Egypt commences work on ‘Africa’s Tallest Building’

The foundations for Africa’s tallest building, a 390-metre-tall tower in Egypt’s new administrative capital will be laid in a few days, says the country’s Prime Minister, Mostafa Kemal Madbouly.

When completed, the “Nile Tower” – as it is dubbed, is expected to oust Johannesburg’s Carlton Centre as the tallest building in Africa since 1973 standing at 223 metres in height.

The Dubai-style mega project which is situated at Egypt’s new administrative capital 45 kilometres east of Cairo could eventually have 20 skyscrapers. The structure is being built by a number of Egyptian construction companies in collaboration with China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC).

During a visit to the construction site, Mr Madbouly said the concrete foundations for the tower would be poured continuously over 80 hours and further works will begin in March.

Construction of the business district, which began last year, is expected to be completed within three-and-a-half years, CSCEC’s chief executive officer told Xinhua News Agency.

The new administrative capital is one of several mega-projects launched by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi when he became president in 2014 in an effort to stimulate the economy of the most-populous Arab nation.

The three-phase project will convert a 700 kilometre square area of desert into a modern hub for major companies, government buildings and foreign embassies.