Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated on October 11 the first phase of the New Administrative Capital, Invest-Gate reports.

The first phase, which spans 40,000 feddan, includes the R3 residential district that comprises 25,400 residential and commercial units, of which 25,000 units, including apartments and villas, are still at different stages of construction.

The phase also comprises a business district, which features 20 buildings including the tallest tower in Africa, scheduled for completion by 2020.

The First phase also includes ministerial buildings, housing 29 ministries, in addition to new headquarters for both the parliament and the cabinet, Head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority Kamel Al-Wazir said during a conference held on the occasion of inaugurating the new phase.

Al-Wazir also revealed that the capital’s new international airport is completed and ready for operation.

Meanwhile, Housing Minister Mostafa Madbouly described the 170,000 feddan new capital, launched in May 2016, as a “fulcrum” between Cairo and the Suez Canal Area Development Project.

The new capital will depend on renewable resources and will comprise 20 residential districts that can accommodate 6.5 mn people, with units available for all social classes, Madbouly added.

The new capital, according to Madbouly, is characterized by a 35-kilometer green river area that makes use of treated wastewater and comprises a number of gardens with restaurants, an amusement park, and an open theatre.

Madbouly also uncovered plans for the construction of a new electric train that starts from Al-Salam City till the new capital as well as a high-speed train connecting Ain El Sokhna with the new capital, 6th of October district, El-Alamein and Alexandria.