Egypt Unveils Plans for New Desert City ‘Jirian’ as Part of Latest Megaproject

In a bold move to reshape its economic and ecological future, Egypt on Sunday unveiled Jirian, a futuristic city rising from the sands west of Cairo. One that will be carved by an artificial branch of the River Nile and framed as the beating heart of Egypt’s agricultural resurgence.

Part of the broader Nile Delta initiative, the Jirian project aims to reclaim 2.5 million acres of arid land to boost domestic food production, especially vital staples like wheat and corn, and reduce dependency on costly imports. Government officials say Jirian alone could house 3 million families and create 250,000 jobs, transforming not just desert into farmland — but Egypt’s economic map itself.

Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli called it “an urban and development revolution,” envisioning Jirian as a multi-sectoral hub with industrial, residential, educational, and cultural zones — all orbiting a 1,680-acre expanse, nearly 20% of which will be water-fed by a man-made Nile channel. That canal won’t just irrigate fields — it’s set to become a symbolic and visual centerpiece, flanked by 80-storey towers, eco-hotels, global universities, and a media district.

Situated close to iconic landmarks like the Giza Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, and the Sphinx International Airport, the city positions itself as a magnet for both investment and tourism.

Construction began quietly five months ago and is expected to wrap within five years, powered by a consortium of three major domestic developers. Yet, key details — like total costs — remain undisclosed, raising eyebrows amid Egypt’s ballooning debt crisis. The country’s foreign debt quadrupled since 2015, reaching $155.2 billion by the close of 2024.

And looming over the entire Nile-centric endeavor is the unresolved geopolitical tension with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Egypt, which depends on the Nile for 97% of its freshwater, fears GERD could restrict water flow — a concern that makes projects like Jirian both a statement of self-reliance and a hedge against uncertain waters ahead.

As financial pressures mount and climate realities bite deeper, Jirian represents more than urban ambition — it is Cairo’s declaration that Egypt will not wait to be saved. It will build its own river, if need be.