Cairo is one of the largest cities in the world, which has a 1000-year history. According to data for 2024, the population of Cairo is more than 20 million people. There are many residents, but little space, so the houses are very close together, so you can’t even dream of a comfortable life there. But in 2014, the authorities decided to fix this problem by launching the construction of a new capital – it will be located 45 kilometers east of Cairo. It is expected that the new capital of Egyptwill be equipped with new technologies and will provide housing for a huge number of families. The construction of the city is already underway, and at a very fast pace. Take a look at the satellite images of the new Egyptian capital and see for yourself!
A view of the central area of Egypt's new capital, including the Iconic Tower skyscraper. Source: Bloomberg
Contents
- 1 Egypt's new capital
- 2 The name of Egypt's new capital
- 3 Buildings in the new administrative capital
- 4 How much does it cost to build a city
The new capital of Egypt
The largest city of Egypt is being built as part of the “Egypt Vision 2030” project. Within its framework, the authorities want to ensure the prosperity of the country at the economic, social and climatic levels. In addition to the new capital, it is planned to build more than ten other cities that will become home to millions of people.
The construction of Egypt's new capital is in full swing, with the Shuhada Mosque visible in the photo. Source: AFP
First and foremost, the authorities want to build the capital — it is expected to be completed closer to 2050.Its area will be 725 square kilometers, on which 21 residential areas will be located. It will be a large city, but it will still not compare with the capital of Russia, because the area of Moscow is more than 2.5 thousand square kilometers.
A 12-lane road leads to Egypt's new capital. Source: Reuters
Egypt's new capital will be very sophisticated in terms of high technology. Traffic is expected to be regulated by a smart system to prevent traffic jams and accidents. But in general, it would be better to have no cars in the cities of the future.
A view of the city under construction from the top of the Iconic Tower skyscraper. Source: AFP
Smart technologies will also control the supply of electricity and water to homes, which should reduce the cost of utilities. Some of the electricity will be generated by solar power plants. Water reserves will be additionally replenished by artificial rivers and lakes.
I wonder if the new capital of Egypt will be included in the list of the safest cities for a peaceful life?
The name of the new capital of Egypt
The construction of the new metropolis has been going on for several years, but it still does not have a name. Today it is known as the New Administrative Capital (NAC).
Construction of the Coptic Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ. Source: Reuters
In 2019, the Egyptian authorities launched a competition to name the new capital. The person who came up with the best name was promised $2.5 thousand. The competition was very quick, but the name was never chosen.
Most likely, the new capital of Egypt will be called Kemet. This is what the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt called their country – this word can be translated as “fertile land”.
Apartment buildings have already been built in Egypt's New Administrative Capital. Source: Bloomberg
There are other contenders for the name of the capital of Egypt. For example, the city could be called Al-Mustaqbal (The Future). Or it will be called As-Salam (The World) or Masr (Egypt in Arabic).
Read also: Large cities are going underground – what's going on?
Buildings in the new administrative capital
By 2024, builders have already erected several large structures in the new Egyptian capital.
For example, in 2022 they built the Egyptian Islamic Cultural Center. This is the largest mosque in Egypt, which can accommodate 120 thousand people on an area of 250 thousand square meters. This mosque has a wooden pulpit (an elevated platform for performances), which was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest in the world – its height reaches 16.6 meters. Also, the record holder was the chandelier with a diameter of 22 meters and a weight of 50 tons.
Egyptian Islamic Cultural Center. Source: wikipedia.org
Also in the new capital of Egypt there is already Al-Fattah Al-Alim Mosque, Cathedral of the Nativity and the Iconic Tower, which is considered the tallest building in the entire country.
The construction of the Iconic Tower. Source: AFP
Of particular note is Green River Park, where future city residents will stroll. Its length is 10 kilometers, which makes it twice as large as New York's Central Park.
Green River Park is expected to look something like this. Source: YouTube
IFL Science recently shared satellite photos of Egypt's new capital. The images were taken by Landsat 9 satellites and show how quickly the city is being built.
There is nothing interesting in the satellite photo of the New Administrative Capital of Egypt from 2017. Source: iflscience.com
In the 2017 photo, the construction site looks like a desert. But in the 2024 photo, you can see a lot of interesting things. For example, the distinct circle in the photo is the new center of the Egyptian Ministry of Defense, which was named “Octagon”.
Satellite image of the new capital of Egypt in 2024 looks much more interesting. Source: iflscience.com
Construction of the Octagon, the new headquarters of the Egyptian Ministry of Defense. Source: AFP
Related article: How much do cities weigh and how do they affect the Earth?
How much does it cost to build a city
Building a city, even a small one, is always a big expense. At first, it was assumed that the new capital of Egypt would cost the authorities $45 billion. But then it became clear that the builders would need about $58 billion.
Residential buildings in the new capital of Egypt. Source: Reuters
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Many people do not understand why the authorities are spending so much time and money on creating a new city. As mentioned above, the main reason for building a new capital is to provide people with housing. With the help of new cities, the authorities want to reduce population density – thanks to the development of new lands, people will live more comfortably.