Egypt has launched on Tuesday a national strategy for smart cities, aiming to transform urban challenges into development opportunities and improve citizens' quality of life as part of its Vision 2030 agenda. Dubbed Egyptian Smart Cities Strategy, Minister of Housing Sherif El-Sherbiny said it would begin with the country's new cities, seeks to create more sustainable and equitable urban environments by integrating technology with human-centered design. In his speech, El-Sherbiny stated that the launch marked a new milestone in Egypt's "New Republic" drive. He described smart cities as a strategic choice to turn urban challenges into development opportunities, build more sustainable and equitable environments, and balance economic growth with the protection of natural resources. "Smart cities are not just about digital infrastructure, but about building more humane cities that deliver better services, easier mobility, and healthier, safer environments," El-Sherbiny said at the launch ceremony. The event was attended by Communications Minister Amr Talaat, Local Development Minister and Acting Environment Minister Manal Awad, Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber, Giza Governor Adel El-Naggar, Swiss Ambassador Andreas Baum, and Stephane Guimbert, World Bank's Director for Egypt, Yemen, and Djibouti. The strategy emphasises cross-sector integration to drive comprehensive development and marks what the minister described as "the beginning of a historic transformation" under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's leadership. The government said the new framework is designed to expand investment opportunities, strengthen private sector participation, and support Egypt's transition towards more resilient, sustainable cities. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
