The Egyptian Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities has been awarded the prestigious Arab Housing and Urban Development Award for the “Rod El-Farag” development project. In a statement today, the Ministry highlighted the six months of preparation involved in submitting the project for the award. Led by Assistant Minister for Technical Affairs, Dr. Abdelkhalek Ibrahim, the submission was prepared by a team that included Jihad Hashem, Heba Allah Gamal, and Mustafa Abdel-Latif, with coordination between the Ministry and the Arab Housing Ministers’ Technical Secretariat.
Jihad Hashem, the head of the housing sector, noted that Egypt had previously won this award for notable projects such as the Desert Hinterland Villages in Assiut, Future Housing, and most recently, the Architect Award for the “House of the Family” project.
Dr. Abdelkhalek Ibrahim emphasized that the “Rod El-Farag” project was Egypt’s first comprehensive development of an entire neighborhood on-site. Residents were temporarily relocated during construction, with the government covering rental costs, and they returned to newly-built homes upon completion. The project integrates a traditional Islamic architectural style in keeping with the historic significance of the surrounding areas, including Sayeda Zeinab and Fustat.
He further highlighted Egypt’s pioneering efforts in improving unsafe areas, noting that the country has successfully enhanced the quality of life for nearly two million citizens across 357 unsafe regions by constructing around 300,000 housing units. This initiative places Egypt at the forefront of global urban development efforts aimed at transforming informal settlements into sustainable living environments.