The Egyptian government received some LE11.2 billion ($1.7 billion) in revenue from a private company operating the port of Ain Sokhna in 2012.

Dubai-based company DP World spokesman, Ayman Badawy, told Ahram Online on Tuesday that the revenues included ship crossing and anchoring fees as well as customs tariff.

DP World was granted a 25-year contract by the Egyptian government in 1999 to operate Ain Sokhna port, located in the Suez Governorate. The company has faced problems over the last year on the back of labour protests.

In December, workers at the port staged a sit-in in solidarity with seven of their colleagues allegedly unjustly laid-off by DP World's management.

Badawy said that the company has reached an amicable settlement with the seven workers and has given them their full financial dues, worth LE1.8 million.

"They are not working for the company anymore," he said.