The Egyptian government has sanctioned the establishment of the private investment zone “The Spine” within Madinaty, located in New Cairo. This initiative, valued at approximately $27.4 billion, encompasses the construction of 165 residential, office, and hotel towers. The developer promotes it as Egypt’s and the Middle East’s premier large-scale “cognitive city,” leveraging artificial intelligence extensively for its infrastructure management, as reported by Open4business.
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About the Project
Approximately 2.1 million square meters of land within the existing Madinaty project is designated for development. In addition to housing, offices, and hotels, the area will feature commercial, entertainment, tourism, medical, and other essential facilities.
Orion Urban Development, a subsidiary of Talaat Moustafa Group Holding (TMG), one of Egypt’s leading developers, has secured the rights to establish and develop this investment zone. Earlier in April, the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) in Egypt approved the creation of the country’s first private investment zone of this nature for the project.
The total investment in The Spine is projected to exceed $27.4 billion, with a paid-in capital of around $1.35 billion. The National Bank of Egypt is participating as a partner for TMG. The developer anticipates that the project’s realization will generate 55,000 direct and approximately 100,000 indirect employment opportunities.
Hisham Talaat Moustafa, the Chairman of TMG, estimates The Spine’s potential contribution to Egypt’s GDP at roughly 1%, and the total tax revenues over its operational lifespan at approximately $16 billion. The company also aims to attract international corporations, tourists, and business visitors to the area. These figures represent the developer’s own projections.
A key characteristic of The Spine will be the extensive digitalization of its urban infrastructure. TMG has announced the implementation of artificial intelligence and self-learning technologies for managing city services. The project also includes an underground logistics and road network, intended to free up a significant portion of the surface area from vehicular traffic.
Around 70% of the surface area, translating to over 1.5 million square meters, is planned to be dedicated to green spaces and open areas. The project also incorporates medical facilities, including a collaboration with Houston Methodist Hospital from the United States.
The special status of the investment zone is designed to streamline registration, licensing, import, and export procedures for companies operating within it. The zone will feature its own customs infrastructure and a dedicated investor support system, forming a crucial element in the ambition to transform The Spine not just into a residential district but also an international business hub.
The Spine was officially unveiled by TMG on April 18-19, 2026, in the presence of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, following approximately five years of preparation and research involving international consultants.
The project is currently in its initial phase of implementation. Certain infrastructure components within Madinaty are already under construction; the medical complex, in partnership with Houston Methodist, is slated to open in April 2027. The overall completion timeline for all 165 towers of The Spine has not yet been publicly announced.