Well, this is why Burma did the exact same thing (anybody who casts their memories back a few years might see how this relates to Egypt):<p>>Naypyitaw, then, is the ultimate insurance against regime change, a masterpiece of urban planning designed to defeat any putative ‘colour revolution’ – not by tanks and water cannons, but by geometry and cartography. 320 kilometres to the south, Rangoon, with five million people, is home to one-tenth the country’s population. But even if that city were brought to a standstill by public protests and demonstrations, Burma’s military government – situated happily in the middle of paddy fields in the middle of nowhere – would remain unaffected.<p>><p>>Of all the possible reasons why the junta chose to relocate their capital to this isolated, dusty place, this is perhaps the most plausible. And judging by the pace and scale of construction underway here, the transfer of capital is intended to be as final and irrevocable as the grip on political power of the Tatmadaw, the Burmese military.<p><a href="http://svaradarajan.blogspot.sg/2007/02/dictatorship-by-cartography-geometry.html" rel="nofollow">http://svaradarajan.blogspot.sg/2007/02/dictatorship-by-cart...</a><p>More bad news:<p><a href="http://www.citylab.com/politics/2013/05/how-geography-influences-political-corruption/5642/" rel="nofollow">http://www.citylab.com/politics/2013/05/how-geography-influe...</a>
I visited Egypt eight years ago, and the the thing that struck me about modern Egyptian construction is that there was rebar sticking out of the top of <i>everything</i>. From adobe shacks on the edges of fields to the five-star hotels, everything looked like it had been built with the expectation of adding one more floor on later.<p>Our tour guide told us that this was for tax reasons -- "unfinished" structures are taxed at a lower rate. A brief search online finds more evidence for this explanation (<a href="https://vagabondvirginia.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/foto-fact-whats-the-deal-with-all-the-unfinished-buildings-in-egypt/" rel="nofollow">https://vagabondvirginia.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/foto-fact-...</a>). If that really is the reason, I can't imagine why the government doesn't shut down the loophole that is both being exploited so blatantly and also uglifying the modern construction in the country. Here's to hoping that they fix the regulatory issue before the practice is applied in their new capitol!
I didn't know some countries could still play Sim City. A tunisian friend was talking to me about the same thing. A new coastal city, big investments coming in, we make this city a center for investments, arts, technology, finance.
Well... Good luck. It's more likely to end up empty, like a big mall or expensive appartments no one can afford.
South Korea has been trying to have a go at this (following patterns in the France, the U.S., Australia, Brazil, etc.) and establish Sejong City. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sejong_City" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sejong_City</a><p>However, the high court ruled that it was illegal to move the capital from Seoul to Sejong, so most of the government offices will move anyways, but the capital and some key ministries will stay in Seoul. In effect, South Korea now has two capitals.
You can use Google translate to read Egypt Today's "New Administrative Capital in the NUmbers" piece, as well as see design pictures for those interest.<p><a href="http://www.almasryalyoum.com/news/details/679047" rel="nofollow">http://www.almasryalyoum.com/news/details/679047</a><p>I believe it has English pages. I still stick to pre-revolution oppo media, so Egypt Today (Almasry Alyoum) and the Constituion (Ad-dostour) "original", not the new one that was bought out and sold out.<p>I hope the Egyptian HN crew can provide better reactions and info, as I am out of Cairo foo for some time since I have not been there in years.
Also on the BBC (and linked at the bottom of the article): Eight countries that have moved their capital cities:
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-31877909" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-31877909</a>