Egypt’s New Capital ushered in 2026 with a spectacular public celebration centered on the China-built Central Business District (CBD), marking the first major festive event in the heart of one of Africa’s most ambitious urban development projects. Tens of thousands gathered at the Iconic Tower – Africa’s tallest skyscraper – to enjoy fireworks, cultural performances, and drone shows as midnight struck, underscoring the growing impact of China-Egypt cooperation on national development and urban transformation.
Located about 50 km east of Cairo, the CBD, constructed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) under the Belt and Road Initiative, features 20 skyscrapers anchored by the 385.8-metre Iconic Tower and is designed as a smart-city economic hub to support Egypt’s modernization and global competitiveness. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly described the New Capital as the “crown jewel of the ‘new republic’,” reflecting a shared vision of progress, resilience and sustainable growth built through strategic international partnership.
The New Year festivities drew an estimated 15,000 attendees, who experienced a blend of modern design, entertainment and technology in a district intended to rival global urban centres. Attendees said the sleek skyline, innovative urban planning and world-class architecture embodied a future-oriented spirit, helping position Egypt as a regional economic and cultural magnet.
The CBD is more than a modern landmark, it represents years of sustained China-Egypt collaboration that spans infrastructure, governance and human development. In June 2025, Egypt and a Chinese-Egyptian joint venture signed a comprehensive operation and maintenance agreement for the CBD project, advancing the transition from construction to world-class urban management and service delivery.
Cultural and people-to-people engagement also plays a key role in strengthening ties. China is a major partner in scholarship programmes for Egyptian students, expanded tourism links – with hundreds of thousands of Chinese visitors each year and cultural exchange platforms that highlight arts, heritage and mutual understanding.
As Egypt celebrates a new chapter at the dawn of 2026, the landmark New Year event at the China-built CBD reflects more than festive energy, it signals the maturation of a multifaceted partnership grounded in infrastructure, economic development and shared aspirations. The integration of global engineering, smart-city design and collaborative governance in the New Capital demonstrates how strategic international cooperation can shape not just skylines, but national ambition and regional influence.
In an era where urban innovation and economic diversification are central to Africa’s growth, the China-Egypt partnership offers a model for sustained progress rooted in mutual benefit, capacity building and long-term vision.
