Egypt unveils ‘megacity’ with 35,000 housing units

• 5-year construction project
• Partnership with private developers
• ‘Millions’ to eventually live there

Egypt is building a “megacity” west of Cairo, which will have a man-made channel to divert water from the Nile River to support irrigation.

Jirian, meaning “flow” in Arabic, will initially house 35,000 residential units and is expected to create 250,000 jobs in the New Delta region, the official State Information Service reported.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said that the project reflects a growing partnership between the state and private sector players aimed at accelerating urban expansion and ensuring the long-term development of underutilised regions.

The urban zone will include industry, logistics hubs and homes for up to 3 million families, the prime minister was quoted in local media as saying at a press conference.

Nearly 10 million cubic metres of Nile water will flow each day to the 6.8 million square meter city, helping irrigate a 2.28 million acre of New Delta agricultural project, Reuters reported.

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The project will also feature luxury residences, 80-storey skyscrapers, global universities and hospitals, an eco-friendly hotel and commercial zones as well as a cultural and media district.

The total cost of the project was not disclosed, but it will be developed in partnership with private developers, including Palm Hills Developments, Mountain View and Nation of Sky.

Construction, which started in January, is expected to be completed within five years, according to an AFP report.