CAIRO: The first phase of the new administrative capital project should be completed in two years, President Sisi announced Sunday in a meeting with members of the Cabinet, the presidency announced.
The Ministry of Housing has accepted a draft for the construction of the capital, Presidential Spokesperson Alaa Youssef stated, adding that Housing Minister Mostafa Madbouli stated that between 80 -85 percent of the employment for the city’s construction would be sourced domestically.
The ambitious urban planning project was announced in March at the Egypt Economic Development Conference, and will be constructed jointly with the United Arab Emirates. The total timeline for the project was estimated at between 5 to 7 years, with a price tag of $45 billion.
The project, slated to be completed two years from January 2016, will occupy 10,500 acres, and include “the largest part in the Middle East,” as well as a host of universities, schools, and medical centers, in addition to the seat of government, Youssef stated.
Planners hope the new city, to be situated halfway between Cairo and Suez, would alleviate traffic from Cairo.