Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, Engineer Sherif El-Sherbiny, announced the launch of Egypt’s National Smart Cities Strategy during the third day of the World Urban Forum. In a press conference, El-Sherbiny highlighted the strategy’s goal to modernize previous generations of new cities, improve existing urban areas, and develop future cities with an emphasis on sustainability and digital transformation. “Today marks the beginning of more future partnerships to create sustainable urban cities,” he stated.
The Minister explained that Egypt’s smart cities are meticulously planned, interconnected, and collaborative urban areas that aim to enhance quality of life by applying sustainable practices, building economic, social, and environmental resilience, and leveraging knowledge, innovation, digitalization, and technology in all aspects of urban life.
Smart cities in Egypt offer an improved standard of living for all, fostering economic prosperity, attracting investments and talents, and promoting environmental balance and sustainability. The National Smart Cities Strategy bolsters Egypt’s capacity to address rapid urban challenges and establishes a foundation for sustainable development, strengthening the national economy and enhancing living standards. This positions Egypt as a competitive force in a technology-driven and innovation-focused global environment.
The strategy is pivotal for achieving sustainable development and comprehensive digital transformation. It aims to enhance technological infrastructure and develop smart services across sectors such as healthcare, education, transportation, and energy. These improvements are designed to ensure efficient resource management and meet citizens’ needs in modern, sustainable ways.
El-Sherbiny added that smart cities also boost the national economy by encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, especially in technology, energy, and logistics. This approach stimulates economic growth, creates new job opportunities, attracts foreign investments, and contributes to an overall improvement in quality of life.
The cities provide citizens with more efficient and convenient services, including smart education, remote healthcare, and streamlined transportation. These features enhance individual well-being and contribute to community development. Environmentally, smart cities also support sustainability goals by reducing carbon emissions and managing resources efficiently through renewable energy use and intelligent transport systems. This approach preserves the environment and mitigates pollution.
Furthermore, the National Smart Cities Strategy enhances governance and transparency by integrating digital management systems. These systems improve government efficiency, promote transparency, and facilitate communication between the government and citizens, allowing for prompt responses to requests and complaints.