Egypt Gives Importance to Developing Desert Lands

Egypt prioritizes the development of desert lands and has constructed 1.5 million housing units to alleviate housing shortages for 7.5 million citizens over a decade, as reported by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

In a relatively short amount of time, Egypt has finished, delivered, and is still working on completing over 1.5 million housing units. Around 85% to 90% of these units were specifically designed as social housing for youth and low-income individuals, as well as alternative housing for unsafe slum areas.

Madbouly stressed that this ambitious project effectively addresses the housing needs of about 6 to 7.5 million Egyptian citizens, assuming an average family size of 4 to 5 individuals. This accomplishment contrasts with the slower pace of housing development observed over the previous 36 years.

The housing issue has been a critical challenge for the Egyptian state, with securing a housing unit being a dream for many young people. Madbouly highlighted the city of Capital Gardens as a notable example. As one of the fourth-generation cities, it boasts convenient public transportation from its inception. The light electric train serves residents, allowing easy travel to various destinations within Greater Cairo.

Madbouly has directed the Minister of Housing and the head of the Social Housing and Mortgage Finance Fund to focus on expanding similar housing projects within Capital Gardens. The city currently comprises 100,000 housing units, with 93,000 designated for social housing, youth, and low-income individuals, while the remaining 7,000 units cater to middle-income households.

The Prime Minister stressed the urgency of accelerating similar initiatives, aiming for completion within three years due to the high demand for this type of housing. Notably, all housing units in the Capital Gardens project have already been sold, indicating strong interest among the youth to move away from densely populated areas in central Cairo to more livable environments.

To address population growth, Madbouly emphasized the importance of developing desert lands and implementing large-scale projects. The government's "Housing for All Egyptians" initiative plays a crucial role in tackling this challenge.