The New Administrative Capital Project is an ambitious urban development project launched under Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The project is located about 45 kilometers east of Cairo and aims to ease traffic congestion in today’s capital. With a planned area of 700 square kilometers, the city will accommodate up to 6.5 million inhabitants, and that number is expected to increase to 7 million after construction is completed.
Construction of the city began in 2015, with the first phase focusing on critical infrastructure such as bridges and an extensive road network. The city was unveiled by then-Egyptian Housing Minister Mostafa Madboury and is part of the Face of Egypt 2030 initiative. The estimated total cost of the project is about $45 billion and is expected to take seven years to build. In October 2016, two Chinese state-owned enterprises announced a total investment of US$35 billion.
In addition to foreign embassies, the new administrative capital will also house the most important ministries and government agencies. A new presidential residence and parliament building will also be built in the city, highlighting the city’s administrative importance. Additionally, the city is set to host many new universities and become a major center of higher education. Some international institutions, such as the University of Canada in Egypt, have opened branches in the new administrative capital.
The city is also planning to build a number of hospitals and specialized medical institutions, aiming to become an important center for medical tourism. The city will also have abundant green spaces, parks and recreational spaces to encourage residents to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle.
One of his most impressive buildings in the city is the Iconic Tower, which when completed will be the tallest building in Africa at 400 meters high. The new administrative capital also plans to build Obrisco Capital Tower, a breathtaking 1,000-meter skyscraper project that, when completed, will surpass Dubai’s Burj Khalifa to become the world’s tallest building.
The Central Business District (CBD) built by China Construction Contracting Corporation (CSCEC) is a concrete example of sustainable development and friendly cooperation between China and Egypt. The area covers an area of approximately 505,000 square meters and includes many commercial and residential buildings. The region attaches great importance to environmental and safety issues, integrates intelligent technology and uses green energy sources such as solar energy.
The city will also be a comprehensive cultural and artistic center with numerous venues such as theaters, cinemas and art galleries. The cultural district will also include a magnificent 2,000-seat opera house and an enlarged version of Cairo’s Tahrir Square, demonstrating the new administrative capital’s commitment to promoting cultural life and artistic expression.
And in June 2023, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madboly announced that all ministries would be moved to the new administrative capital by the end of this month, with operations at the new headquarters scheduled to begin in July. The city is strategically located between Cairo and the Red Sea coast. The new administrative capital aims to reduce Cairo’s congestion by building a smart and sustainable city that can accommodate Egypt’s growing population. Most of the money comes from foreign aid, and China invests heavily in urban development.
In less than five years, the Central Business District project has come a long way, transforming a desert area into a vibrant city. In addition to focusing on green development and environmental protection, the China Building Contracting Authority has also provided hands-on training to students and professors from more than 10 Egyptian universities, created employment opportunities for people with special needs, and worked hard to promote cultural exchanges between Egypt and China.
The new administrative capital has been hailed as a smart city, with more than 6,000 cameras monitoring its streets and artificial intelligence being used to monitor water consumption and waste disposal. Residents can submit complaints through a mobile app. Built in the Mamluk style, the Grand Mosque of Egypt is the largest mosque in Africa. The huge cathedral Church of the Nativity, the largest church of its kind in Egypt and the Middle East, serves the city’s Coptic Orthodox community.
Green River Park is designed to mimic the Nile River and stretches along the city. It is expected to be twice the size of New York’s Central Park. The Octagon will be home to Egypt’s new defense ministry, the largest of its kind in the Middle East. Capital International Airport is being built to relieve pressure on Cairo International Airport and Sphinx International Airport. The new administrative capital stadium, which began construction in 2019, will be the largest stadium in Egypt and the second largest in Africa. This is the new national stadium to replace the Cairo International Stadium and will be part of the larger Olympic sports complex.
The new administrative capital features a huge 165-meter-tall mast, one of the tallest national flags in the world.
Located in the government district of the city, it proudly carries the Egyptian flag. A powerful symbol of national pride, the flagpole embodies Egypt’s quest for progress and global recognition. These examples demonstrate the importance and scope of the new administrative capital as a gigantic urban development project in Egypt. The city is expected to play an important role in alleviating Cairo’s congestion and addressing Egypt’s growing population, as well as becoming an important center of living, work, culture, education and tourism in the future.
The information shows the development of the project through June 2023, and the new administrative capital could have a significant positive impact on Egypt’s economy, attracting both domestic and foreign investment.
