Egypt on Sunday, June 1, announced plans for a massive new city named Jirian, set to rise from the desert west of Cairo, where a man-made branch of the River Nile will eventually flow through a sprawling urban landscape. The development is a key part of Egypt’s wider Nile Delta initiative, which aims to reclaim 2.5 million acres of land for agriculture and address the country’s food security challenges.
The Jirian project forms the urban core of this agricultural expansion, which began in 2021 with the goal of increasing production of essential crops such as wheat and corn, while also cutting reliance on food imports. Officials say the development will generate around 250,000 jobs and provide housing for up to 3 million families.
Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli described the project as “an urban and development revolution” during the launch event on Sunday, stating that the new city would serve as the heart of a development zone equivalent in size to four to five of Egypt’s governorates. The project will incorporate industrial zones, logistics hubs, educational and healthcare institutions, as well as high-end residential areas.
Developers revealed that the planned artificial Nile channel will stretch across Jirian’s 1,680-acre layout, occupying about a fifth of the area. It will serve both as an irrigation source and a visual centrepiece, enhancing the appeal of the city. The area will also feature 80-storey skyscrapers, an eco-friendly hotel, international universities, commercial spaces, and a cultural and media district.
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