Mohamed Moussa and Ayman Roshdy
Cairo has topped the list of Africa’s most influential cities in infrastructure, transportation, and financing mechanisms for 2025, according to a report issued by French magazine Jeune Afrique in co-operation with Sagaci Research, a firm specialising in African market studies.
The ranking crowns the state’s efforts to develop the capital in line with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s directives, Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber said.
Large-scale national and development projects implemented since President Abdel Fattah El Sisi assumed office have aimed primarily at improving quality of life for citizens, achieving Egypt Vision 2030, and positioning Cairo to compete for international awards, Saber added.
The announcement was first made by Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment Manal Awad, who said the achievement reflects the comprehensive development transformations Egypt has witnessed in recent years.
Awad explained that Cairo ranked first among 30 African cities in 2025, rising from 8th place the previous year, highlighting significant progress in urban development, infrastructure, transport, quality of life, and a more investment-friendly legislative environment.
The report was based on field surveys conducted in October 2025 involving more than 41,000 participants across Africa, assessing quality of life, infrastructure and transport, and access to basic services, alongside analysis of foreign direct investment flows between 2020 and 2023.
Awad said Cairo’s strengths include its ability to absorb population growth through new cities, led by the New Administrative Capital, which has attracted investments worth around $60 billion.
Cairo also remained Africa’s leading destination for foreign direct investment, totalling $11.3 billion between 2019 and 2023, reflecting strong investor confidence in Egypt’s economy.
