Eng. Randa El-Menshawy, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, chaired the Board of Directors meeting of the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA), attended by Dr. Walid Abbas, Deputy Minister for Urban Communities, Eng. Ahmed Omran, Deputy Minister for Utilities, and senior ministry officials. The meeting reviewed NUCA’s executive work plan, key performance indicators, and priorities for the coming phase, in line with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s directives to advance comprehensive urban development and strengthen the role of new cities as drivers of economic and social growth, Invest-Gate reports.

Budget Approval and NUCA Strategy to Advance Egypt Vision 2030

During the meeting, El-Menshawy stressed that NUCA remains one of the Egyptian state’s key institutions for implementing the New Republic vision. She highlighted the authority’s achievements in expanding new cities, upgrading infrastructure, delivering housing projects for different income groups, and enhancing the real estate sector’s contribution to the national economy, in line with Egypt Vision 2030.

The minister added that NUCA’s strategy is built on several key pillars, including strengthening strategic partnerships with the private sector, increasing its role in urban development projects, creating a more attractive investment environment through governance, transparency, and digital transformation, maximizing the economic value of the authority’s assets, promoting institutional excellence, attracting local and foreign investments, and improving quality of life in new cities through advanced infrastructure and integrated services.

She also noted that NUCA’s work plan focuses on expanding housing projects in new cities, contributing to national development projects, upgrading existing urban areas, continuing the development of new cities, and implementing the state’s strategy for developing Egypt’s North West Coast.

Expanding Housing Programmes and Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships

Regarding the housing sector, El-Menshawy affirmed that the ministry continues implementing its strategy to expand housing programmes for all income segments, including social housing, middle-income housing, premium housing, and partnership projects with the private sector.

The meeting reviewed NUCA’s achievements in the housing sector since 2014, including the implementation of “Housing for All Egyptians” for low- and middle-income citizens, the Green Housing project, Distinguished Housing, Sakan Misr, Dyarna, Janna, residential towers, villas, the Zelal project, as well as housing units developed in partnership with the private sector.

The meeting also reviewed the latest phase of the social housing programme, which includes approximately 77,000 housing units across 14 new cities. It further discussed the first phase of the private sector participation programme to develop affordable housing on 383 feddans through 17 land plots across eight new cities, reflecting the ministry’s expanded partnership model.

In addition, the meeting reviewed 118 ongoing partnership projects with the private sector, covering nearly 11 million sqm and providing around 74,000 housing units, bringing the total number of housing units delivered through the Ministry of Housing and private sector partnerships to approximately 2.034 million units.

North West Coast Development, Fourth-Generation Cities, and Digital Transformation

The board reviewed the strategy for transforming Egypt’s North West Coast into a year-round sustainable development destination by extending urban development beyond the narrow coastal strip, diversifying tourism and investment activities, integrating tourism, economic, industrial, and service sectors, strengthening transport links with Cairo and the Nile Delta, expanding industrial land offerings, creating employment opportunities, and promoting balanced regional development.

The meeting also reviewed operational updates for several projects in the North West Coast, particularly New Alamein City, including the opening of the cinema complex and Roman theatre in the Heritage City, the operation of the Real Estate Registration Office, and progress in launching commercial and service activities. It also discussed developments at the Boulevard area within the Mazarine project, where a significant share of commercial units has been allocated, alongside restaurants, medical centres, government offices, and retail facilities.

Board members also reviewed progress on fourth-generation cities, including housing, utilities, and service projects, as well as ongoing development works in the New  Capital, covering the R3 and R5 residential districts, the Central Business District (CBD), utility networks, pumping stations, the Green River, and landscaping works.

The meeting further reviewed the status of land legalization files in New Obour, El Shorouk, New Sphinx, Sheikh Zayed, 6th of October, and New October cities. A total of 124,651 legalization requests have been submitted, with 90.67% already reviewed, alongside continued implementation of utility and infrastructure projects.

El-Menshawy reaffirmed that the ministry continues implementing a comprehensive strategy based on scientific planning, sound governance, efficient resource management, expanded digital transformation, improved performance across new city authorities, accelerated project delivery, enhanced investment attractiveness, and sustainable urban development.

The minister also highlighted the draft law establishing the Egyptian Real Estate Developers Union, explaining that it aims to regulate Egypt’s rapidly growing real estate market by creating a clear professional and regulatory framework that supports investors while protecting citizens’ rights.

She further pointed to the ministry’s Rapid Response System, which continuously monitors citizens’ complaints through digital platforms and social media, coordinates with relevant authorities, and follows up until issues are resolved, improving public services and citizen satisfaction.

Concluding the meeting, El-Menshawy affirmed that the coming phase will witness accelerated implementation of the political leadership’s directives to achieve the state’s objectives of developing integrated urban communities, improving citizens’ quality of life, and strengthening Egypt’s position as a regional leader in sustainable urban development.