A recent report by the Ministry of Planning revealed development costs for New El Alamein city for the 2016/2017 fiscal year to be estimated at EGP 3 billion, reported Daily News Egypt.

The first phase of the city will cover an area of 8,000 acres and is set to include a tourist spot as part of its downtown area, and the city’s residential area said a source at the Ministry of Planning.

Approved by the Cabinet in February, the infrastructure of the first phase of the project will be implemented by the Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co) and the Société Egyptienne D’entreprises (known previously as Mukhtar Ibrahim).

An estimated EGP 531 billion from the state’s budget was allocated during the current fiscal year to implement development projects and infrastructure such as roads, bridges, electricity, and sanitation.

The primary plan of the first phase of the city incoudes establishing a drinking water desalination plant, as well as developing the Alexandria-Matrouh coastal road, spanning from the 93 km point to the intersection with Wadi Natrun-El Alamein road, all at a cost of EGP 320 million, according to the report.

President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi decreed the creation of  Alamein governorate in 2014, in a bid to boost development efforts in the area, according to Trade Arabia.