Egypt’s Housing Minister outlines new cities, PPP expansion as top investment opportunities at BEBA UK mission
Egypt is positioning public-private partnerships, large housing programmes, and some flagship cities as the most immediate investment opportunities in its urban development strategy, Minister of Housing Randa El-Menshawy said on Thursday.
Speaking at the British Egyptian Business Association (BEBA) UK Business Mission in London, El-Menshawy said: “the most 3 or 4 projects that you see are the most valued by investors, to start coming and invest in Egypt.”
She said private-sector participation is already expanding across infrastructure and utilities, including industrial zones, asset management, and water-related projects.
“Private partners are now involved in managing electricity substations in new cities such as New Alamein,” she said, adding that similar cooperation models are being developed for desalination projects.
El-Menshawy said private companies have participated in more than 400 water and sanitation projects, underscoring the scale of existing engagement.
She said real estate developers are currently involved in about 70,000 housing units across roughly 115 projects, as part of wider government housing initiatives.
She added that Egypt’s total housing programme targets around 2 million units across all income groups, alongside rural development schemes such as “Haya Karima.”
El-Menshawy said the most developed and investment-ready cities include the New Capital, New Alamein, and New Mansoura, which she said are either completed or nearing completion and ready for investment.
She described these projects as medium-term opportunities for investors.
She then outlined Egypt’s urban development programme, which began in 1977 with a first generation of new cities, including 6th of October, 10th of Ramadan, and 15th of May.
A second wave followed in 1988, including New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed, Badr, and Obour, followed by later generations that expanded the programme to about 39 cities in total.