New Administrative Capital
The New Administrative Capital project is one of the national projects and gained significant importance when it was announced during the "Future of Egypt" economic conference in March 2015. The New Administrative Capital in Egypt represents a major shift in urban development. It is expected that the city center, the heart of this new city, will become a hub for investment and modern living, providing improved infrastructure and reducing congestion in Cairo. This ambitious project reflects Egypt's vision for a sustainable and economically vibrant future. The area of the New Administrative Capital is approximately 714 square kilometers and is located on the outskirts of Badr City, in the area between the Cairo-Suez and Cairo-Ain Sokhna roads, directly after New Cairo, Future City, and Madinaty. Its planning facilitates significant urban development and enhances access to vital resources. The project's infrastructure supports a modern administrative landscape that accommodates various commercial and residential functions.
Area & Partitioning of the New Administrative Capital
The New Administrative Capital has been divided into phases due to its vast area, which exceeds that of many important capitals and countries. Each phase is as follows:
1-Phase One: Its area is approximately 40,000 acres, equivalent to 161.87 km² of the total area of the New Administrative Capital in square kilometers.
2- Phase Two: Its area is about 47,000 acres, equivalent to 190.2 km² of the total area of the New Administrative Capital in square kilometers.
3- Phase Three: Its area is approximately 97,000 acres, equivalent to 392.54 km² of the total area of the capital in square kilometers.
Benefits & Drawbacks of the New Administrative Capital
New Administrative Capital Features
The New Administrative Capital is a massive project that includes diverse economic and social opportunities. One of its goals was to reduce unemployment by providing various job opportunities. The capital also offers multiple types of housing units with flexible payment alternatives, and it is expected to accommodate 40 million residents by 2050. All basic and recreational services are fully available in the capital, featuring extremely luxurious designs for compounds and malls. The capital is connected to all governorates through transportation networks and includes government headquarters, power generators, vast green spaces, mosques, and churches. The area also has international schools and universities, large shopping centers, and is an eco-friendly city relying on solar energy.
1- The New Administrative Capital provides multiple job opportunities, contributing to reducing unemployment rates.
2- It contains a large number of diverse housing units in terms of prices and sizes, with various payment options.
3- It is considered one of the largest global capitals, with an expected population of 40 million by 2050.
4- The New Administrative Capital is linked to all governorates through the establishment of railway lines.
5- It includes an entertainment city that is among the largest in the world.
6- The compounds, commercial centers, and towers are being built according to global designs, and the capital features luxurious designs that suit all tastes.
7- The responsible authorities in the New Administrative Capital monitor the developing companies and contractors executing the projects.
8- The New Capital contains headquarters for government agencies and ministries, facilitating the easy and smooth completion of government transactions, although some consider this a drawback.
9- The New Capital has many power generators, ensuring the continuity of services and facilities without interruption.
10- The New Administrative Capital provides a high level of privacy for residents thanks to the design of the streets and residential areas.
New Administrative Capital Drawbacks
The New Administrative Capital is an ambitious project, but it has many drawbacks that can be discussed. The most significant flaw among others is the extremely high price, whether for commercial or residential units, making it unsuitable for almost any social class, even though these prices reflect the true cost of construction. These concerns are growing because the relocation of government agencies may later lead to congestion and overcrowding, as traffic and transport will worsen before a suitable transport network is developed to support its citizens. Furthermore, the proximity to the old capital also creates anxiety regarding population density and traffic disruption. The transfer of ministries and government bodies to the new capital has been a double-edged sword; while it has facilitated access to services, it has also contributed to increased population density.
1- The prices of commercial units in the New Administrative Capital are relatively high, making this one of the most prominent drawbacks.
2- Residential property prices are high and do not meet the needs of all social classes, but they reflect the costs associated with developing these properties.
3- Some people are concerned about the potential for congestion and overcrowding after the relocation of government institutions to the new capital.
4- There are challenges related to traffic and transportation, especially before the government begins to improve the transportation network.
5- The proximity of the New Administrative Capital to the old capital (the heart of Cairo) increases concerns about traffic congestion and population overcrowding.
6- One of the main drawbacks of the New Administrative Capital is the relocation of ministries and government departments, as it can have both positive and negative impacts.
New Administrative Capital Famous Projects
Business & Finance District
The Business District project was launched in 2017 as part of the first phase of developing the New Administrative Capital, with investments amounting to approximately $3 billion.
The project includes a diverse range of buildings and commercial, entertainment, and residential units, in addition to headquarters for banks and financial institutions, as well as the Central Bank's headquarters. It also features the tallest tower in Africa, which stands at a height of 385 meters.
The Business District emerged as one of the most prominent landmarks in news about the New Administrative Capital in 2020, where it is expected to become the main investment destination in the capital, alongside other administrative and financial buildings and towers.
The glass facades of the district are expected to be completed by the end of this year, along with the full completion of the first tower at the same time.
Al-Fattah Al-Aleem Mosque
Al-Fattah Al-Aleem Mosque is considered one of the most prominent mosques in the Arab world and the Middle East, covering an area of 250,000 square meters and accommodating about 17,000 worshippers. The mosque features four main domes and 21 additional domes, as well as two halls dedicated to events and two reception halls for prominent figures.
Regarding its location in the New Administrative Capital, it is situated at the entrance of the capital on the Middle Ring Road. It was inaugurated on January 6, 2019, coinciding with the opening of the Nativity Cathedral, in the presence of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Around 1,500 workers from various specialties participated in building the mosque, along with a large number of engineers, resulting in the creation of an Islamic architectural masterpiece characterized by the latest designs.
Iconic Tower (Administrative Capital Tower)
About 20 towers have been constructed in the New Administrative Capital for various purposes, with eight of them completed so far. The Iconic Tower is considered the most distinguished among these towers, as it is the tallest in Africa, reaching a height of 385 meters and consisting of 79 floors.
The Iconic Tower is expected to include a range of residential apartments, a hotel, administrative offices, a gold market, and an electronics market, in addition to a cinema complex and a theater.
Regarding the opening date of the first towers in the New Administrative Capital, the Iconic Tower is expected to be inaugurated next January.
Egyptian Capitals Museum
The museum showcases the history of Egypt's various capitals and the reasons for the capital's transitions through the ages. It features a main exhibition hall that includes a collection of artifacts from Egypt's diverse capitals, such as Memphis, Thebes, Alexandria, Amarna, and Fustat, as well as Khedive Cairo and Fatimid Cairo.
In the second section of the New Administrative Capital Museum, there is a dedicated wing displaying concepts of the afterlife as envisioned by the ancient Egyptians, which includes Tutankhamun's tomb, a hall dedicated to mummies, and a collection of Pharaonic artifacts.
The museum contains over a thousand artifacts reflecting ancient Egyptian history, including a statue of King Ramses II, as well as exhibition halls equipped with multimedia technologies that present interactive films highlighting the history of different capitals.