On the outskirts of the New Administrative Capital in the desert east of Cairo, the Egyptian government is racing against time to prepare new homes for thousands of mid-income employees expected to move to the new city. Egypt has turned to private real estate developers to build more expensive residential neighborhoods within the luxurious New Administrative Capital, which is designed to accommodate over six million people over an area of more than 168 square kilometers beyond the borders of Cairo. The New Administrative Capital is the most prominent among a series of mega projects and infrastructure developments initiated by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who stated that its expected inauguration later this year will mark the birth of a new republic.
Although the government offices in the New Administrative Capital have largely been completed, other sectors of the new city and its transportation lines are still under construction. Some Egyptians fear that they will not be able to access it and cannot afford its costs. During a tour of the site on Monday, officials told reporters that the government has begun building public housing in Badr City, close to the New Administrative Capital, ahead of the arrival of the first batch of employees.
On Saturday, El-Sisi inaugurated 9,024 housing units in the completed first phase in Badr City. Another 4,704 units are currently under construction for the second phase. Ammar Mandour, head of the Badr Development Authority, told reporters that the housing is ready not only in terms of construction but also "housing with facilities, electricity, water, gas, telephones... internet is working."
The extensive public housing complex in Badr City, named Capital Gardens, consists of uniform residential buildings comprising six floors, with four units on each floor. Some of the buildings bore signs featuring El-Sisi's image. Mandour stated that the decision to start relocating employees is a sovereign and political decision and that the housing will be ready the moment the employees move to work in the new capital.
Abdul Muttalib Mamdouh, Deputy Head of the New Urban Communities Authority, said that the government began building public housing within the New Administrative Capital itself late last year. He added that construction initially began with 100,000 units, stating that assuming each family consists of four people, this means there are homes available for approximately 400,000 people, with the first units scheduled for delivery beginning in December.
