From the Ancient Egyptian sunken city of Heracleion to the notorious Atlantis, there are so many fascinating fallen underwater civilizations that have occupied our collective minds. Now those fantasies are getting a chance to live themselves out in the age of modernity— and it's happening in none other than Fayoum, on the more comfortable, less lethal side of the water. Which is to say, floating right above it.

Al Bawaba for Development and Tourism Investments is building an actual floating hotel and serviced apartments with over EGP100 million invested in the project that will span over 60 feddans.

They’re meant to start building next year, and hope to finish by 2023. The company also plans to run hotels in the most promising up-and-coming tourist destinations of Damietta, Mansoura and Marsa Alam, noting that the latter is a favourite for visitors from Germany and France. We’re low-key hoping those projects float too. In any case, we have approximately three years to get our mermaid kits ready.