Egypt’s civil servants will start move to new capital next month
NAC spokesman says 98 per cent of the work in the city’s government district has been completed
Egypt’s government will begin its move to the country’s New Administrative Capital in December, presidential officials have said.
Once the finishing touches are added to the yet-to-benamed city’s government district, the nation’s civil servants will begin a sixmonth trial phase in the new premises, officials said on Wednesday.
Though construction on the $45-billion city was slowed by the Covid-19 pandemic, 98 per cent of the work in the city’s government district has been completed, NAC spokesman Khaled Husseiny told The National.
Comprising 34 government buildings – housing the 32 ministries of the nation’s Cabinet along with two other state authorities – the government district has been designed in a pharaonic style and is set to be the new capital’s focal point.
Mr Husseiny said the relocation of civil servants to the NAC will be staggered.
“While we expect all ministries to move a number of their employees to their new premises in the new capital in December, many will also remain in Cairo until colleagues are settled in,” he said.
The government’s move to the new capital was scheduled for early this year. However, after being postponed until July because of the pandemic, it was delayed again until the end of the year, amid unforeseen hold-ups with construction.
The new city is set to include a number of high-tech features, including solar panels on every roof and high levels of surveillance.
When complete, it will house six million people, though expansions could increase that to seven million.
The business district centrepiece will be Iconic Tower, which at 385.8 metres will be the tallest building in Africa.