New Administrative Capital of Egypt

New Administrative Capital is the current official name for the new capital of Egypt, 45 km (28 mi) east of Cairo in Lower Egypt. The city will reportedly be named Wedian, the plural form of wadi which means dry riverbed.

Understand

Under construction since 2015, phase one of the new city is being built at breakneck speed. By 2050, the city is expected to house 6½ million people.

Get in

By plane

For the foreseeable future, the main international gateway is Cairo International Airport, in eastern Cairo. A new dedicated airport was finished in 2020, however as of 2024 there are very limited commercial flights.

• 1 Capital International Airport (مطار العاصمة الدولي). CCE  ^IATA (updated Jan 2021)

By train

The New Administrative Capital is connected with a regional passenger service from Adly Mansour station in Eastern Cairo, where connections can be made to metro. Notice that the first part of the journey on the LRT goes through multiple military areas, to avoid getting in trouble it is recommended not to take pictures of these areas. Another public transport line is under construction which will link downtown Cairo with the New Administrative Capital via New Cairo, also in Eastern Cairo.

Additionally, the new high-speed line connecting El Alamein at the Mediterranean and Ain Sokhna at the Red Sea coast, bypassing central Cairo, will have a station in the New Administrative Capital.

• 2 Arts and Culture City LRT railway station (مدينة الفنون والثقافة). The main station within the New Administrative Capital. Near museums, the opera house and government offices. From Sadat, take metro to Attaba, then Metro line 3 to Adly mansour (LE 10 each way) and finally LRT for LE 20 each way. (Metro tickets are not valid on the LRT.) At Adly Mansour, exit into the main station hall; do not get out where the metal detector is, go out on the other side you will find the ticket office for the LRT, the train will depart on your right. (updated Nov 2023)
• 3 New Administrative Capital High-speed railway station. This is where high-speed trains between El Alamein and Ain Sokhna will call. (updated Sep 2022)

By car

The new city is along the regional ring road. From central Cairo, the shortest route is to use highway 50 towards Suez, and then turn onto the regional ring road. However, traffic in and out from Cairo can be nightmarish to navigate.

By bus

A regional bus network is under construction and is expected to launch in 2022-23.

• 4 New Administrative Capital central bus station. (updated Aug 2021)

Get around

As of 2024, there is no public transport system in place. Driving, using taxis or ride share services is the best option for getting around.

See

Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ, one of the largest churches in the world.

• 1 Egyptian Capitals Museum (متحف عواصم مصر). This museum narrates the history of the many different Egyptian capitals. (updated Aug 2024)
• 2 Al-Fattah Al-Aleem Mosque (مَسجِد الفَتّاح العَليم). Newly-built, one of the largest mosques in the world. (updated Jul 2020)
• 3 Great Mosque of Egypt (مسجد مصر الكبير). The new, enormous, central mosque within the city. Expected to be completed during 2021. (updated Jul 2020)
• 4 Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ. The largest church in the Middle East, and the largest Oriental Orthodox church in the world. (updated Jun 2022)
• 5 Green River Park. Set to become a river-like series of large-scale urban parks. (updated Dec 2020)
• 6 Iconic Tower. Set to be completed in 2024, this is Africa's highest building at 394 meters. (updated Apr 2023)

Do

• 1 New Opera. Newly constructed and operating as of fall 2021. (updated Jul 2020)

Eat

Sleep

Mid-range

• 1 Tolip Hotel Olympic International City (فندق توليب أولمبيك إنترناشونال سيتي). (updated Aug 2024)

Splurge

• 2 The St. Regis Almasa, +20 2 46111000. (updated Jul 2020)