Egypt has announced plans to build a striking new desert city powered by diverted water from the Nile River, aiming to transform arid land into a thriving urban and agricultural hub.
The project will redirect about seven percent of Egypt’s annual Nile water quota from the fertile delta to irrigate the city and an extensive farming initiative. This bold move reflects the country’s urgent need to address water scarcity, energy shortages, and a worsening economic crisis.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly described the venture as a “non-traditional, innovative” strategy designed to increase state asset value and boost land prices, injecting fresh vitality into Egypt’s real estate market.
Named Jirian city, the development spans nearly 6.8 million square meters—roughly 2.63 square miles—located 42 kilometers west of Cairo’s center. It will receive approximately 10 million cubic meters of Nile water daily, supporting both residential life and a massive New Delta agricultural project covering 2.28 million acres.
The plan includes upscale glass-fronted housing, commercial districts, a yacht marina, and a free economic zone, blending luxury with strategic economic growth. The city aims to attract investment while addressing pressing environmental and social challenges.
Three private developers have formalized agreements alongside Mostakbal Misr for Sustainable Development, a state agency linked to the military, underscoring the project’s national significance and institutional backing.
As Egypt confronts the twin pressures of climate change and economic uncertainty, this ambitious desert city embodies a daring vision to reshape the future by harnessing the life-giving Nile in unprecedented ways.