Project type                                                             Rehabilitation of districts

Promoter                                                                  The Governorate of Alexandria

Start date                                                                 2015

Funding                                                                   Urban Projects Finance Initiative (UPFI),

       Egyptian institutions and Egyptian private sector

The city of Alexandria aims to become a major metropolis in Egypt, and for reaching their goal the Governorate of Alexandria, the Urban Development Department, has developed a Strategic Urban Plan for Alexandria 2032, with the help of the General Organization of Physical Planning of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Alexandria is the 2nd biggest city in Egypt (4.5 million inhabitants and highly densified) and owns the largest port in Egypt.

In 2015, thanks to the Urban Projects Finance Initiative, the Governorate of Alexandria was able to carry out the rehabilitation project of heritage buildings and regenerate two underprivileged neighbourhoods.

The districts of Minat Al Bassal, the old 19th century cotton industry district, and the surrounding district of Kafr Ashry, are two disadvantaged areas in the city centre of Alexandria. Located in the heart of commercial and tourist navigation, it was important to regenerate the industrial heritage buildings, which could be transformed into new areas of mixed activities, and the surrounding neighbourhoods.

The project will promote industrial culture and heritage to citizens, as well as develop a new urban hub in order to create opportunities and job positions for the inhabitants of Alexandria. The two neighbourhoods were restored and eight urban heritage buildings of the cotton industry were covered.

• Rehabilitation of the cotton district and surrounding area
• 2 neighbourhoods restored
• 8 urban heritage buildings covered
• 20 stakeholders involved