Egypt launched the construction of the new Jirian City with a ceremony June 1. Northwest of Cairo, the new town is part of Egypt’s New Delta Project for farmland and towns west of the existing Nile River Delta.
The New Delta Project involves converting 2.5 million acres of desert to farmland to boost wheat and corn production and reduce food imports. Jirian City is 40 kilometers north west of Cairo, and will eventually house 2.5 to 3 million families and create 250,000 jobs. It will cover 1,680 acres, with 20% of the area dedicated to a new Nile-connected canal—serving both irrigation and as a scenic centerpiece for the city. A certain amount of Nile flow will be channeled through the town and surrounding area. In addition to housing, it will be home to international universities, hospitals, a hotel, commercial zones, and a cultural-media district.
Jirian City is one of some 30 new Egyptian cities that have been built already, or are under construction or in the planning pipeline. Two in operation are the new Administration Capital, and New Alexandria.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, speaking at the launch ceremony June 1, asserted that the project will be “an urban and development revolution,” and serve as the cornerstone of a wider development zone equivalent in size to four to five governorates. “We are talking about full-spectrum development.”
The city will be built by two private developers as well as the state owned Mostakbal Misr for Sustainable Development enterprise. Construction began five months ago, with a completion goal of five years.
