Cairo International Airport (New Cairo)
New Cairo (Egypt) is undergoing major urban development at the moment. Old Cairo’s outdated infrastructure is in dire need for new development to take the load off the city as more and more people settle into the area. Originally, Cairo was planned and built for a population of three to five million people. But it is clear to even a fledgling visitor that Cairo has outgrown its infrastructure long ago. With an estimated population of around 20 million people, it is exciting to see a new master planed development appearing in form of the New Cairo developments of urban areas.
Current and Planned Infrastructure in New Cairo
When fully built, New Cairo is estimated to house about 2.5 million people and by the year 2027 as many as 10 million to 12 million people are expected to relocate to the new suburban developments of New Cairo which are being built and developed right now to the east and west of the old city boundaries.
The southeastern edge of the city is an 830-hectare site which will delineate the edge of New Cairo from the west and mark the entry to Greater Cairo from the east.
According to the new master plan, a new traditional Arabic town will be constructed to serve the area as well as New Cairo city. On the northeastern corner a central business district will be marked as the city’s first ever business park. This area will also serve as a prominent entry point into Greater Cairo.
A smart combination of small neighbourhoods provide residents with private pockets of residential real estate, away from the busy main roads and highways. The new golf course has been cleverly designed into the centre of the development, allowing for luxury properties to be built alongside the course while the lesser costly units will be placed on the outer rim.
Construction in New Cairo
All neighbourhoods will be linked via an internal loop road system that would allow residents easy mobility. The deciding factor on size of each of these urban areas is determined by existing topography of the region.
Ataba Heights and the high access point next to the Quarry will play a major role with the ridge in the centre, creating three valleys which each of them affording residential neighbourhood views out over the golf course toward the town centre and central business district.
The main residential urban satellite towns will be made up of East, South and North Ridge, Crossroads Village, and the exclusive Ataba Heights.
An international school, an associated hotel, serviced apartments, and a medical centre will be part of the campus area. Exciting development is also foreseen for the Quarry, as it will be converted into an amphitheatre. There will also be an associated indoor arts centre and a hotel just up the hill.
Worshippers can enjoy the large Friday mosque that is located at the summit of the hill. To keep the master plan development tied to the 21st. Century, a restrained architectural style has been selected for residential and commercial construction, all based on traditional Egyptian elements.
East Cairo has been allocated by the Egyptian government to host over 80 new residential developments. To accommodate the growing influx of residential dwellers, some 56 schools and universities, two sports clubs, a shopping mall, two hotels, the international airport and four hospitals will all be part of this massive new development.
Western Cairo will allow for new construction of more than 100 residential compounds, 15 schools and universities, two shopping malls, three hotels, four sports clubs, the airport and three hospitals. Nearby Smart Village will be home to some 70 companies, government buildings, as well as the local and Pan Arab Stock Exchange.
American University, New Cairo Campus
The American University in Cairo (AUC) has recently relocated from its previous location on El Tahrir Square, in the heart of Cairo city, to the eastern suburb of New Cairo. Set on an allocated 240-acre site, and a construction cost of $400 million, the built area of the new campus consists of 200,000 square meters.
The idea behind the master plan of this relocation was to create a full-fledged university including classrooms, offices, and laboratory space for the three principal schools. These consist of the school of Business, Economics and Communication, The School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the School of Sciences and Engineering.
To give students everything they would possibly need and want, there will also be a main library, University Research Centres, a media and technology centre, physical education, a campus information centre, athletics facilities, recreational facilities, student housing, student services, administration, faculty housing, day care, and a physical plant.
To see a range of exciting developments that are happening right now in the New Cairo Property Market, tune in when we publish part 2 of this article within the next few days.
Photo credits: ACM
