Madbouly made the remarks during the government’s weekly meeting at the Cabinet headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, where ministers reviewed a range of political, economic, and development files.

At the start of the meeting, the prime minister extended Eid Al-Adha greetings to President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and the Egyptian people, wishing continued stability, prosperity, and progress for Egypt and the wider Arab and Islamic nations.

Madbouly also stressed the importance of maintaining nationwide preparedness during the holiday period through the activation of emergency operations rooms around the clock, ensuring the readiness of essential facilities and public services, and securing adequate supplies of goods and commodities at suitable prices.

He added that beaches, parks, and recreational venues are being prepared to receive citizens during the holiday celebrations.

Reviewing the week’s presidential activities, Madbouly highlighted President Al-Sisi’s inauguration of the New Delta Project along the Sheikh Zayed Axis in Giza Governorate, describing it as one of Egypt’s largest development projects completed within a record timeframe through coordinated efforts among ministries and state institutions.

The prime minister said the project underscores the government’s commitment to agricultural development, food security, and integrated economic growth, noting that extensive infrastructure works and significant investments have been directed toward the initiative.

“The New Delta Project provides agricultural land exceeding the cultivated area of four agricultural governorates combined,” Madbouly said, adding that “through a single project, Egypt is increasing its cultivated land area by more than 20%.”

He emphasised that the project is expected to create substantial employment opportunities for young people in agriculture and related industries, while contributing to higher production levels of strategic crops.

Madbouly also credited President Al-Sisi’s continued oversight of the initiative with helping ensure its implementation within a short timeframe, describing the president’s vision as instrumental in advancing major national projects across various sectors in recent years.

The prime minister further highlighted the role of private sector institutions in the New Delta Project, reaffirming the government’s commitment to expanding private sector participation in economic and development activities through additional incentives and facilitation measures.

During the meeting, Madbouly also referred to directives issued by President Al-Sisi regarding renewable energy projects and the importance of maintaining a balanced energy mix while reducing reliance on conventional fuels.

He stressed that the government will continue efforts to attract additional investment into the renewable energy sector, in line with Egypt’s ambition to become a leading regional hub for green energy.

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The economic stakes could not be higher. As Chao Wang, an education economist at UNICEF Egypt, pointed out at the study’s launch event in Cairo, Egypt, the country was previously suffering from a severely suppressed human capital dividend.

“The economic returns to education were far below the global average,” Wang noted, highlighting a sobering baseline.”With one additional year of schooling, your earnings only increased by 3.4% in Egypt, compared to around 9% globally.” The root causes—low attendance, shortened school days, and massive class sizes—meant children were schooling, but not learning. Reversing this trend, Wang argued, is not merely a social initiative but a macroeconomic imperative. Global evidence suggests that sustained improvements in learning outcomes could ultimately boost Egypt’s GDP by 5 to 36% over the long term.

The Mechanics of a Miracle

The sheer scale of the turnaround was detailed by Shiraz Chakira, Chief of Education for UNICEF Egypt, who stated unequivocally: “We are confident that the education system is being restored.”

The data presented by Chakira was little short of staggering. Student attendance, which languished at a dire 15%, has surged to 87%. Classrooms that once crammed over 100 students together have been eliminated entirely. In primary schools—the system’s most severe pressure point—average class sizes have dropped from 63 to 41 pupils. Furthermore, learning time has increased by 58%, and a targeted 60-hour remedial literacy program for grades 3 to 6 saw Arabic literacy scores jump by over 50% in just three months.

“This is not just one single change,” Chakira observed. “It is a coordinated system-wide effort.” He emphasised that the introduction of weekly, grade-linked assessments was the behavioural catalyst that drove students back into the classrooms, reconnecting the act of attending school with the tangible outcomes of learning.

Amine Marai, the study’s lead researcher and a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, underscored the unprecedented speed and fiscal efficiency of the reforms. Over just two years, the Ministry of Education tackled a massive deficit of roughly 467,000 teachers through a blend of redeployment and new hiring incentives.

More impressively, the state addressed its infrastructure bottleneck without breaking the bank. By creatively repurposing existing spaces and bringing underutilised facilities back into service, the ministry effectively created 98,000 “new” classrooms—a 20% expansion of system capacity.

“If you’re thinking about the equivalent of that in terms of monetary value,” Marai explained, “adjusted for inflation, it would be around $2.5 to $3bn. That’s billion with a ‘B’.”

The Macroeconomic View: Financing the Future

Despite the operational triumphs, the spectre of fiscal constraint looms large. Mahmoud Mohieldin, United Nations Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda and Egypt’s former Minister of Investment, delivered a sobering but pragmatic macroeconomic perspective.

Referencing Nobel laureate Esther Duflo, Mohieldin reminded attendees that systemic change requires three inseparable enablers: financing, technology, and behavioural incentives. “Without these, nothing will change in any field,” he stated. He issued a stark warning that failure to build the skills required for the future will subject Egypt to severe economic and social pressures.

Drawing on his extensive experience at the World Bank and IMF, Mohieldin urged the government to explore innovative financing mechanisms to sustain the reforms without exacerbating sovereign debt. He pointed to successful international models, such as Indonesia’s use of long-term sovereign sukuk for school construction, and Côte d’Ivoire’s debt swaps, which converted €400m in commercial debt into funding for 33 new schools.

“I had hoped that what is spent on education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure in my country would exceed what we spend on debt servicing,” Mohieldin remarked, stressing that education must not be crowded out by the state’s fiscal obligations. Looking forward to the AI-driven economy, he cited the IMF’s AI Preparedness Index, noting that technology alone is insufficient; true readiness demands aggressive, sustained investment in human capital.

A Global Blueprint

The international community is taking note of Egypt’s aggressive timeline. Natalia Winder Rossi, UNICEF Representative in Egypt, commended the “scale, ambition, and speed” of the undertaking. “Often, progress is incremental and systemic change can take a decade or more,” she noted. “What we’re witnessing here in Egypt is remarkable.” However, she cautioned that the country is only at the end of the beginning, noting that true transformation “will require stamina, focus, and continuous investment.”

Esohe Ebike, Country Engagement Lead for Egypt at the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), echoed this sentiment, admitting that the pace of the ministry’s work left her wondering, “Do these people sleep?” She confirmed the GPE’srecent approval of a system capacity grant for Egypt and positioned the country as a vital case study for the Global South.”Expect yourselves to be inundated with other countries seeking to learn from you,” she advised Egyptian officials, while outlining the GPE’s campaign to leverage $10bn  globally for education transformation.

The View from the Top: State Power and National Identity

The most forceful political mandates of the day came from the highest echelons of the Egyptian government, signalling that these reforms are viewed not merely as departmental policy, but as the cornerstone of national security and statecraft.

In a comprehensive and deeply philosophical address, Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel Latif positioned the reform agenda as the ultimate measure of the republic’s global standing. Directing his remarks to the Prime Minister, Abdel Latif asserted that “education is the true measure of the strength of nations and their ability to compete globally.”

For Abdel Latif, the granular operational successes—the repurposed classrooms and the eliminated teacher deficits—are in service of a much grander geopolitical imperative. He emphasised that under the direct directives and comprehensive vision of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the state has fundamentally redefined human development. The goal is no longer just basic literacy, but the construction of a modern, resilient Egyptian citizen capable of navigating and dominating an increasingly complex global economy. The Minister made it clear that the state’s investment in human capital is non-negotiable, viewing it as the highest priority of the political leadership.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly reinforced this structural commitment, delivering an overarching mandate that bridged the gap between global integration and domestic sovereignty. Acknowledging the monumental shifts achieved by the Ministry of Education, Madbouly explicitly committed the full weight of the state apparatus to continuing these reform efforts.

The Prime Minister articulated a dual mandate for Egypt’s educational future: the absolute necessity of aligning with the highest international benchmarks, without sacrificing the nation’s cultural soul. The state, he declared, is dedicated to”building a modern educational system that aligns with the latest global standards, while preserving our national identity.” This delicate balancing act—integrating Egyptian youth into the hyper-competitive, AI-driven global workforce while fiercely protecting their cultural and historical roots—lies at the very heart of the government’s long-term strategic vision.

As the dust settles on this initial, explosive phase of reform, Egypt finds itself at a critical juncture. The classrooms are full, the teachers are at the chalkboards, and the data is pointing upward. The challenge now is maintaining the fiscal discipline, political stamina, and international partnerships required to ensure that this rapid turnaround evolves into a permanent economic renaissance.

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Speaking at the “Securing Egypt’s Future Through Education Transformation: New Evidence, Progress, and the Way Forward” conference, Abdellatif stated that over the past 20 months, the country has undertaken one of the boldest and most comprehensive education reform programmes in its modern history under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.

The minister highlighted that the secondary education system has undergone a fundamental update with the introduction of a new Baccalaureate system, designed to provide multiple opportunities for students and ease psychological and social pressures on Egyptian families. He noted that an agreement was signed in London two days ago with the International Baccalaureate organization to review the educational frameworks and curricula of the new Egyptian certificate.

The broader reform agenda goes beyond expanding access to education to redefining what and how students learn, and how their outcomes are measured, Abdellatif said. The reforms include developing curricula to the latest international standards, expanding digital transformation and applied technology schools, building new schools, and upgrading technological infrastructure.

“We realised that every generation needs components and skills that must be reflected in the educational system to keep pace with the development of building a balanced personality,” Abdellatif said, warning that stagnation in the system leads to intellectual rigidity, slow responses to change, and the stifling of creativity.

The minister outlined ambitions to graduate a generation equipped to adapt to rapid global changes.

“We look forward to building a generation that masters programming and artificial intelligence skills, possesses financial literacy tools, and is capable of openness to the digital economy and non-banking financial activities,” he added.

Addressing the role of educators, Abdellatif stressed that improving teachers’ living conditions is at the forefront of the government’s development agenda, describing them as the true driving force of any reform project. He noted that the ministry has introduced training programmes at international standards in cooperation with Japan’s Hiroshima University.

Directing his remarks to the country’s educators, he said: “Every educational renaissance begins with a teacher whose mind believes in reform and whose heart beats with sincerity … thank you, you remain a pillar for Egypt in building the future.”

Abdellatif thanked Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly for his continuous support of the decisions and his field visits to schools across various governorates, which confirm the state’s commitment to making education a fundamental pillar of national development.

The minister also praised the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for its deep-rooted partnership in developing education and supporting children in Egypt. He stated that the cooperation proves international partnerships are a genuine catalyst for tangible and measurable change when governments and the UN work side by side.

Concluding his remarks, Abdellatif said: “The task of building a human being will remain the most difficult challenge, but it is the most enduring in its impact across time.”

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Speaking in the New Administrative Capital at a conference titled “Securing Egypt’s Future Through Education Transformation: New Evidence, Progress, and the Way Forward,” Madbouly stated that genuine investment begins with building human capabilities and that education quality is the primary determinant of a state’s economic competitiveness.

Addressing the country’s global standing, the prime minister told attendees, including economist Mahmoud Mohieldin, that Egypt is not satisfied with its current ranking of 161 on the Human Capital Index. While noting the figure is the highest in the immediate region among countries with similar conditions, he stressed the government’s ambition to significantly improve the ranking.

Madbouly noted that nations such as China, Singapore, and Malaysia required between 20 and 45 years of continuous effort to achieve their high educational indicators. Egypt is currently 10 years into its own reform programme, navigating complex global crises and domestic challenges, including 15 years marked by political uprisings and terrorism.

Despite current funding challenges, the education and health sectors continue to secure the highest annual state investments. Madbouly highlighted the role of educators, noting that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the government recently approved financial incentives and salary increases to prioritise teachers above other state sectors.

“Investment in the teacher is a direct investment in the future of the nation,” Madbouly said, describing the Egyptian teacher as the primary pillar of the educational process and the element most capable of shaping national identity.

In the higher education sector, the number of universities has expanded from 50 a decade ago to more than 120 today. This growth includes new national, technological, and private institutions, alongside branches of international universities. Madbouly said curricula, which previously remained static for up to a decade between the 1970s and 1990s, must now be updated annually to prevent illiteracy in modern fields such as artificial intelligence and financial inclusion.

The conference, organised by the Ministry of Education and Technical Education in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), also reviewed recent independent data on the primary education sector.

According to the presented study, the proportion of Egyptian school children suffering from reading and writing difficulties has dropped to 14% from 45.5%, while daily classroom attendance has surged to 87% from 15%.

Average class sizes have also been reduced to 41 students, down from previous averages of 63, with some areas historically experiencing overcrowding of 100 to 120 students per classroom. Madbouly noted that 45 years ago, when the national population was 43 million compared to today’s 110 million, average class sizes in the distinguished public schools he attended stood at 43 students.

To verify these reported improvements on the ground, the prime minister said he conducts unannounced school visits during provincial tours to observe classroom dynamics and ask students to read directly from their textbooks.

Addressing the Minister of Education and Technical Education, Madbouly stressed the importance of sustaining these statistical improvements year-on-year. He added that long-term educational reform requires an institutional approach based on scientific evaluation and collaboration among state institutions, the private sector, civil society, and international development partners.

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The proposed system aims to provide “necessary protection” to targeted and eligible segments of the population with greater accuracy and transparency, relying on updated and verified databases, Madbouly added during a meeting to review the governance and modernisation of the social protection system.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsy and Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Sherif Farouk.

Madbouly stated that the tiered programme is designed to be “dynamic,” allowing citizens to move between different levels or enter and exit the system according to their income and living conditions. This initiative follows directives from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to continuously develop support tools that balance social justice with economic sustainability while protecting the rights of those most in need.

Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Sherif Farouk said the proposed programme targets higher levels of efficiency and fairness, ensuring that government support reaches its true beneficiaries. He noted that cash-based systems are a modern development tool adopted by many countries, either fully or gradually, to enhance social justice, improve public spending efficiency, and grant citizens the freedom of choice based on their actual needs.

Farouk added that rapid global economic and social changes necessitated the construction of an advanced and flexible support system capable of meeting citizens’ requirements while preserving state resources.

The minister further noted that the cash-based protection programme would improve the efficiency of the social protection framework through integrated and updated databases. This would allow for constant updates based on the economic and social variables of each family to ensure state resources are directed more effectively to eligible groups.

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During a Board of Governors meeting, Madbouly directed ministries and civil society organisations to implement scientific and sustainable solutions under the national “Egypt Rabies-Free 2030” strategy. The initiative includes establishing shelters and sterilisation centres across governorates, overseen by the General Authority for Veterinary Services, to balance citizen security with environmental safety. To support the early-intervention campaign, the government will provide necessary land, veterinary staff, equipped vehicles, and medicines.

The meeting, attended by Minister of Local Development and Environment Manal Awad, Giza Governor Ahmed Al-Ansari, Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber Khalil, Qalyubia Governor Hossam Abdel Fattah, and other governors via video conference, also outlined comprehensive state preparations for the upcoming Eid Al-Adha holiday.

Madbouly ordered the activation of 24-hour operations rooms and raised the readiness of all service facilities. Authorities will intensify market monitoring to ensure the availability and quality of goods, oversee rationing and petroleum quotas, and inspect bakeries to ensure they operate at required capacities.

Awad outlined a logistical plan to secure Eid prayer areas, which includes immediate waste removal around mosques. She noted that public transport tariffs will be strictly monitored, with alternative routes provided during peak hours to ease congestion. Government slaughterhouses have been fully equipped and staffed to operate continuously throughout the holiday, Awad said, warning that slaughtering sacrificial animals outside official facilities is banned and violators will face legal action.

Addressing the overlapping summer season, the prime minister mandated the cleaning of public parks and beaches. He ordered inspections of moorings and houseboats to verify licences and maritime safety standards, alongside an increase in rescue personnel at coastal governorates to ensure the safety of holidaymakers.

Madbouly also instructed authorities to intensify the monitoring of building violations and encroachments on agricultural and state-owned lands during the holiday period. He stressed the need for immediate, decisive action by competent authorities to remove any unlicensed construction in its infancy.

At the start of the meeting, the prime minister extended Dhu al-Hijjah and Eid Al-Adha greetings to President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, the government, the Egyptian public, and Arab and Islamic nations.

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In a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Electricity Minister Mahmoud Esmat, Al-Sisi examined progress on solar and wind projects and discussed measures to strengthen the national electricity grid. Esmat presented a roadmap to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, outlining projects scheduled for completion over the next two years as well as longer-term initiatives extending to 2040.

Among the projects highlighted were the second phase of the 500-megawatt Obelisk solar plant in Nag Hammadi, due to connect to the grid in May; the 900-megawatt Ras Shukeir wind farm, scheduled for completion in 2027; and a 1,700-megawatt solar complex in Minya. Plans also include grid-connected and standalone energy storage stations in Minya, Alexandria, and Qena with a combined capacity of 4,000 megawatts.

Al-Sisi stressed the importance of adhering to project timelines to ensure grid stability and flexibility. He also emphasized expanding private sector participation, citing the Gabal El Zeit wind power complex, which has a capacity of around 580 megawatts.

The presidency noted that discussions covered efforts to localize the manufacturing of renewable energy equipment and components, as well as expanding the use of solar systems in factories to ease pressure on the national grid. Al-Sisi directed the government to intensify investment promotion in the energy sector while maintaining a carefully planned expansion of renewable projects and reducing dependence on conventional fuels.

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During the meeting, Madbouly stressed the importance of ensuring the continuous availability of essential commodities in sufficient quantities and at reasonable prices, while intensifying market oversight to prevent monopolistic practices and price manipulation. He said these measures are crucial to preserving market stability and guaranteeing adequate supplies for citizens.

Farouk outlined government preparations to secure food commodities during the holiday season, particularly meat products and basic goods. He said the Holding Company for Food Industries has supplied substantial quantities of fresh and frozen meat, including around 2,300 heads of cattle, while an additional 1,500 heads are currently being received to strengthen strategic reserves.

The minister added that approximately 669 tonnes of frozen meat have also been made available, alongside coordination with the Egyptian-Sudanese Company to supply around 6,000 slaughtered sheep, in addition to various types of lamb and veal aimed at meeting increased consumer demand during Eid.

Farouk noted that livestock markets and temporary sales outlets have been expanded across governorates to ensure sufficient availability of live sheep at competitive prices, supporting market balance and helping contain price pressures.

He further highlighted efforts to boost supplies of essential commodities through expanded Ahlan Bel Eid fairs, as well as fixed and mobile retail outlets nationwide, with discounts of up to 25% offered on selected food items and consumer products.

According to the minister, products are being distributed through 1,062 outlets affiliated with the Holding Company for Food Industries, in addition to more than 8,000 branches operating under the Carry On and Gomla retail network.

Farouk confirmed that retail outlets and wholesale branches will continue operating throughout the Eid Al-Adha holiday period. Market inspections covering bakeries, food outlets, fuel stations and LPG distribution points will also be intensified, while emergency operations rooms have been activated nationwide to address complaints and ensure rapid responses to market disruptions.

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Madbouly was accompanied by several ministers and senior officials, including Minister of Local Development and Environment Manal Awad, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy, Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber, and Mohamed Abou Saada, Chairperson of the National Organization for Urban Harmony.

According to the Cabinet spokesperson, the tour focused on efforts to revive major streets in downtown Cairo under a comprehensive master plan designed to rehabilitate historic and Khedival Cairo and restore the district’s distinctive architectural and cultural identity.

The inspection also included newly opened traffic corridors intended to improve mobility and ease congestion between Cairo’s historic areas.

Madbouly said projects to revive historic Cairo are receiving strong government support and are being implemented at an accelerated pace alongside Egypt’s wider urban expansion and infrastructure agenda. He said the efforts reflect the state’s vision of achieving integrated urban development while preserving the capital’s historical character.

The prime minister began the tour by inspecting restoration works at Qasr al-Tahrir, the former headquarters of Egypt’s Foreign Ministry overlooking Tahrir Square. The building was originally constructed in 1907 as a palace for Princess Neamatallah, daughter of Khedive Tawfiq, and designed by Italian architect Antonio Lasciac.

Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber said the project includes restoring the building’s facades, surrounding gardens and public spaces, in addition to installing modern lighting systems and rehabilitating mosaic and decorative marble elements to preserve the palace’s historical and architectural significance.

He added that the first phase of restoration works, covering facades overlooking the Arab League headquarters and the Semiramis InterContinental Hotel, has reached 95% completion, while the second phase is focused on the main facade facing Tahrir Square.

Deputy Foreign Minister for African Affairs Mohamed Abou Bakr noted that the palace became the official headquarters of Egypt’s Foreign Ministry in 1930 and hosted international delegations and diplomatic figures for decades, making it part of Egypt’s modern diplomatic history.

During the downtown tour, Madbouly also attended the launch of the “Art Street” initiative in the Bourse Triangle and Sherifein Street area, implemented in cooperation with Cairo Governorate and the Academy of Arts.

The Cairo governor said the initiative seeks to transform public spaces into open platforms for artistic expression through activities including painting, music, singing, dance, puppetry and caricature art. The programme aims to make arts more accessible while supporting emerging talent.

He added that the initiative forms part of the broader “Bridges of Creativity” strategy, which also includes the “Music and Arts Kiosk” project to host performances in parks and public gardens, alongside plans for a specialised centre dedicated to supporting and training young artists.

Madbouly observed a range of performances during the event, including ballet inspired by Russian, Italian and Spanish schools, as well as traditional Egyptian tahtib performances, tanoura dance shows and puppet theatre presentations involving dozens of young artists.

The prime minister also reviewed projects aimed at improving the visual identity of downtown Cairo through restoring historic facades, removing visual distortions, standardising commercial signage and upgrading pavements and lighting systems.

Saber said the third phase of redevelopment works, extending between Tahrir Square and Talaat Harb Square, has been fully completed after restoring the facades of 21 buildings. The fourth phase, extending toward 26th of July Street and covering 24 additional buildings, is currently underway.

The tour also included Al-Alfi Street, which has been transformed into a pedestrian cultural and tourism promenade following infrastructure upgrades, improved lighting and landscaping works, alongside a self-financing maintenance model managed by local stakeholders.

Madbouly further reviewed the redevelopment project for the Old Opera district, which includes redesigning the facades of the Opera Garage in a style inspired by the historic Cairo Opera House, as well as plans to convert the garage’s administrative building into a hotel to support tourism and investment activity in downtown Cairo.

Officials from the National Organization for Urban Harmony said restoration and urban rehabilitation efforts across Khedival Cairo will continue as part of a broader government plan to preserve the capital’s architectural heritage and historic identity.

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The tour began with a visit to Tahrir Palace, formerly the headquarters of Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where restoration works are underway to preserve the building’s architectural heritage and upgrade surrounding public spaces.

Accompanied by senior ministers and officials, Madbouly reviewed progress on façade restoration, lighting upgrades, garden rehabilitation and preservation works being implemented under the supervision of Cairo and the National Organization for Urban Harmony.

Officials said the palace, originally designed in 1907 by Italian architect Antonio Lasciac as a residence for Princess Neamatallah Tawfik, daughter of Khedive Tawfik, later became the headquarters of Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1930 and hosted numerous diplomatic events and international delegations over several decades.

The prime minister then toured a number of downtown streets and squares as part of Cairo’s ongoing visual identity enhancement programme targeting the revival of Khedivial Cairo.

According to Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber, authorities have completed several phases of façade restoration extending across Tahrir Square, Talaat Harb Square and surrounding streets, including the rehabilitation of more than 20 heritage buildings to restore their original architectural character.

Madbouly also inspected redevelopment works at Al-Alfi Street, which has been transformed into a pedestrian-friendly cultural and tourism corridor through infrastructure upgrades, granite paving, landscaping, façade restoration and improved lighting systems.

Officials highlighted a maintenance model adopted in the area through a self-funded owners’ association responsible for financing ongoing upkeep and preserving the district’s upgraded appearance.

The tour also included the historic Opera district redevelopment project, which aims to revive the area’s architectural identity through restoring surrounding heritage facades and redesigning the current Opera Garage façade to reflect the style of the former Egyptian Opera House.

Authorities are also studying plans to convert the Opera Garage administrative building into a hotel as part of efforts to support tourism and maximise the use of state-owned assets in central Cairo.

Madbouly later travelled via the newly developed Salah Salem corridor to inspect ongoing works in the districts of Sayeda Aisha and Sayeda Nafisa.

The upgraded Salah Salem axis extends nearly three kilometres from the Citadel area to Fustat and was implemented in cooperation with the Armed Forces Engineering Authority to ease congestion and improve connectivity between Old Cairo and surrounding neighbourhoods.

During the tour, the prime minister reviewed plans to transform Sayeda Aisha Square into an open-air museum and tourism promenade reflecting the district’s historical and cultural significance.

Madbouly also inspected a series of artistic murals being developed beneath Al-Abageya Bridge, featuring mosaics and heritage-inspired artwork intended to enhance the visual identity of the area and integrate artistic elements into major urban development projects.

The prime minister further reviewed the new Sayeda Aisha transport terminal, developed to replace the previous temporary station that had contributed to severe traffic congestion near Al-Misbah Mosque.

Officials said the new terminal can accommodate nearly 1,000 vehicles while maintaining existing transport routes, as part of broader efforts to modernise public transport infrastructure and eliminate informal parking areas.

The tour additionally highlighted restoration works underway at several historic mosques and Islamic landmarks in the Sayeda Aisha district, including Al-Misbah Mosque, Al-Ghouri Mosque, and the minarets of Qawsun and the Sultanate Mausoleum.

During his downtown visit, Madbouly also attended the launch of the “Street of Art” initiative in the Bourse Triangle and Sherifein Street area, implemented in cooperation with the Academy of Arts.

The initiative aims to transform Cairo’s streets into open-air cultural spaces through live performances, music, painting, theatre, puppetry, caricature art and traditional Egyptian folklore shows.

Officials said the project aligns with Egypt Vision 2030 and reflects the state’s broader strategy to support cultural industries, preserve national identity and strengthen Cairo’s position as a cultural and tourism destination.

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