Egypt completes detailed urban plans for two North Sinai cities

Egypt's Minister of Local Development and Environment, Manal Awad, announced on Friday that detailed urban plans for the cities of Nakhl and El-Hasana in North Sinai Governorate have been completed, with the frameworks intended to regulate urban expansion, optimise land use and identify future requirements for roads, infrastructure and public services.

The initiative forms part of state efforts to improve public services and advance development across the Sinai Peninsula, in line with directives from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Under the new plan, the designated urban area of Nakhl will expand from 369 to 1,251 feddans by 2037. The framework is designed to accommodate projected population and urban growth while identifying sites for the activities and services needed to meet future demand. The detailed plan for El-Hasana covers 403 feddans and sets out land-use allocations, traffic circulation routes and road networks to guide development and support orderly urban expansion.

Awad said the completion of the plans marks an important step towards improving urban planning in both cities by clearly defining land uses and identifying requirements for roads and public services, adding that the measures would contribute to higher living standards and a more organised and sustainable urban environment for residents.

She noted that detailed urban plans are essential tools for managing urban growth, as they designate residential, commercial, service and industrial zones and establish primary and secondary road networks, helping to curb unplanned expansion and unauthorised construction.

The ministry, she said, will continue coordinating with relevant authorities and the North Sinai Governorate to advance local planning and development, taking environmental and urban planning standards into account while strengthening essential services and infrastructure and supporting economic growth and job opportunities for local communities.