A grandiose plan to create the “Jirian City”, a new 6.8 million square meter residential and agricultural entity in the desert 42 kilometers west of Cairo, was unveiled on Sunday by the government of Egypt. The unique aspect about this particular plan is that it envisions diverting about 7% of the annual amount of water Egypt draws from the Nile, with the aim of irrigation and boosting land value through innovative development practices.

The city will be hydrologically connected to the “New Delta” project, an agricultural initiative covering 2.28 million acres, while 10 million cubic meters of water from the Nile will be diverted daily to the desert for irrigation and urban use.

Multifamily housing, free trade zone and… marina

The ambitious plan, announced by Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Mandbuli, includes high-end housing, commercial areas, a yacht marina and a free trade zone. The goal, he said, is to “increase the value of state assets and land prices”through “non-traditional, innovative ideas.”

The state side is represented by Mostakbal Misr for Sustainable Development, an organisation linked to the country’s armed forces, while the development involves three private investors who signed the agreement.

🌇Egypt's bold vision unveiled: Jirian City, a futuristic hub in the Nile Delta, set to transform 1,680 acres with skyscrapers, eco-hotels, and universities.

🎯The aim is to house millions, create 250,000 jobs, and boost food security. pic.twitter.com/qEqfOX6BCL

— Sputnik Africa (@sputnik_africa) June 2, 2025

Pressure on natural resources amid crisis

The project is part of a broader effort by Egypt to address a number of serious challenges: a growing water shortage, limited energy resources and a deep economic crisis. Critics express reservations about the choice to transfer precious water from the fertile Nile Valley to urban and business projects in the desert, at a time when large parts of the country are already facing water supply problems.

However, the government is attempting to present the project as a strategic investment for the future, combining development, agricultural production and the use of state land in times of intense economic pressure.

Attitudinal ambitions beyond Cairo traffic congestion

The vision for Jirian City is progressing alongside the construction of Egypt’s new $58 billion administrative center, located east of Cairo, as part of the government’s broader effort to reduce traffic congestion in the capital and transform the country’s urban landscape through ambitious infrastructure and real estate projects.

Earlier this year, Egyptian billionaire Naghib Saviris called for a reassessment of the country’s major development projects, highlighting its heavy dependence on foreign currencies and the economic pressure they impose.