Ahl Misr Nile Walkway

The Ahl Misr Nile Walkway (lit. ‘Walkway of the People of Egypt’) is a riverfront revitalization project in Greater Cairo Governorate¹ The project is a promenade along the Nile equipped with multiple services and facilities, set to become a major recreational and touristic landmark². The project aligns with Egypt’s Vision 2030 ⁱ, aiming to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors alike by offering close-up experiences of the Nile. It also aims to increase greenery and improve the urban landscape along the Nile^3.

To implement these objectives, a plan from four phases of the riverfront development was proposed, extending along an 8 km long segment of the Nile Corniche⁴

• First Phase: Includes a two-level promenade extending along a 1.8 kilometers stretch, from 15^th of May Bridge to the October Bridge, equipped with multiple services and facilities, with 19 buildings including 62 shops, 5 cafeterias, and 5 restaurants, a theater and three garages⁵;
• Second Phase: Comprises two sections, the first extends between Imbaba bridge and Al-Sahel bridge (1.3 km) and the second between Qasr El-Nile bridge and 15 May Bridge (1.9 km). These sections are equipped with 19 new buildings divided into a floating restaurant, 3 cafeterias and 63 shops, in addition to service buildings and theatres⁶;
• Third Phase: Extend from Tahya Misr Bridge to Sahel Bridge (1.9 km), and from Qasr Al-Nil Bridge to Meridian Bridge (1.1 km)^7;
• Fourth Phase: The government is in the process of designing a fourth project phase in Zamalek⁸

Here, the walkway’s commercial, recreational, and touristic activities strive to attract investments and enhance Cairo’s urban landscape, creating jobs in hospitality, recreation, and across commercial and construction industries⁹. The social activities aspire to promote a vibrant community experience¹⁰. Environmentally, the project includes dedicated bicycle lanes to encourage sports and reduce traffic congestion, and more than 3,100 square meters of green areas¹¹. As such, the walkway will be a leading destination for visitors and locals residents alike.

The project was initiated in 2019 by Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and developed by Egyptian joint stock company City Edge Developments, under the supervision of Egypt’s Ministry of Housing’s New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA)^12. The company has specified a master plan for the project, supervised by the Armed Forces Engineering Authority¹³.

The first phase of the project was implemented by Arab Contractors with a total cost of EGP 585 million (about $37.2 million) and opened in December 2022¹⁴. Council Masters company was hired to manage this phase. Meanwhile, as of 2023, the second phase is almost complete, with an investment of almost EGP 800 million. EDECS construction company is responsible for implementation, and Council Masters with the project management¹⁵. Phases three and four have been under implementation, with no specific timelines yet announced¹⁶.