Egypt’s Haya Karima Wins Dubai Award for Sustainable Development

CAIRO - 6 February 2026: Egypt’s flagship rural development initiative, Haya Karima, has won the Dubai International Award for Best Practices in Sustainable Development in the field of urban infrastructure planning and management, marking a major international recognition of the country’s efforts to improve living standards and promote inclusive development.

The award was officially announced on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit, held in Dubai from 3 to 5 February 2026 under the theme Shaping the Governments of the Future. The award was received on behalf of the project by its consultant, Dar Al-Handasah Egypt.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly extended his congratulations to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, describing him as the primary supporter of the Haya Karima initiative. Madbouly stressed that the president personally directed the planning of the project and continues to closely monitor its implementation, driven by firm belief in the Egyptian state’s ability to achieve the initiative’s ambitious goals and deliver tangible improvements in public services and quality of life for citizens.

The prime minister underlined that Haya Karima places the citizen at the heart of national priorities, aiming to enhance access to essential services and raise living standards across rural communities as part of a broader vision for sustainable and equitable development.

Launched under presidential directives, Haya Karima is considered one of Egypt’s most significant national development projects in recent decades. The initiative targets improving living conditions for more than 60 million citizens living in over 4,500 villages across rural Egypt.

According to Madbouly, the first phase of the initiative includes the implementation of more than 27,300 service and development projects across multiple sectors. These projects are being carried out in 1,447 villages located within 52 administrative centers across 20 governorates, benefiting nearly 20 million citizens.

Preparations are currently underway to begin implementing the second phase of the initiative, which will cover an additional 1,667 villages. Priority will be given to establishing core infrastructure, allowing the initiative’s development efforts to expand into new areas across the country and further strengthen the foundations of comprehensive and sustainable development.

The international award highlights Egypt’s growing role in adopting integrated development models that link infrastructure planning, social inclusion, and long-term sustainability, while reinforcing the global recognition of Haya Karima as a benchmark for large-scale rural development initiatives.