Egypt will open its East Nile monorail in November 2025, part of a multibillion-dollar effort to modernise transport links in the Greater Cairo area and ease congestion in one of the region's most crowded capitals, the presidency said Monday. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi reviewed progress on the project with senior officials, who said the line is designed to connect with the planned bus rapid transit system and upgraded road networks. The monorail is a cornerstone of Cairo's long-term urban expansion, aimed at integrating the capital with satellite cities and the New Administrative Capital. The project is being developed under a €2.7 billion contract awarded in 2019 to a consortium led by Alstom, alongside Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors. It covers two lines: a 57-kilometre route linking the New Administrative Capital with East Cairo, and a 42-kilometre line connecting West Cairo with Giza. Originally led by Bombardier Transportation, the contract shifted to Alstom after its 2020 acquisition of Bombardier, giving the French company responsibility for a 30-year design, build, operate and maintain agreement. Egypt is betting heavily on mass transit to support new housing, reduce traffic bottlenecks and cut fuel use, with the monorail seen as key to drawing investment and improving productivity in Cairo's metropolitan economy. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
