In March 2015, then Housing Minister and current Prime Minister of Egypt, announced a large scale project that would see the building of a new capital in Egypt. Government officials are expected to move into the unnamed capital in June 2019.

Foreign embassies are also encouraged to relocate, and businesses will be lured to a central business district of 20 Chinese-built skyscrapers as the old capital will be left with vast unoccupied space.

During a visit to the site last October, journalists were invited to view the construction of Egypt’s largest church, a new cabinet building, and stood looking at a stagnant future ornamental pool as a pair of fighter jets conducted a ceremonial flyover.