Grace Ashiru
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, was unveiled by Talaat Moustafa Group at an event attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly at the Cabinet headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. Total planned investment exceeds 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. TMG says the master plan was developed over five years in collaboration with international consultancies based in China and Singapore.
The Spine will be built within Madinaty, TMG’s existing 33.6-square-kilometre new town east of Cairo, which already has a substantial resident population and functioning social infrastructure. The development will span 2.4 million square metres, housing 165 residential, commercial, and hospitality towers, with 70 per cent of the land dedicated to green space. It has been designated a special investment zone to attract foreign direct investment.
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 annually
TMG CEO Hisham Talaat Moustafa described The Spine as a significant step forward in smart city development and an invitation to investors to participate in building one of the region’s most important business hubs. Prime Minister Madbouly said the project reinforces investor confidence in Egypt as a stable and capable investment destination, even amid global uncertainty.
