A New Capital to Replace Cairo
It is a grandiose and somewhat audacious project undertaken by Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi, in 2016: building a brand new capital for Egypt from scratch.
It is a grandiose and somewhat audacious project undertaken by Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi, in 2016: building a brand new capital for Egypt from scratch. The new city, situated in the heart of the desert, is designed to welcome more than 6 million inhabitants as well as all government institutions.
Cairo Today
Egypt's historic capital, Cairo is an absolute must-see when visiting Egypt. It is an opportunity to immerse yourself in Egypt's history and encounter some of the world's greatest civilizations. Since the earliest pharaohs, Cairo has always housed the Egyptian government.
The earliest traces of Cairo date back 4,000 years before our era, making it one of the world's oldest cities. It developed gradually, bringing together different cities and eras along the Nile. The most famous is surely Memphis, capital of the pharaohs. Here you can admire the renowned pyramids, the largest of which is the only one of the 7 Wonders of the World still standing today.
Cairo also witnessed Roman, Arab, and French conquests, which only enriched the city's splendid architecture. Today, Cairo is a vibrant metropolis that attracts numerous African migrants. Its population continues to grow. Currently home to around 24 million inhabitants, it is expected to double in the coming years. It was also the epicenter of the 2011 revolution, another reason why Al-Sissi wishes to distinguish himself from Cairo. So to house the government in a calm, secure, stable, and less chaotic city, Egypt's president chose to have a new city built.
A Pharaonic Project
It is indeed a fitting description: Egypt's new capital project is truly pharaonic. Egypt chose to build an entirely new city to house the government, rather than relocate authorities to an existing city. This massive construction site began in April 2016 and is carried out by more than 200,000 workers every day.
Like Brazil, Nigeria, and Myanmar, Egypt wants to build a modern, comfortable, and magnificent new city to showcase government power. "We have a duty to dream": these are the very words the project's spokesperson uses to describe this gigantic construction plan.
The new capital, which has not yet been officially named, should cover approximately 700 km², seven times the size of central Paris. It is located about 45 kilometers from Cairo, but for now no transportation links to connect it to surrounding cities are planned. The city is designed to house not only all government institutions, including parliament, ministries, and the presidential palace, but also more than 1,200 places of worship including a grand Coptic cathedral, more than 2,000 schools, parks, swimming pools, and a massive amusement park. The goal? To draw population away from Cairo. Egypt has even promised that the city will be ecological, notably with solar panels installed on all rooftops. But this project comes at a cost that weighs on Egypt's economy: nearly 40 million euros.
Frequently asked questions
Cairo, with its 24 million inhabitants, has become an overcrowded, chaotic metropolis that is increasingly difficult to manage. President Al-Sissi decided in 2016 to build a new capital in the desert to house all government institutions in a more stable, secure, and modern environment.
Egypt's new capital is located approximately 45 kilometers east of Cairo, in the heart of the desert. It covers an area of around 700 km², seven times the size of central Paris.
At the time of writing this article, the new capital did not yet have an official name. It is often referred to by the acronym NAC (New Administrative Capital) in international media.
The new capital is designed to welcome more than 6 million inhabitants, as well as all government institutions, more than 1,200 places of worship, more than 2,000 schools, parks, and a massive amusement park.
Absolutely. Cairo remains Egypt's historic and cultural capital. The new administrative capital does not replace Cairo as a tourist destination: the pyramids, the Egyptian Museum, and numerous historical monuments remain accessible there.
