President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated the long-awaited Capital International Airport and Sphinx International Airport via video conference on June 29, both coming to help to relieve pressure on Cairo’s existing hub, Invest-Gate reports.

The ceremony was attended by Speaker of House of Representatives Ali Abdel Aal and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, where a documentary, titled “Civilized Leap,” was presented to showcase the capital’s historical landmarks, including Baron Palace in Heliopolis, which was also opened by El-Sisi on the sidelines.

The documentary highlighted the importance of developing the Heliopolis district as a vital link to the Ring Road, Ain Sokhna, Suez, Ismalia, and the New Administrative Capital (NAC), noting that phase II of the development project embraced 10 new roads, according to Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady’s recent official statement.

On his part, Madbouly confirmed that the total costs of development projects executed in the past six years are estimated at EGP 4.5 trn, covering all sectors nationwide. Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El Anani unveiled that the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) will be launched in 2021, with 90% of the megaproject complete thus far.

According to the statement, west Cairo’s Sphinx International Airport, which is part of the government’s endeavors to stimulate tourism to Egypt, had opened its doors in 2019 for trial operation, with costs valued at EGP 300 mn. Likewise, NAC’s Capital International Airport was earlier inaugurated under a plan to connect east Cairo, Shorouk City, and Badr City, as well as the Suez Canal cities, spreading over 5,000 square meters.