We may be nothing close to a fully automated, futuristic city in real life (IRL), but the enthusiasm of African regulators and companies to build “smart cities” is a joy to observe. We might be closer to a real-life Wakanda, but here we are, being indifferent.
After Kenya (Konza), Nigeria (Eko Atlantic), and Rwanda (Kigali Innovation City), Egypt is the latest to announce plans for a smart city project.
Talaat Moustafa Group (TMG), an Egyptian multinational real estate development company that works closely with the government, plans to build “The Spine,” a new smart city east of Cairo valued at EGP 1.4 trillion ($27 billion).
State of play: The project will span 2.4 square kilometres and include more than 160 towers, alongside homes, offices, hotels, and retail spaces. Over 70% of the land is set aside for green areas, a deliberate attempt to design order into a region where rapid urban growth has often outpaced planning.
The development is backed by the National Bank of Egypt (NBE), the country’s largest commercial bank by assets, and is expected to receive special investment zone status, offering tax and regulatory incentives to attract capital.
Between the lines: Egypt is building investment magnets. TMG estimates the project could generate EGP 818 billion ($15.7 billion) in tax revenue and create over 55,000 direct jobs, with another 100,000 indirectly.
It is part of a broader state-backed push to rethink how cities are built and financed in the Middle East. From the UAE-backed Ras El Hekma project to Qatar’s planned tourism hub in Alam Al-Roum, Egypt is leaning heavily on large-scale developments to attract foreign capital, ease pressure on Cairo, and create new economic centres.
Zoom out: The country is aiming to build modern cities that can compete globally, and capital will follow. The harder question is who gets to live in them, and whether these developments evolve into functioning urban centres or simply remain nice-to-have high-end enclaves.