A suicide bomber has targeted a police barracks in Egypt's restive Sinai peninsula, killing one civilian and injuring 24 policemen, officials say.

The attack happened early on Tuesday morning near the provincial capital of al-Arish, the sources said.

It comes days before a major investment conference is held in the region.

Egypt has long fought an Islamist insurgency in the Sinai peninsula, which has intensified since the overthrow of President Morsi in 2013.

Previous attacks have been blamed on a group which was formerly known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (Champions of Jerusalem), but which in November 2014 pledged allegiance to Islamic State and changed its name to Sinai Province.

However there was no immediate claim of responsibility for Tuesday's attack.

"The bomber drove a water tanker filled with explosives into the rear gate of the base," a security official told AFP news agency.

"As the vehicle approached, police fired on it, detonating the explosives inside."

Security sources who spoke to Reuters news agency said police action had prevented the bomber from entering the police barracks, and that the civilian had been passing by chance when the attacker hit.

The attack comes three days before an international conference at Sharm el-Sheikh aimed at attracting foreign investment to the region.

On Monday, a roadside bomb killed three Egyptian soldiers in Sinai.

At least 30 people, mostly soldiers, were killed and dozens wounded in a series of attacks in the north of the province on 30 January.