By Tamer Zaki ~
Alexandria—rich with millennia of Mediterranean heritage—is breaking new ground. The days when it rested solely on reputation for its iconic library and Greco-Roman relics are over, Egypt’s jewel of the coast is redefining itself as a dynamic centre of innovation, green growth, and cultural rebirth.
A Vision for Sustainable Urban Renewal
In harmony with Egypt’s Vision 2030 vision, Alexandria is being completely revamped. Urban renewal, employment generation, and conservation of the environment—most notably, the redevelopment of Lake Mariout and the city’s slums—are the key themes of a City Development Strategy rolled out by national and local governments, supported by UNDP and the World Bank.
Culture Meets Creativity
The crowning glory of Alexandria’s own renaissance has been the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Since 2002, the new library and cultural complex has been a hub of research, digital literacy, and knowledge sharing, with four museums, a planetarium, and exhibitions from across the Mediterranean and beyond en.wikipedia.org. This has been accompanied by the Alexandria Centre of Arts, where local artists and visiting troupes interact with the public through performances and exhibitions.
Tech, Startups & Research on the Rise
Aside from its ancient roads, Alexandria is also becoming a hub for science and technology. The City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA‑City)—gigantic research campus in New Borg El Arab—has more than 185 scientists on payroll, 19 international patents, and issues hundreds of research papers every year. A blossoming startup ecosystem founded on incubators such as AAST’s Entrepreneurship Center and Aleexandria’s Techne Summit incubates early-stage fintech, agritech, and software startups.
Next Generation Infrastructure
In terms of development and connectivity, Alexandria is upgrading its infrastructure. There is a planned new Alexandria Metro connecting coastal suburbs and easing traffic congestion with a vision 21.7 km rapid transit line to be opened by 2026. This is part of an integrated urban renewal plan towards sustainable mobility and quality of life improvement afd.fr.
Mediterranean Magnet for Investment
Alexandria’s charm extends far beyond the city limits. Luxury projects such as the SouthMED tourism megaproject, created by the Talaat Moustafa Group, are revolutionizing its coastline—with golf courses, marinas, and villas to make billions and boost international tourism reuters.com. At the same time, the Ras al‑Hikma free‑zone project, launched through an Egypt–UAE $35 billion investment accord, is creating new economic zones and a touristic port west of the city.
