The Egyptian government has officially launched its Smart Cities Strategy, a comprehensive national plan aimed at transforming urban development across the country. The initiative is designed to tackle rapid population growth, address climate challenges, and embed sustainability into Egypt’s long-term growth model.
A Unified National Vision
According to Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, Manal Awad, the strategy marks a significant shift from previous approaches. Unlike earlier efforts that concentrated on constructing new urban centers, this new framework integrates both new and existing cities into a single, unified national vision. The plan aims to foster economic growth and social inclusion while promoting spatial justice.
Beyond Technology
Minister Awad emphasized that creating smart cities requires more than just deploying advanced technologies. The strategy’s success hinges on developing supportive legislation, establishing robust financing mechanisms, and encouraging active community participation. This ensures that citizens are integral to shaping the future of their urban environments. The launch event was attended by senior officials, representatives from the World Bank, foreign diplomats, and private sector stakeholders.
Data-Driven Planning
A key tool for implementing the strategy will be the Egyptian Cities Atlas, which was developed with support from the World Bank. This atlas consolidates crucial economic, social, environmental, and spatial data, providing a data-driven foundation to guide the planning and execution of future urban development projects across the nation. This initiative is a core priority in the government’s 2024–2027 program.
People-Centered Development
At its core, the strategy is people-centered. It prioritizes the development of quality housing, essential services, safe mobility, and economic opportunities for all citizens. These objectives are directly aligned with the goals outlined in Egypt’s Vision 2030 and global sustainability targets, reinforcing the plan’s focus on creating a healthy and prosperous environment for residents.
About The Smart Cities Strategy
The Egyptian Smart Cities Strategy is a government-led initiative designed to guide sustainable urban development. It provides a national framework for transforming existing cities and building new ones to be more inclusive, resilient, and technologically advanced, aiming to address urbanization pressures and climate change while improving the quality of life for all Egyptians.
Source: Fast Company Middle East
