The government estimated that the investment required to develop New El Alamein city in fiscal year (FY) 2016/17 would amount to EGP 3bn, according to a recent report by the Ministry of Planning on the development of the north-western coast project.

The ministry is currently preparing the general plan of the first phase of the city on 8,000 feddans. This first phase will include the tourist area, part of the downtown area, and the city’s residential area, according to a source at the Ministry of Planning.

The implementation of the first phase’s infrastructure was assigned to the Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co) and the Société Egyptienne D’entreprises (known previously as Mukhtar Ibrahim). This was approved by the cabinet in February.

The government allocated EGP 531bn from the state budget and government investment during the current fiscal year to implement development projects and infrastructure such as roads, bridges, electricity, and sanitation.

According to the report issued by the Ministry of Planning, which was then broadcast on TV on Friday evening, the ministry will outline the first primary plan of the first phase and establish a drinking water desalination plant, as well as developing the Alexandria-Matrouh coastal road from the 93km point up to intersection with Wadi Natrun-El Alamein road at a cost of EGP 320m.

Former president Adly Mansour issued a presidential decree back in May 2014 approving the re-allocation of EGP 88,000 and 585 feddans of state-owned land to the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA), to be used in the creation of a new urban community at El Alamein city.