A new megacity is rising next to the world-famous pyramids of Giza

Egypt is pursuing an ambitious project: it is set to build a new city with 2.5 to 3 million new homes southwest of the capital Cairo, right next to the Pyramids of Giza.

The urban development project named 'Jirian' (meaning "current" in Arabic) was unveiled on Sunday and forms part of a major initiative to convert desert land west of the Nile Delta into agricultural ground. A canal will be constructed through the city, fed with water from the Nile. This artificial canal will not only enhance the city’s aesthetics, but also serve as a water source for the surrounding farmland.

"The sustainable and ecological project will add value to desert land that has been worthless until now," Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly said on Sunday at the launch of the project.

The plans include luxury residences, eighty-storey skyscrapers, hospitals, an ecological hotel, shopping areas, and a culture and media district.

The location was certainly not chosen at random. The brand new city will rise just minutes from the Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum (set to open in July), and Sphinx airport.

Construction is expected to take five years. According to the government, the project will create 250,000 jobs.

(FVDV – Source: Al JazeeraX/Reuters/Belga – Illustration: ©Unsplash)