Egypt announces plan to redevelop 82 villages and 18 cities this year

Egypt’s Ministry of Planning and Local Development announced a redevelopment plan for 82 villages and 18 cities, to curb the spread of unofficial settlements and reduce migration from the country’s rural provinces to its urban centres.

The ministry will partner with the Armed Forces’ Engineering Authority to introduce the redevelopment.

The plan, announced by the ministry on Wednesday night, aims to provide adequate housing for residents of particularly underdeveloped areas of the country, increase job opportunities in those areas and encourage real estate investment.

It also intends to organise and regulate construction activities in the included areas as well as allocating which land can be built on and which must be left empty for agricultural use.

Illegal construction on viable agricultural land is a common occurrence in Egypt.

The government launched a widespread crackdown a few years ago that resulted in steep fines being levied against offenders and the demolition of more than 6,000 structures by the military in 2020.