In 2022, the government announced the establishment of Horus City, which includes luxury residential units and a global commercial center on the entire area of Warraq Island at a cost of 17.5 billion EGP. However, the government's investment project completely overlooked the fate of the agricultural lands, which were the main reason for criticizing the residents due to encroachments on these lands. Recently, an Egyptian-Emirati partnership was announced to launch a real estate project on the Nile overlooking Warraq Island, valued at $500 million. This reflects the new urban approach adopted by the government, which aims to sell lands in poor neighborhoods with prime geographical locations to major investors after evacuating the residents.
### The City for All
The solution to equitable urban development lies in the participatory rehabilitation of unplanned areas with the residents who live there, without displacing them, in line with the concept of the "Right to the City" and the Sustainable Development Goals. This concept emphasizes the right of everyone, especially marginalized groups, to live decently in their neighborhoods without discrimination or exclusion. In exceptional cases where residents must be relocated, they should be compensated fairly and provided with alternatives that meet their needs without disrupting the social fabric.
