As part of the ongoing Ras El Hekma development project, managed by the Egyptian government in partnership with Abu Dhabi Holding (ADQ), owned by the UAE government, the area witnessed on the morning of Sunday, March 2, 2025 — the second day of Ramadan — the presence of Lieutenant General Kamel El Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, accompanied by security forces and demolition equipment, to evacuate a group of homes located within the first phase of the project.
These actions come within the framework of the agreement signed between the Egyptian government and Abu Dhabi Holding in February 2024, granting the Emirati company development rights to the area with investments estimated at $35 billion — including $24 billion from the Emirati side and $11 billion as deposits converted into Egyptian pounds and invested in the project. This followed the October 2024 ceremony for signing the contracts to hand over lands for phase one, attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed, during which the project’s implementation was announced on an area of 10,000 feddans.
The eviction operation saw clashes between some residents and security forces, with some locals throwing stones at security armored vehicles, which resulted in the rear window of the minister’s car being shattered, according to local sources. These tensions ended with residents being granted a 12-day deadline to vacate their homes completely, following negotiations led by the minister in the presence of the Governor of Matrouh and officials from the Ministry of Transport.
The Egyptian government began compensating Ras El Hekma residents in 2018, with compensation initially set at EGP 150,000 per feddan, later increased to EGP 300,000 in 2024, plus a 30% increase for those who had received less than EGP 500,000 in total. Nevertheless, some residents reported delays in receiving compensation and challenges in securing alternative housing within the stipulated time.
As the project proceeds, the clearance of residential areas in phase one continues, while some residents are calling for a review of the compensation mechanisms — particularly in light of rising land prices in the area. The Egyptian government, on the other hand, stated that the total compensation paid so far has exceeded EGP 6 billion, according to an official statement by the Cabinet’s spokesperson on February 25, 2025.
Forced evictions in the context of urban development projects are becoming increasingly common in Egypt, as the government pushes ahead with major investment projects aimed at boosting economic growth and attracting foreign investment. However, these processes often lead to violations of the rights of original inhabitants, especially when fair compensation mechanisms or genuine community consultations are lacking. In the case of Ras El Hekma, questions arise about whether there is a balance between economic development and the protection of residents’ rights to housing and social security — especially amid complaints from locals about eviction pressures and compensation delays. This highlights the need to review forced eviction policies to adopt a fairer approach that ensures social justice and takes into account the human dimensions affecting those impacted.
Source: Matsadaqsh | Read the original article from the source
