The government has successfully transformed life in Sinai and placed it on the map of comprehensive and sustainable development. It has simultaneously ensured security and stability, eradicated terrorism, and established the foundations for achieving stability in Egypt’s eastern gateway and protecting national security. This connects Sinai to the Nile Valley and Delta.
The state has prioritised the development of North Sinai by formulating strategic plans and utilising effective tools to guarantee the success of development efforts in line with the governorate’s geographical and demographic significance. These efforts include improving infrastructure, implementing national projects, particularly in agriculture and industry, enhancing healthcare and education systems, upgrading housing, and launching social welfare programmes. The aim is to ensure sustainability and optimal use of resources in the land of turquoise.
Over the past ten years, continuous development efforts have been made in various sectors in Sinai, with investments exceeding LE600 billion.
Desalination plant
Among the development projects is the desalination plant in North Sinai. The Skadra 2 plant has a capacity of 5,000 cubic metres per day and employs advanced technologies for water desalination and purification. It provides essential water supplies for the residents of Sheikh Zayed and is planned to also serve suburbs such as Rafah and central Sinai. Another important project is the desalination plant in Arish, which caters to the city’s needs.
Education projects
Concerning education, seven Japanese schools were established for the first time in Sinai and the Canal cities, along with the creation of four applied technological schools, as part of the new education system.
As for higher education, four private universities were established in Sinai, including King Salman International University, Al-Galalah University, East Port Said Private University, and Suez Canal Private University.
Furthermore, six government and private universities were established last year in Sinai and Canal cities. The ongoing development of Al-Arish University includes the establishment of 11 faculties and an increase in the number of students to 12,000, with an additional 3,000 students at the postgraduate level.
Port of Arish
The development of the Port of Al-Arish, costing LE4 billion, encompasses the construction of the Tahya Masr quay (915 metres long) and the Sinai Maritime quay (250 metres long). The development of Bardawil Lake has achieved approximately 85 per cent of the planned works. The goal is to improve water quality and enhance the environmental condition of the lake, while expanding the area available for fishing and increasing its productivity.
Urban development clusters
Meanwhile, the Cabinet has recently approved the implementation of 14 urban development clusters in North Sinai by the Central Agency for Reconstruction. This decision is part of the state’s plan to accelerate the execution of developmental and service projects in the region.
N. Sinai Development Vision
Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli last November unveiled the North Sinai Development Vision, which consists of 302 projects worth LE363 billion until June 2030. He announced this during a press conference in Arish, where he launched the second phase of the government’s development plan for North Sinai.
Madbouli stressed the importance of developing North Sinai to prevent other countries from exploiting it for their own agendas.
The initial phase of the Sinai development plan primarily focused on establishing the necessary infrastructure, such as roads and water desalination plants, to bring about substantial changes in the governorate.
More investments underway
In the same connection, the political leadership has placed the development of Sinai at the top of its priorities, with investments exceeding LE1 trillion. The state aims to inject further investments to develop the peninsula estimated at LE400 billion during the coming period.
The government has carried out a number of ventures to develop Sinai over the past few years in various sectors, including transport, natural gas, electricity, renewable energy, industry, health, education, and water and sanitation, in addition to social protection programmes and enhancing government services.
During the economic and social development plan for 2023-2024, the government has launched numerous projects across various sectors through unprecedented investment directed to develop Sinai.
The government allocated roughly LE11.6 billion in 2023-2024 investment plan to North and South Sinai as part of its strategy to implement various developmental projects in education, health, transportation, and agriculture.
Energy schemes
Renewable energy projects in Sinai and the Canal cities focus on harnessing sustainable energy sources such as solar and wind power. These projects aim to reduce reliance on traditional energy sources, promote environmental sustainability, and enhance energy security in these regions. Through initiatives like solar farms, wind farms, and other renewable energy infrastructure, these areas can tap into their natural resources to generate clean electricity for local communities and contribute to Egypt’s overall renewable energy goals.
Power ventures
Numerous power projects have been implemented with the aim of meeting the needs of the residents and enhancing development in Sinai areas. These projects include the establishment of power generation stations using diverse sources such as natural gas, solar energy, and wind power. Additionally, there’s an expansion of transmission and distribution networks to provide electricity more efficiently and sustainably. These efforts are geared towards enhancing the electricity infrastructure in Sinai and improving the quality of services.
Developing railways
Railway projects in Sinai have been developed to connect various cities and regions with each other, as well as with Cairo and other Egyptian governorates. By enhancing the railway network, transport in the region is improved, which boosts local trade and economy, contributing to the comprehensive development of Sinai.
