Desert Development Policies in Egypt: Motivations for Success and Signs of Shortcomings

Volume 5|Issue 9| Sep 2024 |Articles

Abstract

Over the past half-century, successive Egyptian governments have placed special emphasis on desert development. Large budgets and strategic plans have been allocated, including extensive reconstruction projects for agricultural reclamation and the establishment of urban communities, particularly those focused on industry and coastal tourism. The stated objective was to alleviate population pressure in the Nile Valley by more evenly redistributing growth between the Valley and the desert. However, the study found that urbanization and reclamation plans achieved only a fraction of their intended goals, whether related to polulation relocation, agriculture, or industrial development. All new cities and massive reclamation projects failed to attract the millions of people promised in the plans. The study noted that planners and policymakers focused primarily on the supply side, often at the expense of addressing actual demand. Additionally, there was a lack of evaluation of previous construction projects to identify the reasons for their shortcomings. In its recommendations, the study emphasized the importance of strengthening decision-making in urbanization and desert development.
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Ragab Ezzeldeen

PhD Researcher in Public Policy, Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University.

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