Egypt has unveiled one of the most ambitious urban development projects in its history, a sprawling mixed-use district east of Cairo built around artificial intelligence and designed to function as both a business hub and a showcase for what the country’s next economic chapter could look like.
The project, called The Spine, would cost 1.4 trillion Egyptian pounds, approximately $27 billion, with a paid-up capital vehicle of 69 billion Egyptian pounds structured in partnership with the National Bank of Egypt.
The development has been branded Egypt’s first “cognitive city” as well as the first of its kind in the Middle East. A cognitive city uses AI and data to sense, understand, learn, and respond to conditions in real time, going beyond conventional smart-city sensors to create an AI-enabled operating layer managing energy, mobility, security, and a fully underground logistics network beneath the public realm.
Residents and businesses will interact with the city’s systems through a single app, supported by a centralised command infrastructure.
The project, called The Spine, would cost 1.4 trillion Egyptian pounds, approximately $27 billion, with a paid-up capital vehicle of 69 billion Egyptian pounds structured in partnership with the National Bank of Egypt.
The development has been branded Egypt’s first “cognitive city” as well as the first of its kind in the Middle East. A cognitive city uses AI and data to sense, understand, learn, and respond to conditions in real time, going beyond conventional smart-city sensors to create an AI-enabled operating layer managing energy, mobility, security, and a fully underground logistics network beneath the public realm.
Residents and businesses will interact with the city’s systems through a single app, supported by a centralised command infrastructure.
The project is projected to contribute approximately one per cent of Egypt’s GDP, generate around 818 billion Egyptian pounds in tax revenues, and create 55,000 direct and 100,000 indirect jobs.
Healthcare services will be provided by US-based Houston Methodist, and the development is expected to attract tens of millions of visitors annnually.
Credit: Tech In Africa
Healthcare services will be provided by US-based Houston Methodist, and the development is expected to attract tens of millions of visitors annnually.
Credit: Tech In Africa
