Housing has always been a dilemma for successive Egyptian governments. However, since President Abdel Fattah El Sisi assumed office in 2014, roofs over heads have drawn government attention and action has been taken to ensure decent homes for all.
Over the past seven years, the housing sector has witnessed development that could have taken much longer to realise but for tireless efforts and strict follow-up.
Khaled Seddik, head of the Slum Upgrade Fund, has said that Egypt would be declared free of unsafe areas during the next two months, and the development of the provincial capitals would be completed during the next 3 years, stressing that the fund aims to fully develop the citizen’s lifestyle.
Thousands of housing units have been built mainly for lower income groups, not to mention roads, water plants, and sanitary drainage projects.
A recent report submitted to Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Assem el-Gazzar summarises the ministry’s hard work on development projects since 2014.
El-Gazzar said in a comment on the report that his ministry has been working on housing programmes to meet the rising demand in rural and urban areas, and to curb unplanned expansion.
The ministry has been striving to provide suitable accommodation to suit all incomes. Young couple were given priority in all these projects.
Under President Sisi, 502,000 social housing units have been built at a total cost of LE88 billion. Other 156,500, costing LE48 billion, are under construction, the report said.
In the Dar Misr project, work in 50,009 units worth LE16.75 billion have been completed, while 6,000 are being built for LE2.3 billion.
In addition, 25,920 units worth LE6.6 billion have been completed for the Sakan Misr project. Other 33,220 are under construction at an estimated cost of LE10.15 billion.
As for the Janna Project, 8,064 units worth LE3.05 billion have been completed and work is proceeding on other 23,120 worth LE12.33 billion.
In the distinguished housing sector, 7,004 units worth LE4.66 billion are ready. Another 77,740 units are being built at a cost of LE198 billion.
The ministry has also started work on the ‘Housing for All Egyptians’ project in response to President Sisi’s directives to provide suitable units for all citizens as the project allows them to pay for their apartment without any charge for the plot of land on which it stands, el-Gazzar said.
The report went on to government efforts to develop shanty towns, an issue that had been swept under the carpet for decades.
Up to 195,275 housing units have been built in 316 unsafe areas for LE23.9 billion. Work is underway on other 50,778 units in 41 areas at an estimated LE15.7 billion.
Meanwhile, work is progressing around the clock in the housing and utilities projects in 21 new cities with total costs of LE160 million, el-Gazzar said.
In addition, 21 fourth-generation cities are being carried out after their locations were selected close to the promising development areas.
The future of urban development in the medium and long terms means leaving the narrow Nile valley and expanding urban areas in the desert, el-Gazzar said.
Fourth generation cities under construction include thousands of units in some districts of the New Administrative Capital (NAC).
The report also highlighted the beach tower blocks in the northwest of New Alamein City, where 15 have already been accomplished in the first phase. The second phase comprises eight towers.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Housing has worked hard on drinking water supplies and sanitation services over the past seven years.
Sanitation services coverage hit 96 per cent in cities and 40 per cent in rural areas, compared to only 12 per cent in 2014.
Desalination works have been on the rise in coastal areas over the past seven years to make utmost use of the available water resources by developing 76 existing plants with total daily capacity of 831,69 cubic metres. Another 14 plants are under construction with capacity of 476 cubic metres per day at a cost of LE9.71 billion.
The plants, which form part of an overall desalination plan for the period 2020-2050, cover the governorates of North and South Sinai, the Red Sea, Mersa Matrouh, Ismailia, Suez, Dakahlia and Port Said.
In addition, 54 sewage treatment projects have been completed in areas close to the River Nile in Upper Egypt, 17 tertiary ones and 37 secondary to protect the river form pollution, and re-cycling treated water.
Also, five secondary treatment plants have been upgraded and converted into tertiary ones. Work is on in another three. Costs of the eight plants, whose total capacity hits 320,005 cubic metres per day, hit LE1.8 billion.
Similarly, up to 279 water projects, with total capacity of 11 million cubic metres per day, have been finished since 2024 at a total cost of LE61.4 billion, to serve 60 million Egyptians. Another 98 are underway with total capacity of 2.3 million cubic metres daily and costing LE16.3 billion.
Under President Sisi, 502,000 social housing units have been built at a total cost of LE88 billion. Other 156,500, costing LE48 billion, are under construction, the report said.