Cairo, Egypt – Engineer Sherif El-Shorbagy, the Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, emphasized the significance of the upcoming World Urban Forum (WUF12) as a prime opportunity to promote Egyptian real estate abroad and create genuine investment opportunities within the sector.
During a meeting on Monday with a group of real estate developers, Minister El-Shorbagy discussed their participation in WUF12, which will take place in November in Egypt in collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). He expressed the government’s commitment to showcasing the substantial successes achieved in partnership with the private sector, along with ongoing projects by real estate developers.
The Minister highlighted the chance to present Egypt’s pioneering experience in comprehensive urban development over the past few years, particularly under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s leadership. This includes showcasing state projects, public-private partnerships, and initiatives led by real estate developers.
El-Shorbagy also announced that an expanded ministerial meeting for African housing ministers will be held alongside the forum. This meeting will focus on sharing Egypt’s urban development experience and leveraging the capabilities of Egyptian construction and real estate companies. Additionally, a full week of events leading up to the forum will spotlight Egypt’s achievements in urban development.
The Minister stated that these activities will serve as a launchpad for all stakeholders in the construction and real estate sectors to access Arab and African markets and implement projects for neighboring countries.
Dr. Abdel-Khaleq Ibrahim outlined the main and supplementary activities for WUF12, which is recognized as the leading global platform addressing sustainable urban development. He mentioned that several protocols for cooperation with African nations in urban development are set to be signed during the event.
The Assistant Minister for Technical Affairs urged real estate developers and construction companies to actively participate in the launch of Egypt’s national strategy for smart new cities and the green urbanization roadmap. He also encouraged them to organize field visits to projects stemming from public-private partnerships.
In response, real estate developers expressed their full support for the Egyptian government’s efforts to present this global event in a manner befitting the nation’s status, aiming to showcase the strength of the Egyptian real estate market and open new avenues for development in the Arab and African markets. They extended their gratitude to Minister El-Shorbagy for his significant decisions and efforts to support the real estate sector and its workforce.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Abdel-Khaleq Ibrahim, the Assistant Minister for Technical Affairs, Engineer Amin Ghoneim, Vice President of the New Urban Communities Authority for Urban Development, and other key officials from the ministry.
Notably, Egypt will be the first African country to host the World Urban Forum since its inaugural session in Nairobi, Kenya, and the second Arab nation to do so, following Abu Dhabi’s hosting of the tenth session.
