Egypt is the world’s 14th most populous country with over 105 million people, including over 47 million living in urban areas. As the world population continues to grow, cities are becoming more crowded and in need of more efficient infrastructure and service offerings. To address these challenges, Egypt is implementing a smart cities program that aims to improve the quality of life for its citizens and achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 by 2030.
SDG 11 is about making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. According to the UN, Egypt has made significant progress towards SDG 11, such as decreasing the proportion of the urban population living in slums from 42.2% in 2000 to 0.9% in 2018. However, many issues remain to be addressed such as air pollution, traffic congestion, waste management, and disaster risk reduction.
A program worth over US$ 11bn
Egypt’s government launched the five-year-long first phase of the Smart Cities program in 2016 to develop unsafe areas. The country had spent 39 billion Egyptian pounds/US$1.25 billion by 2021 to finalize the development of 312 unsafe areas.
The second phase, which began in 2021 and is scheduled to be completed in 2030, focuses on the development of informal areas. The budget for the second phase of the program is 318 billion Egyptian pounds (US$10.25 billion) which will be met by the state budget and the Informal Settlements Development Fund (ISDF).
Egypt’s cities of the future
For Hussein Abaza, a sustainable development expert, the construction of new smart cities across Egypt is a critical component of the country’s urban development strategy. These cities are intended to provide residents with modern and integrated living environments which include more efficient urban transport networks, environmentally friendly housing, and green public spaces, all supported by cutting-edge technology and digital solutions.
One of the flagship projects of Egypt’s smart cities program is the New Administrative Capital (NAC), which is located 45 kilometers east of the bustling Cairo metropolis. The NAC is envisioned to become the sustainability capital of the Middle East as well as the new seat of government and a hub for business and innovation. The NAC will be home to key government ministries and foreign embassies as well as residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, cultural centers, educational institutions, and recreational facilities.
The NAC will also showcase Egypt’s commitment to renewable energy and green technology. The city will be powered by solar panels and wind turbines and will feature smart grids and smart meters to optimize energy consumption. The city will also implement smart waste management systems that will recycle and reuse waste materials. Moreover, the city will promote green mobility by providing electric buses, trams, monorails, and metro lines, Abaza added.
The idea of a new Egyptian capital was to provide a break from the stifling chaos of Cairo where the population had surpassed 20 million, he said.
Beyond Cairo and the NAC, other smart cities are being built across Egypt – from New Alamein and New Mansoura on the Mediterranean coast to New Luxor in the south. These cities will offer diverse opportunities for tourism, industry, agriculture, and culture. They will also create new jobs and attract investments from both local and foreign sources, Abaza explained.
According to Islam Rafat, Professor of Urban Planning, Egypt’s smart cities program is a model for sustainable development in the region and beyond. Egypt is transforming its urban landscape into one that is more livable, prosperous, and resilient by leveraging the power of technology and the Internet of Things (IoT).
He went on to say that, in addition to expanding its railway network, Egypt is putting in place a sustainable, green mass transit system that uses clean energy, is accessible to all residents of these cities, connects them to the rest of the country and includes, among other things, monorails, electric trains, subways, and buses.
A solution to slums?
Egypt has made huge progress in decreasing the number of people living in slums but the problem is still there. The total area of slums reached 160,800 acres, accounting for 38.6% of the country’s urban mass. Out of a total of 234 cities, slum areas can be found in 226 of Egypt’s governorates, with only 8 cities free of these, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics reported. As of 2020, there were 22 million people living in slums, according to the government’s ISDF.
As the government has announced no intention of introducing the mandatory relocation of people to smart cities, one can only wonder whether these cities will put an end to the slum issue. Although dwellings in the smart cities will be fully equipped and the announced monthly rent will not exceed 400 Egyptian pounds/US$13, experts have warned that these conditions might not look appealing to many slum residents.
The minimum wage in Egypt reached a record high of 3,000 Egyptian pounds or US$97 this year, after having averaged about 1,600 Egyptian pounds since 2009. Despite the increase, many Egyptians might not be able to afford renting a dwelling for US$13 per month since 29.3 million were living below the national poverty line in 2021, that is, on less than US$1.65 a day.
