Egypt's New Administrative Capital NAC, a project that started 10 years ago with the signing of a technical plan, is inching towards completion. Just over an hour's drive separates Cairo from the new development, a span of time that takes visitors from the ancient city to an ensemble of soaring buildings in the desert. Here are located government ministries and offices, the parliament and senate buildings, a growing number of companies, and around 1,500 families who have moved into the limited number of mostly high-end residential properties that have been completed so far.
The project, owned and operated by the government's Administrative Capital for Urban Development ACUD, is estimated to cost a total of 58bn. The city, which is being built in phases, has a total potential area of 950 km and an 8,000,000 population capacity.
Attractions such as the Museum of Egyptian Capitals and the National Library in the New Administrative Capital, as well as a "diplomatic quarter" for the embassies of "friendly countries around the world" are expected to place the city at the heart of modern Egypt's cultural and diplomatic life.
Religion too, has its place - the city includes the Misr Islamic Center - one of the largest mosques in the world - and the Cathedral of Nativity of Christ, a sprawling Coptic Orthodox church.
The broader objectives of the NAC, a spokesman tells African Business , include alleviating population congestion in 22.9 million-strong Greater Cairo stimulating economic development and investment and promoting sustainable urban growth. The project is also intended to be a driver of Egypt's digital transformation and regional standing.