Construction in Cairo, Egypt.

Egypt’s audacious plan to build a new capital in the desert

The country’s leader aims to relieve Cairo’s crowding—and define his legacy—by transforming arid land into a gleaming showplace city.

In a drive to modernize, Egypt plans to move millions of people to new desert cities, including a seat of government east of Cairo. The business district, with its 77-story Iconic Tower, is still under construction.
Photograph by Nick Hannes, Panos Pictures
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