Egypt's New Capital العاصمه الجديده

The New Administrative Capital (NAC), or "العاصمة الإدارية الجديدة" (Al-Asima al-Idariya al-Gedida), is

A new urban community east of Cairo that is now the official seat of the Egyptian government. The mega-project is part of the country's "Vision 2030" and is intended to relieve congestion in the overcrowded city of Cairo.

Project overview

Location: The NAC is in a desert area approximately 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Cairo.
Size: The city is roughly the size of Singapore, covering about 700 square kilometers, and is designed to accommodate 6.5 million residents.
Government relocation: Government ministries, the presidential palace, and the parliament have been relocated to the new city. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi took his third-term oath of office there in April 2024, officially inaugurating it as the new seat of government.
Financing: The project, estimated to cost over $50 billion, is largely financed by the Egyptian government and supported by Chinese state firms

Key features and districts

Central Business District
: This district features the Iconic Tower, which, at 385 meters tall, is the tallest building in Africa.
Financial District
: Designed to become a hub for African and Middle Eastern trade, this area is attracting businesses and financial institutions.
Green River (Al-Nahr al-Akhdar)
: This urban park and oasis is designed to mimic the Nile and run through the city center. At over 35 kilometers long, it will be six times the size of New York's Central Park.
Knowledge City
: A cultural and educational hub, this area is planned to be the largest cultural development project in the Middle East.
Cultural and Religious Sites: The new capital includes the biggest cathedral in the Middle East and one of the largest mosques in the Arab world.
Transportation: A new elevated monorail links the NAC to eastern Cairo, aiming to improve accessibility and connectivity.

Headlines:

Decongest Cairo: The primary goal is to alleviate the pressure of Cairo's exploding population, traffic, and pollution.
Modernize infrastructure: The NAC is designed as a "smart city," integrating advanced technology for everything from utilities to citizen services.
Stimulate economic growth: The project is intended to create new economic opportunities and attract investments in the financial and business sectors.
Cost and affordability: Critics argue that the government has gone deep into debt for a city that many Egyptians cannot afford to live in.
"Ghost city" fears: Concerns have been raised that the city could become underpopulated, reminiscent of past projects like the city built by ancient Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten.
Prioritizing megaprojects: Some believe the vast resources could be better used to address more immediate needs in the rest of the country