Eng. Sherif El Sherbini, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, announced the launch of Egypt’s National Strategy for Urban Development and Green Building during an official ceremony attended by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population; Mr. Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation; Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment; Justice Adnan Fangari, Minister of Justice; Dr. Ahmed Hanno, Minister of Culture; Eng. Mohamed El Shimi, Minister of Public Business Sector; Dr. Ibrahim Saber, Governor of Cairo; Eng. Adel El Naggar, Governor of Giza; along with senior government officials and representatives of national institutions concerned with sustainable urban development, Invest-Gate reports.

El Sherbini stated that the launch marks a major national milestone, as the strategy represents one of the core pillars of Egypt’s green transformation and the state’s shift toward sustainable planning and construction, in line with presidential directives. He emphasized that it extends Egypt’s ongoing efforts to achieve sustainable development and enhance quality of life across cities through integrated urban policies balancing growth and environmental protection.

He noted that the world is facing unprecedented environmental, climatic, and socio-economic challenges, making it essential to adopt a new mindset in city planning and resource management. With increasing urbanization and demand for housing, Egypt must advance toward an urban model that optimizes energy and water use, reduces carbon emissions, and ensures a high quality of life for current and future generations.

The minister highlighted the unwavering support of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, stressing that green transformation is now a strategic national priority that strengthens Egypt’s competitiveness and global alignment with low-carbon development.

El Sherbini added that green construction is no longer merely an environmental trend but a key driver of efficient, sustainable development. Applying green building standards, he said, yields tangible economic benefits by reducing operating and maintenance costs, cutting water consumption by up to 33%, and energy use by up to 40%, while improving resource efficiency and user well-being.

The strategy was developed through a participatory approach involving government bodies, the private sector, civil society, and experts to ensure policy alignment and coordination. It focuses on enhancing resource efficiency, promoting renewable energy, expanding green finance incentives, developing climate-resilient urban models, and fostering innovation in sustainable building technologies.

The ministry has also restructured Egypt Green Building Council and created dedicated units for monitoring and sustainable city planning to ensure effective implementation.

El Sherbini concluded that the strategy’s launch marks the beginning of a national journey toward smart, green cities that value people, respect the environment, and embody Egypt’s vision for sustainable, equitable urban growth.