Egypt Prime Minister Defends New Capital and Urban Expansion Projects

Government Defends Urban Development Strategy

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly defended the government’s investment in new cities and infrastructure projects at the Egypt Forum 2026, citing the urgent need to address urban overcrowding.

• Population growth: Madbouly stated that Egypt’s urbanized area has expanded to 14% to support a population that has grown from 10 million in the early 20th century to 110 million today.
• Economic rationale: The government estimates that congestion in central Cairo causes annual losses of $8 billion to $10 billion due to traffic and pollution.
• Development plan: Officials are implementing the National Urban Development Plan for Egypt to 2052, which includes the construction of 39 new cities to manage expansion.
• Occupancy rates: Madbouly rejected claims that new cities are vacant, citing data showing 14 million to 15 million residents in these areas.