercial bids

Work programme, signature bonus and fiscal proposal per the model agreement.

Step 4

Submit before the deadline

Bids are opened and evaluated by EGAS technical committees.

Step 5

Award & ratification

Winning bidders negotiate and sign concession agreements ratified by law.

Round documents

Bid-round announcement, block descriptions and the model concession agreement. Official terms are governed solely by the tender documents.

Mediterranean & Nile Delta Discoveries ReportExploration activities, offshore concession blocks and gas discoveries.8.4 MB25 Jan 2026Download — soon

Frequently asked questions

Who can participate?

International and Egyptian companies with proven technical and financial capability, individually or in consortia.

What fiscal model applies?

Production-sharing agreements with cost recovery and profit-sharing terms defined in the model agreement for each block.

Is the data available online?

Yes. The Egypt Upstream Gateway provides secure online access to data packages for registered companies.

Can bids be submitted for multiple blocks?

Yes, with a separate bid for each block.

Are Red Sea blocks included?

No. Red Sea acreage is offered separately by Ganoub El Wadi Petroleum Holding Company (Ganope). The EGAS round covers the Mediterranean and the Western Desert.

Questions about the round?

Our agreements and exploration team is ready to help.