New Cairo is a city covering an area of about on the southeastern edge of Cairo Governorate, 25 kilometres from Maadi. New Cairo is one of the new cities which have been built in and around Cairo to alleviate the congestion in downtown Cairo. It was established in the year 2000 by presidential decree number 191. Located in what was formerly Helwan Governorate, and located to the east of Maadi and Heliopolis, New Cairo ranges in elevation between above sea level. The city could eventually host a population of 5 million. When compared to 6th of October, also built with the hopes of alleviating the strain on Cairo, more homes are being rented out in New Cairo than in 6 October.
Of particular significance to geologists is the Petrified Forest Protected Area, located in the vicinity of New Cairo. It is a protected site.
Economy and utilities
There are dozens of factories in New Cairo. GE is working with the American University in New Cairo on energy initiatives. El Sewedy Electric has its headquarters in the Fifth Settlement of New Cairo. The city is connected to other cities by a vast network of bus lines, and taxis but it does not have a metro system. The city gets its drinking water from a water plant in Obour City, nearby. A championship golf course with tennis facilities lies in the Katameya section of New Cairo. At the entrance of New Cairo is Cairo Festival City, a 285 hectare real estate development. It has parks, pools, gardens, walkways, business office space, a large mall and a dancing fountain. Demand for real estate in New Cairo has been very high, with prices per meter for apartments reaching 8000 Egyptian Pounds, and for villas 16000 Egyptian Pounds.
Religion
There are several mosques in New Cairo, but currently only one church, the Virgin Mary and St. Bishoy Coptic Church in the Fifth Settlement. The city is also home to a Coptic monastery, the Patmos Monastery of St. John the Beloved. In September 2016, the president approved the construction of a new Coptic Orthodox church in the city.
