On the anniversary of the liberation of Sinai... sustainable development projects achieve peace and justice
On the anniversary of the liberation of Sinai... sustainable development projects achieve peace and justice
Every year on April 25, Egyptians commemorate the liberation of Sinai, a land that was transformed from an arena of conflict into a symbol of development and peace. This anniversary is not limited to military victory only, but rather represents an ongoing national commitment to keeping Sinai at the heart of the process of construction and progress.
The efforts being made in Sinai today clearly reflect this commitment, as comprehensive development projects integrate with the state’s vision of achieving security and investment. The state has adopted the development of Sinai as a strategic priority, considering it a gateway to peace and a path to achieving sustainable development, by linking economic investments and social justice, and integrating infrastructure, human and environmental development.
In this context, Egypt’s hosting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Climate Change Convention, COP27, in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022, stands out as practical evidence of Egypt’s deep commitment to peace and climate justice. The conference witnessed a historic agreement to establish a “Loss and Damage” Fund to support countries affected by climate change, in a major step towards achieving climate justice. Egypt has stressed the necessity of linking climate justice with human rights, noting that protecting the environment and providing fair social and economic growth opportunities are the basis for ensuring a safe and sustainable future for future generations.
Development projects in Sinai today continue to be a natural extension of this profound trend, as they reflect a strong message to the world that sustainable development is not a temporary option, but rather a long-term strategy that Egypt has adopted through “Egypt Vision 2030.” This vision balances economic growth and environmental protection.
Development efforts in Sinai are not limited to building infrastructure such as roads and buildings only, but rather they are moving in a deeper direction aimed at reviving local identity and opening new horizons for a decent life for communities that have been suffering from neglect for many decades. These projects seek to improve the standard of living of citizens, provide job opportunities, and achieve social justice for all the people of the region.
In this article,Earth Guards reviews the most prominent development efforts that Sinai has witnessed in recent years, which included the implementation of various projects in many vital sectors, such as education, health, transportation, and energy, and how these projects contributed to improving the lives of citizens and promoting economic and social development. So keep reading.
Huge investments to redraw the features of Sinai
Since 2014, the Egyptian state has launched the National Project for the Development of Sinai, launched by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, placing this strategic spot on the map of comprehensive development. The development plan was launched from an integrated vision that combined security and development, where the armed forces and police played a pivotal role in securing and clearing the region, in parallel with the establishment of a huge infrastructure, which includes networks of roads, bridges and tunnels linking Sinai to the valley and the delta.
The total public investments directed to projects in Sinai and the Canal cities amounted to about 530.5 billion pounds until the year 2024/2025, and in the year 2023/2024 alone, investments worth 58.8 billion pounds were recorded, which reflects the state’s commitment to developing this vital region.
Within the framework of the economic development planand social development for the year 2025/2026,the state continues to strengthen its development efforts, as it aims to allocate 15% of local investments to the governorates of North and South Sinai; To implement integrated development projects, including the establishment of 18 agricultural and development clusters, and the establishment of modern irrigation networks for reclamation and agricultural lands.
In addition to developing a number of vital roads in South Sinai Governorate, most notably raising the efficiency of the Dahab/Nuweiba road with a length of 50 km, the Sharm El Sheikh/Dahab road with a length of 80 km, the Nuweiba/Naqab road with a length of 60 km, and implementing the first phase of the Tunnel/Taba road with a length of 26 km, according to what was stated in the reports of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation.
Education sector: Building human beings is the basis of development
Because true development begins with humans, the education sector came at the top of priorities, as the education sector in Sinai witnessed remarkable progress through the establishment of 7 Japanese schools and 4 applied technology schools, as well as increasing the number of universities from 4 to 6 government universities, between the years 2013/2014 and 2022/2023.
23 billion pounds were allocated to higher education projects in Sinai during the fiscal year 2025/2026; Which reflects the state’s commitment to developing the educational infrastructure and increasing academic opportunities.4 new private universities were established, namelyKing Salman International University, Galala University, East Port Said Private University, and Suez Canal Private University.
Within the framework ofEgypt’s celebrations of the anniversary of the liberation of Sinaithis year, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research - Dr. Ayman Ashour - confirmed that the state pays great attention to the development of Sinai, including the higher education sector, which has witnessed significant expansion; Higher education projects have been implemented in Sinai at a cost of 23 billion pounds, with a focus on establishing new universities and study programs that keep pace with the labor market.
Dr. Hassan Al-Demerdash, President of Al-Arish University, explained that the university includes 11 colleges and institutes for graduate studies, with a noticeable increase in the number of students. This reflects the improvement of the security situation. A new medical complex will also be established for the university to provide comprehensive health care for the people of Sinai.
Higher education projects aim to improve the quality of education and expand its scope to meet the needs of the local and regional labor market, with a focus on modern academic programs that are compatible with technological developments. The new universities are also interested in providing an advanced educational environment that accommodates larger numbers of students, which enhances educational opportunities in Sinai and contributes to achieving Goal (4) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) “quality education.”
Housing: Providing a decent life for citizens
The housing sector in Sinai witnessed the implementation of huge projects to improve the quality of life of citizens, as 131,600 social housing units were built at a cost of 23.26 billion pounds. One of the most prominent urban development projects in North Sinai is the new city of Rafah, which extends over an area of more than 535 acres and contains 272 residential buildings providing more than 4,352 modern units. The first phase, which includes 484 units, has been allocated exclusively to the people of Rafah, with discounts of 55% on the value of the units.
The city is not limited to providing housing only, but includes comprehensive facilities such as schools, mosques, youth centers, and water and sanitation plants. The housing process was organized smoothly by providing free buses to transport the beneficiaries. Which reflects the state’s commitment to enhancing stability in the region.
Within the framework of eliminating slums, Sinai has become free of unsafe areas after implementing slum development projects and building 54,500 new housing units, in addition to constructing 4,338 Bedouin homes to improve living in local communities. Bedouin development communities were also built in North and South Sinai, with the aim of providing basic services and job opportunities.
These projects reflect the state’s commitment to providing adequate housing for citizens, enhancing the quality of life by improving the living environment, and achieving social and economic stability, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal (11), which focuses on building sustainable cities and local communities.
Health Sector: Strengthening health services for citizens
The quality of life is not limited only to providing adequate housing, but also extends to ensuring the health of the citizen, and the health sector in Sinai has witnessed remarkable development, as 50 hospitals and 154 health centers and units were established and developed in various regions.
Within the framework of improving health services, a strategic drug store was established in Al-Raysa in Al-Arish. This ensures the constant availability of medicines to meet the needs of patients in the region. Also, 31,000 integrated services cards were delivered to people with disabilities from June 2019 until March 2023, which reflects the state’s keenness to provide support to the most needy groups.
Moreover, the health sector infrastructure has been comprehensively developed, as emergency units and advanced operating rooms have been established in hospitals, which contributes to enhancing the sector’s ability to deal with emergency cases and potential epidemics. Medical personnel were also trained on the latest therapeutic methods and modern technologies. Which enhances the efficiency of the health system in Sinai, and makes it more prepared to face future challenges.
Transportation, infrastructure and service projects
Within the framework of improving the quality of life and providing basic services to citizens, many infrastructure projects have been implemented in Sinai. These projects include improvements in the electricity sector through the establishment of new transformer stations and lighting residential complexes in areas such as Al-Jadi village and Al-Jawfa village. This ensures the provision of electricity services in a sustainable and safe manner.
In the field of transportation, a new network of roads and tunnels was established and developed linking Sinai to the canal cities, such as the “Taba” tunnel, which facilitated the movement of trade and tourism, in addition to the opening of the first phase of the railway line (Al-Ferdan - Bir al-Abd - Al-Arish - Rafah), which works to facilitate the movement of trade and travel between Sinai and other governorates.
These national projects are part of the Egyptian state’s vision to transform Sinai into a promising investment and population attraction area. Thanks to these efforts in developing infrastructure, such as establishing new cities and land reclamation, Sinai is turning into an integrated economic center that contributes to enhancing security and stability, providing job opportunities, and achieving sustainable economic development.
Energy and Water Sector
Egypt aims to enhance renewable energy sources in the Sinai region by implementing major projects that support the transition towards clean energy. The most prominent of these projects is the establishment of the “Abu Gharaqad” solar energy station in Abu Redis, at a cost of 5 million pounds.
These efforts represent an important step towards achieving energy sustainability, especially with the increasing focus on green hydrogen projects, such as the Sinai Green Hydrogen Project, one of the world’s leading projects, which includes the installation of an electrolyser with a capacity of 15 gigawatts, in addition to an advanced system for storing and pumping water at an altitude of 800 meters. This system ensures continuity of production; It will reach a production capacity of 3.1 gigawatts upon completion of the three phases of the project.
Agriculture and Land Reclamation
Within the framework of enhancing food security and achieving sustainable agricultural development, a number of major land reclamation projects have been implemented in Sinai, the most prominent of which are: the Bahr al-Baqar drain water treatment plant, which is considered the largest treatment plant in the world with a production capacity of 5.6 million cubic meters per day. This plant contributes to the reclamation of 400,000 acres of agricultural land in the areas of the Tinah Plain, South Qantara, and Rabaa.
In addition, a Al-Mahsama drain water treatment plant was established with a capacity of one million cubic meters per day, which contributes to the irrigation of about 50,000 acres in central Sinai. These projects are not limited to improving agricultural production, but also contribute to providing new job opportunities and supporting economic development in the region.
In another context, 15 new agricultural clusters were established in cooperation with the Kuwait Fund for Development, with the aim of providing irrigation sources for more than 15 thousand acres in the new areas. Projects have also been implemented to provide protection from the dangers of floods in Sinai, through the construction of dams in several areas. Which enhances the region’s ability to confront environmental challenges and protect agricultural lands and property.
Tourism Sector
Within the framework of promoting tourism, a group of major projects were implemented that transformed Sinai into a global tourist destination that attracts visitors from different parts of the world. Today, Sinai has become an integrated model for tourism development, combining picturesque nature, modern infrastructure, and advanced services.
The most prominent of these projects is Al Galala International Resort, which is located at an altitude of between 700 and 1000 meters above sea level, and includes international hotels and modern entertainment centers, in addition to the largest cable car in the Middle East and an international yacht marina.
These efforts did not stop there, but also included exploiting Sinai’s natural and tourist treasures, such as pure sandy beaches, unique archaeological sites, and areas designated for water activities, such as diving and surfing.
The natural reserves in Sinai are considered one of the most prominent environmental and tourist attractions, due to their rare Biodiversity that combines the beauty of nature with the richness of history. They also represent a fundamental pillar in efforts to protect the environment and support sustainable development in the region. The most prominent of these reserves isRas Muhammad Reserve, which is located about 12 kilometers from the city of Sharm El Sheikh, and is considered one of the best diving sites in the world, thanks to its coral reefs and colorful fish. Which makes it a major destination for diving and marine tourism enthusiasts.
In a strategic location between Sharm El-Sheikh and Dahab is locatedNabq Reserve, which represents a model of environmental diversity in Sinai, and contains rare mangrove forests, in addition to desert, mountainous and valley environments. Which makes it an important natural habitat for wild animals and migratory birds.
It also includesSt. Catherine Reserve, which is located on a high plateau surrounded by the towering Sinai Mountains, and combines environmental and religious value. This reserve includes St. Catherine Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in the world, as well as religious and historical monuments that attract visitors from various countries.
Together, these reserves contribute to protecting the unique natural heritage of the Sinai Peninsula. They also provide an integrated tourism experience that supports the local economy and enhances Egypt’s position in the field of ecotourism. They are also a reflection of the state’s efforts to achieve a balance between economic development and environmental preservation, in accordance with the"Egypt Vision. 2030” and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In conclusion,The Earth Guards believes that Sinai - with the projects it has accomplished - has transformed from an arena of conflict into a living model for achieving sustainable development, especially its most important goals: peace, justice, and strong institutions; Let Sinai be an arm that builds and another that plants; In order to provide Egypt and its people with a sustainable life, now and in the future.
