On Monday, October 7, 2024, Egypt’s Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, Engineer Sherif El-Sherbiny, announced the country’s celebration of Arab Housing Day. This year’s theme, “Enhancing the Principle of Partnership and Transparency in Urban Planning,” coincides with World Habitat Day and underscores the fundamental right to housing. The event also highlights the critical role of governments in ensuring this right through effective policies and ambitious plans.
Minister El-Sherbiny emphasized Egypt’s remarkable urban development progress over the past decade, achieved through the implementation of the national strategic urban development plan, “Egypt 2052,” spearheaded by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The country has expanded its partnerships with the private sector, facilitating the execution of numerous projects with investments exceeding EGP 1 trillion, creating tens of thousands of jobs.
Despite global economic challenges and rising construction costs, the minister pointed out that Egypt has made significant progress in its housing projects, including the Social Housing Project and the presidential initiative, “Housing for All Egyptians,” aimed at providing suitable homes for citizens across various income levels.
El-Sherbiny also highlighted the progress of the “Decent Life” presidential initiative, which is steadily achieving its developmental goals in transforming Egypt’s rural areas. He confirmed that the ministry is committed to sustainable housing projects, adopting green building standards.
Additionally, the minister underscored Egypt’s strategic and regional leadership, as demonstrated by its upcoming hosting of the 12th World Urban Forum in November 2024, in collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). This marks Egypt as the first African country to host the forum in 20 years, providing an opportunity to showcase its urban development success and address global housing challenges.