New Cairo

City of Cairo Governorate

This article is about the satellite city of Cairo planned and built in the 2000s. For the planned new capital of Egypt, see New Administrative Capital.

City in Cairo, Egypt

New Cairo

القاهرة الجديدة

City

A panorama of El Rehab City Food Court in northern New Cairo

New Cairo

Location in Egypt

Coordinates: 30°02′N 31°28′E﻿ / ﻿30.03°N 31.47°E﻿ / 30.03; 31.47
Country| Egypt
Governorate| Cairo
Metropolitan area| Greater Cairo
Government

• Type| Development Agency
• Chairman| Amin Ghoneim
Area

• Total

| 343 km2 (132 sq mi)
Elevation

| 271 m (889 ft)
Population

(2023)[1]

• Total

| 318,092
• Density| 930/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Time zone| UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+3 (EEST)
Area code| (+20) 2

New Cairo (Arabic: القاهرة الجديدة el-Qāhera el-Gedīda) is a satellite city within the Cairo Governorate of Egypt, and the metropolitan area of Greater Cairo. Administratively, it is officially part of the Eastern Area of Cairo city,[2] but like all new settlements in Egypt, it is directly governed by the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA).[3] The city was established in 2000 as part of Egypt's strategic effort to alleviate the chronic congestion of Greater Cairo by decentralizing population and economic activity.[4] The city is made up of a mix of residential neighbourhoods, commercial centers, and institutional zones. It is home to several gated communities, private universities, malls, international schools, and corporate headquarters, positioning it as a hub for Cairo’s upper and elite classes. Its development reflects Egypt’s broader neoliberal urban planning strategies, aimed at attracting private investments and promoting modern and western lifestyles.[4]

According to the 2017 census, New Cairo's three qisms had a combined population of 297,387 residents (also see population section below).[5][6] The city could eventually host a population of 5 million.[7] When compared to 6th of October, also built with the hopes of alleviating the strain on Cairo, more homes are being rented out in New Cairo.[8]

New Cairo has attracted both praise and criticism. While it is seen as a model for modern urban expansion, it is also scrutinized for social exclusivity and limited accessibility for lower-income classes.[9]

## History

[edit]

The expansion of Cairo follows a long history of elite-led urban development in Egypt, beginning with 19-century modernization projects under Mohammed Ali and Khedive Ismail, who sought to emulate European cities like Paris to help Egypt gain international recognition.[citation needed] The newly developed suburbs in the early 20th century, like Heliopolis and Maadi, were constructed for the elite and European citizens living in the city at the time.[citation needed] After the 1952 revolution, in which the pro-Western monarchy was overthrown fueled by Egyptian nationalism, a new urban vision emerged to symbolize the passing of the colonial era. The new republic established Gamal Abdel Nasser as its president, who created public spaces to as the Nile corniche to reclaim Cairo from its colonial past.[10] Cairo’s landscape underwent great transformations as the government, undertook large-scale socialist housing projects to provide affordable housing to newly arrived immigrants. However, as the demographic grew rapidly as a result of industrialization, the government struggled to control the growth and expansion of the city.[11]

As the population continued to grow throughout the late 50s, rising land prices pushed lower- and middle Egyptians to settle informally on the outskirt of Cairo, into the desert onto privately owned agricultural land without official authorization due to their affordability. This trend accelerated, and by 1990 the informal settlements housed nearly two-thirds of Cairo’s population. Despite their significance, successive governments largely overlooked these districts.[12] The failure to provide adequate low-income housing was compounded by the economic liberalization policies of the infitah era, which led to the continuous devaluation of the Egyptian pound and a stark decline is its purchasing power. Families sought alternative housing in graveyards, rooftop shacks, garages, and shared apartments. Cairo’s environmental conditions degraded, and became marked by visual chaos, polluted streets, and risen noise levels.[13]

### The Rise of New Cairo

[edit]

Shot of New Cairo

The deteriorating conditions in central Cairo once again prompted an interest in desert expansion for the upper class. The state actively facilitated this shift by privatizing desert land with real estate developers, creating new financial and investment opportunities. The city’s function shifted from a site of social reproduction to a space shaped by entrepreneurialism, market-oriented production, and consumerist lifestyles.[13] Dozens of luxury compounds were constructed on Cairo’s outskirts, featuring golf courses, private universities, shopping malls, simulating an idealized urban lifestyle. The appeal of New Cairo was enhanced by the degradation of public space in the old city, from traffic and pollution to overcrowding.[9]

Urban planners characterized this transformation as a form of gentrification, as before the development of New Cairo, the area was home to three informal settlements housing poor families and the unhoused. These communities were later displaced, as the land was sold off to private investors.[14] Although New Cairo was envisioned as a city akin to Heliopolis, housing all social classes, the dominance of private interest turned the area into a symbol of exclusion, reinforcing Cairo’s socio-spatial inequalities.

## Administrative subdivisions and population

[edit]

New Cairo, like most new cities in Egypt, is not administratively a city under Local Administration Law, rather a group of three qisms (police wards) attached to the Eastern Area of Cairo proper: Al-Qahira al-Gadida Awwal, Thani, and Thalith (New Cairo 1st, 2nd, and 3rd).[2] New Cairo is jointly administered by the Ministry of Housing's New Urban Communities Authority through a subsidiary agency (gehaz al-Qahira al-Gadida), and Cairo Governorate.

Map of Eastern Area of Cairo showing New Cairo (al-Qahira al-Gadida) as three qisms. Note Shorouk and Badr new cities are one qism each.

According to the 2017 census New Cairo's three qisms had a combined population of 297,387 residents:[5][6] This is in stark contrast to the New Urban Communities Authority's (NUCA) undated population estimate of 1.5 million inhabitants and a target population of 4 million inhabitants.[15] However, the same source contradicts this claim where it states 70,000 homes as built,[15] leading to an impossibly high average of 21 people per home. The lower population figure translates into a more realistic 4 people per home.

Qism  | Code 2017  | Population

|
|

Qâhira al-Gadîda 1, al-  | 014200  | 135,834
Qâhira al-Gadîda 2, al-  | 014300  | 90,668
Qâhira al-Gadîda 3, al-  | 014400  | 70,885

Al-Qahira al-Gadida Awwal had 135,834 residents across its four shiakhas (quarters):[5]

Shiakha  | Code 2017  | Population

|
|

Jâmi`a al-Amrîkiyya, and al-Rawḍa, al-  | 014204  | 451
Narjis, and al-Mustathmirîn al-janûbiyya, al-  | 014202  | 15,175
Tajammu` 5, al-  | 014201  | 36,830
Yâsamîn et al-Banafsij, and al-Mustathmirîn al-shamâliyya, al-  | 014203  | 83,378

Al-Qahira al-Gadida Thani had 90,668 residents across its three shiakhas:[5][6]

Shiakha  | Code 2017  | Population

|
|

Akâdimiyyat al-Shurṭa, and al-Mîrâj  | 014303  | 2,928
Firdaws, and al-Kawthar, al-  | 014302  | 24,010
Riḥâb, and al-Mustathmirûn, al-  | 014301  | 63,730

Al-Qahira al-Gadida Thalith had 70,885 residents across its five shiakhas:[5][6]

Shiakha  | Code 2017  | Population

|
|

Andalus, al-  | 014405  | 330
Anshiṭa, al-  | 014403  | 1
Iskân Mubarak li-l-Shabâb  | 014402  | 46,421
Manṭiqa al-Ṣinâ`iyya, al-  | 014404  | 59
Qaṭṭâmiyya, al-  | 014401  | 24,074

## Geography

[edit]

New Cairo is built in the Eastern Desert to the east of the Cairo Ring Road and the modern 1950s extension of Nasr City, on a plateau that ranges in elevation between 250 and 307 metres (820 and 1,007 ft) above sea level.[16] It was created to comprise three towns (The First, Third, and Fifth settlements),[17][dead link] originally on an area of about 67,000 acres which had grown to 85,000 acres by 2016.[3] In 2024, it had expanded further to 99,814 acres.[18] The Petrified Forest Protected Area is of particular significance to geologists, located south of New Cairo. It is a protected site.[19]

## Economy and utilities

[edit]

There are dozens of factories in New Cairo.[20][21] General Electric are working with the American University in New Cairo on energy initiatives.[22] El Sewedy Electric has its headquarters in the Fifth Settlement of New Cairo.[23]

The city is connected to other cities by a vast network of bus lines, and construction has begun for a monorail line that connects the city with the Cairo suburb of Nasr City to the west, and the New Administrative Capital to the east.[24] The city gets its drinking water from a water plant in Obour City, nearby.[25]

A branch of Al Ahly SC is currently under construction in the eastern part of the city.[26] There is also a championship golf course with tennis lies in the Kattameya section of the city.[27][28]

At the entrance of New Cairo is Cairo Festival City, a 285 hectare (700 acres) real estate development which has parks, games, pools, gardens, walkways, business office space, a large mall and a dancing fountain.[29] In addition to that, there are many other malls in New Cairo including Point 90, Downtown Kattameya, Porto Cairo, Emerald Plaza and Park mall, in addition to numerous other, smaller malls.

Demand for real estate in New Cairo has been very high, with prices per meter for apartments averaging around E£10,000, and for villas E£19,000.[30] It has continued increasing, especially after the construction of the New Administrative Capital to the east. The government has also moved many services and administrations to the city, the most notable of which were the Traffic Administration offices of Nasr City, Heliopolis and New Cairo (which was previously located in El Shorouk) in 2020, as they were all moved into one three-floor building in the southern part of the city.

## Sports

[edit]

This section includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help improve this section by introducing more precise citations. (May 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

The city is home to two professional football clubs: ENPPI SC, formed in 1985, plays at the Petrosport Stadium, and Pyramids FC, who play at the 30 June Stadium. Although the two teams are based in New Cairo, they neither represent the city nor carry its name. Two new semi professional teams, 1st Settlement Youth and Katameya Petrosport Club, which carry the names of neighbourhoods of the city, have joined the Egyptian Fourth Division.

## Religion

[edit]

There are several mosques in New Cairo, but currently only one church, the Virgin Mary and St. Bishoy Coptic Church in the Fifth Settlement.[31][failed verification – see discussion] The city is also home to a Coptic monastery, the Patmos Monastery of St. John the Beloved.[32] In September 2016, the president approved the construction of a new Coptic Orthodox church in the city.[33]

## Education

[edit]

Administration building, Future University in Egypt

### Schools

[edit]

* Capital International Schools (CIS)
* British International College of Cairo
* The American International School in Egypt (AIS) East (Main) Campus[34]
* New Cairo British International School (NCBIS)[35]
* International School of Choueifat (ISC) – Cairo campus[36][37]
* Modern Education Schools (MES).[38]
* Salahaldin International School (SIS)[39]
* Lycée Français du Caire New Cairo Primary Campus[40]
* Korean School in Cairo [ko] (카이로한국학교), a South Korean international school[41]
* Canadian International School of Egypt[42]
* Malvern College Egypt[43]
* Gateway International Montessori School[44]
* Cairo English School[45]
* Europa-Schule Kairo
* Europaschule Neu Kairo
* Repton School Cairo
* Nile International College
* Lycée Internationale Français en Égypte (Concordia)[46]
* Egypt British International School[47]
* Madinaty Language School[48]

### Universities

[edit]

* American University in Cairo (AUC)
* German University in Cairo (GUC)
* Future University in Egypt (FUE)
* Canadian International College (CIC)
* New Cairo Academy

## Gated communities

[edit]

* Mostakbal City, 11,000 acres
* Madinaty, 8000 acres
* Al-Rehab, 3000 acres
* Qattamia Heights
* Mivida New Cairo by Emaar Misr
* Hyde Park New Cairo, 1000 acres
* Mountain View Hyde Park, Mountain View 2 & Mountain View iCity
* Les Rois
* Taj City
* Eastown & Villette by SODIC
* Katameya Heights New Cairo & Katameya Dunes New Cairo
* The Square
* Stone Park & Stone Residence by Rooya
* Lake View & Lake View Residence
* Palm Hills Katameya & Palm Hills New Cairo
* Riviera
* Azad
* Regent's Park
* Village Gardens Katameya

## Malls

[edit]

* Cairo Festival City by Al-Futtaim Group
* Mirage Mall
* Point 90 Mall
* 5A, WaterWay and WaterWay 2
* Downtown Mall
* Garden 8
* Concorde Mall
* The Drive by The Waterway
* City Center Almaza

## See also

[edit]

* Egypt portal

* New Administrative Capital

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Egypt's population by qism and markaz on 1 January, 2023" (PDF). Central Organisation for Public Mobilisation and Statistics. 1 January 2023.
2. ^ a b "Eastern Area". www.cairo.gov.eg. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
3. ^ a b "New Cairo". New Urban Communities Authority. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
4. ^ a b El-Husseiny, Mennat-Allah; Kesseiba, Karim (December 2012). "Challenges of Social Sustainability in Neo-liberal Cairo: Re- Questioning the Role of Public Space". Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 68: 790–803\. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.12.267.
5. ^ a b c d e Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) (2017). "2017 Census for Population and Housing Conditions". CEDEJ-CAPMAS. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
6. ^ a b c d The interactive census site is the only available digital source (non-pdf) and must be queried as follows: Statistics and analysis > Population > 2017 Data > Gender >Statistical Tables >Total population and population by sex (Choose location).
7. ^ Jack Schenker, 11 June 2011. "Desert storm". Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
8. ^ Al-Aees, Shaimaa (25 July 2016). "Apartments, villas rented out at faster rate in New Cairo than 6th of October City: JLL". Daily News Egypt. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
9. ^ a b Denis, Éric (2006). "Cairo as Neoliberal Capital?". Cairo Cosmopolitan, AUC Press: 47–71 - via Research Gate.
10. ^ Khaled, Adham (2 August 2004). Elsheshtawy, Yasser (ed.). Planning Middle Eastern Cities. Cairo's Urban Déjà Vu: Globalization and Urban Fantasies. London: Routledge. pp. 148–182\. doi:10.4324/9780203609002-12 (inactive 1 July 2025). ISBN 978-1-134-41010-1.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)
11. ^ El-Husseiny, Mennat-Allah; Kesseiba, Karim (2012). "Challenges of Social Sustainability in Neo-liberal Cairo: Re- Questioning the Role of Public Space". Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 68: 790–803\. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.12.267.
12. ^ Dorman, W.J (2021). Springborg, Robert; Adly, Amr; Gorman, Anthony; Moustafa, Tamir; Saad, Aisha; Sakr, Naomi; Smierciak, Sarah (eds.). Routledge handbook on contemporary Egypt. London New York, NY: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. p. 247\. ISBN 978-0-367-69439-5.
13. ^ a b Adham, Khaled (2005). "Globalization, Neoliberalism, and New Spaces of Capital in Cairo". Traditional Dwellings and Settlements Review. 17 (1): 19–32\. ISSN 1050-2092. JSTOR 41758302.
14. ^ Mahmoud, Randa A. (2017). "New Cairo's Urban Dynamics: Redefining Gentrification as a Main Actor of Social Resilience". Procedia Environmental Sciences. 37: 429–441\. Bibcode:2017PrEnS..37..429M. doi:10.1016/j.proenv.2017.03.013.
15. ^ a b "Home - New Cairo". www.newcities.gov.eg. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
16. ^ "New Cairo City, Cairo Governorate, Egypt Lat Long Coordinates Info". Lat Long. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
17. ^ "Presidential Decree 191/2000" (PDF). The Official Gazette. 2000.
18. ^ "(Re)Defining the Greater Cairo Region". The Built Environment Observatory. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
19. ^ "Petrified Forest Protectorate". Ask-Aladdin. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
20. ^ "New Cairo". New Urban Communities Authority Portal. Archived from the original on 18 December 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
21. ^ "Browse a list of Google's Office Locations - Google". Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2017.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Google. Retrieved on 25 May 2016. "Google Egypt LLC 47 Office Building Section 1 City Centre New Cairo Egypt"
22. ^ "AUC Announces a Five-Year Partnership with GE to Sponsor the University's V-Lab Incubator". 10 April 2016. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
23. ^ "Elsewedy Electric T&D". Elsewedy Electric. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
24. ^ "Cairo Monorail". Railway Technology. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
25. ^ "New Urban Communities Authority Portal". New Cities Egypt. Archived from the original on 18 December 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
26. ^ "The Fifth Settlement branch to receive members next June". Al Ahly SC. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
27. ^ "Katameya Heights". Katameya Heights. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
28. ^ "Katameya Dunes". Katameya Dunes. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
29. ^ "Cairo Festival City Mall". Cairo Festival City. Archived from the original on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
30. ^ Estate, Aqarmap - Real Estate in Egypt, Properties in Egypt, Luxury Real. "New Cairo - Fifth Settlement - Tagamoa Prices Guide - Aqarmap". egypt.aqarmap.com. Archived from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2021.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
31. ^ "كنيسة السيدة العذراء و القديس الأنبا بيشوي". Virgin Mary & St. Bishoy Coptic Church. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
32. ^ "St John Monastery Patmos". Cybo. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
33. ^ "Sisi ratifies Egypt's new church building law". Ahram Online. 28 September 2016. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
34. ^ "American International School in Egypt Main Campus". The American International School. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
35. ^ "New Cairo British International School". NCBIS. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
36. ^ "About ISC Cairo". International School of Choueifat. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
37. ^ "International School of Choueifat". Yellow Pages of Egypt. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
38. ^ "Modern Education Schools". Modern Education Schools. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
39. ^ "Salahadin International School". Salahadin International School. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
40. ^ "Lycée Français du Caire - La France en Egypt". Lycée Français du Caire. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
41. ^ "Korean School". Cairo School Korea.
42. ^ "Canadian International School of Egypt". Ontario Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
43. ^ "Malvern College Egypt | British International School in Cairo". malverncollege.edu.eg.
44. ^ "International Schools in New Cairo - Gateway Montessori School". www.gateway.education.
45. ^ "Cairo English School - Cairo English School". www.cesegypt.com.
46. ^ "Lycée Internationale Français en Égypte (Concordia)".
47. ^ "Egypt British International School".
48. ^ ""Madinaty Language School"".

## External links

[edit]

* Official website (archived)
* New Cairo - New Urban Communities Authority (Archived)

* v
* t
* e

New Egyptian cities

First generation|

* 10th of Ramadan
* 15th of May
* Sadat
* 6th of October
* New Borg El Arab
* New Damietta
* El Salheya El Gedida

Second generation|

* Badr
* Obour
* New Beni Suef
* New Minya
* New Nubariya
* Sheikh Zayed City

Third generation|

* El Shorouk
* New Aswan
* New Cairo
* New Asyut
* New Thebes
* New Sohag
* New Qena
* New Faiyum
* New Akhmim
* New Luxor

Fourth generation|

* New Toshka
* East Port Said
* New Administrative Capital
* New Obour
* New Ismailia
* New Mansoura
* West Qena
* New 6th of October
* October Gardens
* New Rafah
* New Bir al-Abed
* New Alamein
* New El Fashn
* New Mallawi
* New Naser
* New Rosetta
* Al Galala
* Capital Gardens
* New Alexandria
* New Sphinx

* v
* t
* e

Districts and suburbs of Greater Cairo

Cairo Governorate|

* Abbassia
* Ain Shams
* Azbakeya
* Bulaq
* Daher
* Al-Darb al-Ahmar
* El Marg
* Helwan
* Massarah
* 15th of May
* Mokattam
* City of the Dead (al-Qarafa)
* Manshiyat Naser
* Nasr City
* El Qobbah
* Rhoda Island
* El Manial
* El Sakkakini
* Shubra
* Shubra
* El Sahel
* Rod El Farag
* Zeitoun

Historical|

* Coptic Cairo
* Downtown Cairo
* Faggala
* Fustat
* Islamic Cairo
* El Matareya
* Old Cairo

Affluent|

* Garden City
* Heliopolis
* Maadi
* Zamalek

Newly planned|

* Badr
* Madinaty
* New Cairo
* El Rehab
* Fifth Settlement
* New Heliopolis
* El Shorouk

Giza Governorate|

* Agouza
* Mit Okba
* Imbaba

Historical|

* Kerdasa

Affluent|

* Dokki
* Mohandessin

Newly planned|

* 6th of October
* Sheikh Zayed

Qalyubia Governorate|

* Shubra El Kheima

Newly planned|

* Obour

* v
* t
* e

Egyptian cities by population

1,000,000 and more|

* Cairo
* Alexandria
* Giza
* Shubra El Kheima

300,000–999,999|

* Suez
* Port Said
* Mansoura
* El Mahalla El Kubra
* Tanta
* Asyut
* Faiyum
* Khusus
* Zagazig
* Ismailia
* Aswan
* 6th of October
* Damanhur
* Damietta
* Minya
* Beni Suef

100,000–299,999|

* Luxor
* Arish
* Benha
* Desouk
* Edfu
* Hurghada
* Kafr El Dawwar
* Kafr El Sheikh
* Mallawi
* New Cairo
* Obour
* Qena
* Shibin El Kom
* Sohag
* Mit Ghamr
* Zefta
* El Senbellawein
* Dekernes
* El Gamaliya
* El Manzala
* El Matareya
* Talkha
* Belqas
* Minya al-Qamh
* Bilbeis
* 10th of Ramadan
* Abu Kebir
* Faqous
* El Qurein
* Benha
* Qalyub
* Ashmoun
* Menouf
* Sadat City
* Edku
* El Hawamdeya
* Kerdasa
* Biba
* El Fashn
* Nasser
* Sinnuris
* Samalut
* Beni Mazar
* Maghagha
* Abu Tig
* Manfalut
* El Quseyya
* Dairut
* Abnub
* Tahta
* Tima
* Girga
* Akhmim
* Esna
* Mersa Matruh

Authority control databases: National |

* Czech Republic

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template