Last month leading Egyptian real estate and tourism company, Hawai for Tourism and Investment (HTI), announced that it planned to build one of the world’s largest observation wheels, as part of Egypt’s Vision 2030 sustainable tourism strategy.
Just three weeks later, it’s clear HRI means business, as construction has already started on the new super-structure.
THE FIFTH BIGGEST IN THE WORLD
Following the announcement, Major General Khaled Abdel Aal, the Governor of Cairo positioned the city as being a leading world attraction, noting that the new Cairo Eye would be “the fifth largest in the world”, after the international hubs of London, Dubai, Las Vegas, and Singapore.
The project is due for completion in 2022, and will feature 48 cabins, and stand at 120 metres in height. The structure will have the total capacity of eight people per cab, similar to the other top five observation wheels. The total landmass taken up by the new construction will be 20,000 square metres in the Zamalek area of the city.
GROWTH OPPORTUNITY IN CAIRO
The total cost of the project is expected to be $31.6 million (EGP 500 million), with the city hoping it will bring investment to the area, while eyeing up a potential pull of 2.5 million tourists annually, to the attraction.
The project is also expected to have a positive impact on the employment sector, creating 1,200 direct job opportunities, as well as a potential 4,000 indirect job opportunities.
Discussing the new development, HTI chairman, Ahmed Metwally, said: “The project comes in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and its strategic development plan across sectors, including tourism development.
He continued: “The project is designed with environmental aspects in mind, [such as] preserving the entire park’s existing trees and palm trees, to remain true to the legacy and identity of the Zamalek area. The design also aims to increase the total green spaces by 15% where total greenery will amount to 7,000 square metres instead of 6,100 square metres.”
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
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