Egypt’s Sisi says Parliament and Defense Ministry will never face sieges again as New Administrative Capital opens

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi has used the inauguration of the country’s New Administrative Capital to send a strong message about security and state authority.

Speaking at the event, Sisi said Egypt‘s Parliament, Cabinet, Defence Ministry and other key institutions would never again be exposed to the kind of threats seen during the political turmoil that followed the 2011 uprising.

He pointed to past incidents in which major government buildings were surrounded by protesters and said those events played a major role in the decision to move the country’s most important institutions away from central Cairo.

Egypt’s New Administrative Capital was built with security in mind

During his speech, Sisi said the relocation of government institutions was not only about easing congestion in Cairo or creating a modern capital. He argued that security was one of the biggest reasons behind the project.

According to Sisi, past sieges of the Constitutional Court, the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Defense and Media Production City exposed weaknesses in the country’s ability to protect critical institutions during periods of unrest.

The New Administrative Capital has been designed to bring the country’s executive, legislative and administrative bodies into a purpose built city with wider roads, modern infrastructure and stronger security measures. The city is located about 45 kilometres east of Cairo and has gradually become the new home for ministries, government agencies and Parliament.

Sisi recalls political unrest to justify the move

The Egyptian President referred to the years of instability that followed the Arab Spring, when demonstrations frequently took place outside major state buildings.

During that period, government offices, courts and security institutions often became focal points for protests as Egypt went through repeated political changes. Sisi argued that such events disrupted the functioning of the state and created unnecessary risks for national institutions.

He said the relocation to the New Administrative Capital was intended to ensure that government operations could continue without being affected by similar situations in the future.

His remarks underline how the government continues to frame the project as both a development initiative and a long term national security strategy.

Why the New Administrative Capital matters for Egypt

The New Administrative Capital is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Egypt’s history. It is expected to house millions of residents while serving as the country’s new political and administrative centre.

Supporters say the city will reduce pressure on overcrowded Cairo, improve government efficiency and attract foreign investment. Critics, however, have questioned the project’s high cost and whether such spending should take priority over everyday economic challenges facing many Egyptians.

Sisi’s latest comments make clear that, in his view, the project is about much more than new buildings. By linking the capital directly to the political unrest of the past, he presented it as a permanent safeguard against future disruptions to the functioning of the Egyptian state.