Egyptian PM announces community-backed Pyramids revamp alongside Giza educational expansion

Egypt plans to increase hotel capacity in the Nazlet El-Semman area adjacent to the Giza Pyramids from roughly 5,000 rooms to between 15,000 and 20,000 rooms, a development expected to attract 2 million to 3 million additional tourists, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced on Saturday.

During a tour of Giza governorate, Madbouly held a meeting with investors and residents of Nazlet El-Semman, stating the government will issue temporary operating licenses immediately following the upcoming Eid Al-Adha holiday. The move aims to regularise unlicensed buildings, protect businesses from demolition, and facilitate immediate financial investments in the area, which overlooks the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World.

Madbouly, noting his background as an urban planner and former housing minister, stated that upgrading the area to a “civilised” standard has been a long-held priority. He emphasised that no plans will be implemented without the conviction and participation of local residents, who are considered the primary beneficiaries. Residents, who noted they fund their operations independently without bank loans, expressed agreement with the development framework and requested upgrades to the local health unit.

Hossam El-Shaer, Chairperson of the Egyptian Federation of Tourist Chambers, described the prime minister’s visit as historical, noting that residents have operated under the threat of removal for 40 years. He said the temporary permits will provide legal protection, enabling owners to upgrade facilities to global standards without the need for prior local building or reconciliation letters.

El-Shaer observed that while international tourist reviews frequently praise local hotel services, they are often negative regarding the surrounding street environment and visual identity. Citing Marrakech, Morocco, as a successful model for this type of heritage development, he announced the formation of the “Nazlet El-Semman Investors Association” to manage future marketing, branding, hygiene, and hospitality training in alignment with Federation standards.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy confirmed that 95% of existing structures in the area comply with the government’s development plans, adding that the remaining 5% will be reviewed alongside project consultant Mohamed El-Khatib. Investors at the meeting also requested a review of certain Tourism Ministry conditions to stimulate activity further.

Giza Governor Ahmed Al-Ansari announced that a joint working group of tourism and local officials will be stationed in the area post-holiday to expedite the issuance of temporary permits, ensuring state development plans are not negatively impacted.

To illustrate the state’s ongoing infrastructure investments, Madbouly referenced the “New Delta” agricultural project inaugurated last week by President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. He noted the project cost hundreds of billion Egyptian pounds but will yield positive results for decades, adding that further value-added projects can be built upon it.

The meeting was also attended by Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Giza Governor Hend Abdel Halim, Acting Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Hisham El-Leithy, and local parliamentarians.

Educational Expansion in Giza

Separately during the tour, Madbouly inspected new educational facilities in the Bulaq El-Dakrour district, stressing the necessity of incorporating artificial intelligence, programming, and financial literacy into the national curriculum to build a modern, competitive Egyptian workforce.

At the New Republic Schools Complex in the Kafr Taharmas and Zenein areas, Madbouly reviewed efforts to reduce classroom densities. The complex houses six newly constructed facilities, namely, Secondary Girls School; Eng. Sherif Ismail Primary School; Magdi Yacoub Basic Education School; Field Marshal Tantawi Basic Education School; The Hotel School, and Dr Mostafa El-Sayed Official Language School.

During a visit to the Secondary Girls School, which covers 4,882 square metres and was delivered in May 2025, Principal Dalia Abdel Rahman reported a density of 40 students per classroom and 20 students per exam committee across its 48 classes. The school is split into two annexes containing 27 and 21 classes respectively, featuring upgraded laboratories, a library, computer rooms, a multi-purpose hall, a prayer room, and toilets. Madbouly checked on the discipline of ongoing exams and spoke with students who demonstrated their use of the Japanese programming platform “Kirio.” One student showcased a self-coded website detailing state achievements.

Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel Latif stated the platform is simple to use and includes holiday training modules. He highlighted ongoing plans, directed by the political leadership, to expand the Egyptian-Japanese school model to foster cooperation, citizenship, logical thinking, and problem-solving through moderntechnology.

Madbouly subsequently inspected the Bulaq El-Dakrour Educational Complex, which adds approximately 430 classrooms across 10 newly built schools. The site includes an Egyptian Japanese School spanning over 9,500 square metres with 28 classrooms (including four for kindergarten). It is equipped with a language laboratory, library, IT and art rooms, home economics facilities, a cafeteria, and toilets.

The prime minister also inspected the complex’s Secondary Boys School, covering over 7,500 square metres with 75 classrooms across two annexes. The first annex holds 38 classes, two advanced laboratories, a library, two computer labs, and two practical labs. The second contains 37 classes, four advanced laboratories, two computer labs, a library, and one practical lab. Students there also confirmed the benefits of the Kirio platform in acquiring programming skills.

According to Governor Al-Ansari, the remaining eight schools in the Bulaq El-Dakrour Educational Complex are Khaled Ibn Al-Walid Basic Education School; Amr Ibn Al-Aas Official Languages School; Chancellor Adly Mansour Basic Education School; Martyr Colonel Ibrahim Al-Rifai Official Languages School; Dr Kamal El-Ganzouri Basic Education School; Colonel Ahmed Mansy Basic Education School; Abdel Rahman Ibn Awf Official Languages School, and Bulaq Industrial School.

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المصدر: Daily News Egypt