The Egyptian state is currently undergoing a massive development revolution, implementing numerous large-scale national projects. These projects aim to advance the Egyptian economy, improve the lives of citizens, and adhere to standards of sustainability and environmental preservation. International trade is one of the most important features of today’s globalized world. Cairo understands that logistics will always play a crucial role in its growth and as a center for the flow of goods in and out of the country. Egypt has yearned to revive itself as a MENA powerhouse.
Egypt’s growing population and dynamic economy have resulted in a need for greater infrastructure development over recent years. The Egyptian government has spearheaded significant investment in the road system to ensure that it will have the capacity to cope with long-term increases in population, freight and trade movement.
New Administrative Capital (NAC)
The New Administrative Capital (NAC) is a new urban community east of New Cairo in Cairo Governorate, Egypt. It is a satellite city of the nation's original capital city, Cairo. Over the years attempts were made to give the city a proper name, other than the New Administrative Capital.
In October 2021, transportation minister Kamel al-Wazir indicated the city could be named "Wedian" (meaning "Riverbed" or "Valley"), or "Masr" (the Arabic equivalent of "Egypt"). Other proposed names include "Kemet", "Al Mustaqbal" and "Al Salam". However, by the time it was officially inaugurated in 2024, it had remained as the New Administrative Capital.
The new city is located 45 kilometres (28 miles) east of Cairo and just outside the Regional Ring Road, in a largely undeveloped area halfway to the seaport city of Suez. The city was planned to consist of a government administrative district, a diplomatic quarter, a cultural district (opera and theatres), a central business district (CBD), parks (the 'green river'), and 21 residential districts.
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The NAC is being built in stages, initially over the space of 170,000 feddans (714 km2/270 sq mi), which later grew to 223,383 feddans (907 km2). Phase 1 (2016 - ), covering over 40,000 feddans - or less than a quarter of the land allocated for the city, holds all government, parliamentary, judicial and presidential buildings, as well as the CBD and residential districts.
Key features of the NAC include:
- The Islamic Cultural Center (Grand Mosque): The largest mosque in Africa, built in the Mamluk style.
- The Nativity of Christ: A Coptic Orthodox cathedral that can accommodate more than 8,000 worshippers.
- The Green River Park (Capital Park): An urban park planned to extend along the entirety of the new capital, representing the Nile river. It is expected to be 35 kilometres (22 miles) long, aiming to be double the size of New York's Central Park.
- The Octagon (State's Strategic Leadership Centre): Egypt's new Ministry of Defense headquarters.
- The Misr Stadium (Sports City Stadium): Opened in 2024 with a capacity of over 93,900 people; it is the largest stadium in Egypt and the second largest in Africa.
- The Oblisco Capitale: A planned and approved skyscraper set to be inaugurated in 2030.
The Cairo Light Rail Transit (LRT) connects Cairo to the New Administrative Capital. In January 2021, Egypt signed a contract with Siemens to construct a high speed rail line that extends from the northern Mediterranean city of El Alamein to Ain Sokhna city on the Red Sea passing through the new capital and Alexandria. The 450 km (280 mi) line is expected to be finished by 2023. The New Administrative Capital will be served by the new Capital International Airport.
Many have criticized the city for being designed primarily for the upper classes rather than the middle and lower classes. This is not the first time the Egyptian government has attempted to build cities outside the Nile Delta and Valley to alleviate the overpopulation of Cairo. However, previous attempts have failed in their mission due to these cities being marketed to the upper-middle and upper classes.
The New Administrative Capital of Egypt. Source: middleeastmonitor.com
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Golden Triangle Project
The Golden Triangle project is one of the most important national projects within Egypt’s Vision 2030. The project contributes to achieving sustainable development for the Upper Egypt region within the framework of the state’s comprehensive development strategy. The area of the Golden Triangle is about 7,000 square kilometers, and it is scheduled to establish a capital for the Golden Triangle 100 kilometers away from Qena.
The project is important because it has a wide access to the Red Sea (between Qusayr and Safaga), which gives it access to the Gulf countries, East Asia, and Africa. The natural reserves in the governorates of Qena, Aswan, and the Red Sea constitute one of the most important tourism components of the Triangle region. Among these reserves are the Red Sea islands, numbering about 22 islands, characterized by the diversity of marine life and many rare birds.
The Golden Triangle project promises to be a new artery for Sustainable Development and a new economic industrial capital in Egypt, as it aims to establish giant mining, agricultural, industrial, commercial and tourism projects.
Cairo-Cape Town Road
The Ministry of Transport is seeking to complete the Cairo-Cape Town road shortly, with the road scheduled to be inaugurated in 2024. The Ministry of Transport has made great strides in carrying out all works up to Arqin in Sudan with high quality. The 10,228-kilometre (of which of which 1,155 kilometres will be in Egypt) Cairo-Cape Town road will pass through nine African countries. The road will shorten travel time between north and south Africa to an average of only five days, fulfilling the dream to link Cairo and South Africa.
The Cairo-Cape Town road begins from the port of Alexandria on the Mediterranean Sea, passing through Cairo to Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, and all the way to South Africa. The road will pass through the governorates of Fayoum, Beni Sueif, Minya, Assiout, Sohag, Qena, Luxor and Aswan in Egypt.
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The Ministry of Transport signed with the Sudanese Ministry of Transport in October 2020 a co-operation protocol in the field of railway linkage. Funding of the project is through coordination and co-operation between Egypt, Sudan and the Kuwait Fund for Economic Development.
Route of the Cairo-Cape Town Road. Source: mot.gov.eg
Cairo-Dakar Highway
The Cairo-Dakar Highway is trans-African highway 1 in the transcontinental road network being developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Development Bank (ADB), and the African Union. The major part of the highway between Tripoli and Nouakchott has been constructed under a project of the Arab Maghreb Union.
The Cairo-Dakar Highway has a length of 8,636 kilometres (5,366 miles) and runs along the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, continuing down the Atlantic coast of North-West Africa. It is substantially complete except for a few kilometres on the Western Sahara-Mauritania border where there is currently only a desert track.
Minister of Transport Kamel el-Wazir stressed that the regional and continental projects such as the Cairo-Cape Town Road, Egypt/Chad Road passing through Sudan, the railway line with Sudan, the navigational line between Lake Victoria and the Mediterranean Sea (VICMED) and the upgrade of Matrouh-Salloum railway will increase the volume of trade exchange between neighbouring countries.
Other Road Projects
Several other road projects are underway to improve Egypt's infrastructure:
- Upper Egypt Western Desert Highway Development: At a length of 60 kilometres from Minya to Qusiya, the highway extends in six traffic lanes in each direction.
- Sohag-Qena Western Desert Road Duplication: Two new lanes have been established for the current road, making the total number of lanes 4 (two lanes for each direction), with a length of 140 kilometres and a width of 10 metres.
- National Road Project: The National Roads Project is a large Egyptian infrastructure project initiated by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in August 2014. The project includes the construction of 39 new roadways with a total length of 4,400 kilometres.
China's Role
Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, located in the heart of the desert just 45km (28 miles) east of the capital Cairo, is taking shape, with China at the centre of its construction, operation and maintenance. Chinese state-owned construction giant, China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), is not only the primary contractor for the central business district of the new city but will now operate and maintain it in a deal between China and Egypt.
The new 700 sq km (270 square mile) city will eventually house more than 6 million people and is being constructed to relieve congestion and pollution in Cairo. The total cost of the CBD’s construction - which will include a presidential palace, parliament, government buildings and space for foreign embassies - is estimated at US$3.8 billion (29.8 billion yuan).
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Since 2023, more than 30,000 government employees have relocated to the new capital, which has served as Egypt’s official seat of government since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s third-term inauguration.
Cairo-Alexandria Road Upgrade
A huge highway upgrade project will transform the Cairo-Alexandria road link into a world-class connection. This 220km highway link is being widened and improved to cope with the hugely increased traffic volumes resulting partly from Egypt's fast growing vehicle population. The existing highway connection between Cairo and Alexandria is struggling to cope, despite having been widened several times over the years.
Upgrading this vital road connection and turning it into a tolled route is of importance not only for Egypt, but for its neighbours also. With work progressing well on the new 5,600km North Africa highway running all the way from Morocco, through Algeria and connecting Tunisia and Libya with Egypt, the need for an upgraded Cairo-Alexandria connection is even more acute.
The design of the new highway features four lanes running in both directions while there are also twin lane service roads the length of either side of the main highway. The new link will vastly improve road safety, with radar being used to monitor speed and ensure that traffic does not exceed the limits of 100km/h and 120km/h in various sections.
According to the World Bank, the Greater Cairo Metropolitan Area is home to around one-fifth of Egypt’s population - roughly 20.4 million people - a figure that is expected to rise to 24 million by 2027.This sharp population increase will likely create additional pressure on road infrastructure in the capital. Despite lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, construction continued on Cairo’s new road projects. The projects are part of an $895 million government plan to reduce road congestion and build more than 40 new bridges.
Efforts for Transport, Logistics Hub by 2024
Egypt will be transformed by 2024 into one of major global hubs for transport and logistics thanks to a massive 10-year plan to modernise its transport infrastructure, Minister of Transport Kamel el-Wazir said in recent remarks. The 10-year plan, implemented from 2014 to 2024, was drawn up to modernise the transport and communication sectors, at an expected cost of around 1.7 trillion pounds.
The plan covers six main areas, including the roads and bridges, at a cost of LE474 billion, railways, LE225 billion, tunnels, LE837 billion, maritime transport, LE115 billion, dry ports and logistics, LE15 billion, and river transport, LE3 billion.
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