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Ras El-Hekma

Marsa Matruh, Egypt

2024 - Ongoing

CoastLarge Urban ProjectMixed UseNew City

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Project Description

Approach Words: Attractive City, Comprehensive Planning, Urban Livability

Public Policy Instruments: Financial Mechanism, Organization, Physical Intervention, Planning, Regulatory

The Ras El-Hekma development project is a joint development venture between Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to build a new state-of-the-art city in Ras al-Hikma peninsula west of Alexandria, between Marsa Matrouh and New Alamein city.¹ It represents the largest investment deal in Egypt’s history, with a total projected investment of $150 billion during the development phase.² This new project is part of Egypt’s 2052 Urban Development Plan for the country’s Northwestern Coastal Region,³ ⁱ and in line with the Western North Coast Development Project.⁴ ⁱⁱ

Title: Map Shows Location of Ras Al Hekma Area in Relation to Other Areas of the North Coast in Egypt.

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Title: UN-Habitat’s Master Plan for Ras El-Hekmah Waterfront New City.

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Title: UN-Habitat’s Rendered Master Plan for Ras El-Hekmah Waterfront New City.

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Title: Map Shows the High-speed Train Line of El Ain El Sokhna – Ras El Hakma, Marsa Matrouh (Greenline).

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Title: Map Shows Location of Ras Al Hekma Area in Relation to Other Areas of the North Coast in Egypt.

Source: Click Here

Title: UN-Habitat’s Master Plan for Ras El-Hekmah Waterfront New City.

Source: Click Here

Title: UN-Habitat’s Rendered Master Plan for Ras El-Hekmah Waterfront New City.

Source: Click Here

Title: Map Shows the High-speed Train Line of El Ain El Sokhna – Ras El Hakma, Marsa Matrouh (Greenline).

Source: Click Here

Covering an area of over 170 square kilometers, Ras El Hekma is set to include residential districts, prestigious international hotels, tourist resorts, expansive entertainment venues, and essential service facilities such as hospitals, schools, and universities.⁵ Additionally, it will feature a free economic zone for information technology industries and logistics hubs, a central business district to attract global companies, and a large marina for tourist yachts and ships.⁶ An international airport south of the city is also planned, with the Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company developing the airport and Egypt receiving a share of its revenues.⁷ The new city to attract 8 million tourists to Egypt upon completion.⁸ The city will benefit from the new Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant as a source of renewable energy.⁹ ¹⁰ ⁱⁱⁱ

Notably, the area was previously subject to a study with UN-Habitat and the General Organization for Physical Planning and New Urban Communities (GOPP) in 2018, to develop the conceptual plan for the New Ras El-Hekma Waterfront New City in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the SDGs key performance indicators as well as the New Urban Agenda’s principle to “leave no one behind”.¹¹ ^iv

Owner/Developer (Public)

New Urban Communities Authority ¹⁶

Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company ¹⁷

Consultant/Designer

CallisonRTKL ¹⁸

Distance Studio Consultants ¹⁹

UN Habitat ²⁰

Funder

Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company ²¹

Owner/Developer (Public)

New Urban Communities Authority ¹⁶

Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company ¹⁷

Funder

Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company ²¹

Consultant/Designer

CallisonRTKL ¹⁸

Distance Studio Consultants ¹⁹

UN Habitat ²⁰

The ongoing project is a collaboration between the Egyptian New Urban Communities Authority and the Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company, with Egypt to receive $34 billion in two installments from the UAE within two months, in addition to a 35 percent share of the project’s profits throughout its implementation.¹² This substantial influx of foreign currency due to the project will address the crisis and help eliminate the disparity in foreign currency prices within the Egyptian market. The investment deal was signed on 34 February 2024.¹³ Distance Studio Consultants (DSC) in collaboration with Callison RTKL were awarded the development of 231 square kilometers of the site,¹⁴ designed in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and UN Habitat.¹⁵