At a height of 1,300 feet (400 m), Iconic Tower Egypt in the New Administrative Capital of Egypt (NAC) is the tallest building in Africa. The structure sitting east of Cairo is a feast for the eyes with progressive architecture setting a pace for this new Egyptian city. Its reputation as Africa’s domineering skyscraper with 77 floors gives the Egyptian skyline new fame and recognition.
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Is Iconic Tower Finished Complete?
The construction of the Iconic Tower in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital ended in 2024. Construction of this mixed-use skyscraper began in 2018 and took six years and 5,000 workers to complete. Dar al-Handasah Shair & Partners designed the entire project which was then executed by China State Construction Engineering.
Weighing 4,600 tonnes, the USD 45 billion Iconic Tower Egypt is futuristic. It bears a Pharaoh-inspired monolith best described as an obelisk in architectural terms. The entire structure is a tall four-sided monument with a pyramid-shaped top. Egypt is synonymous with ancient pyramids built around 2580 BC and they are a national emblem. The most popular pyramids that attract millions of tourists every year include the following:
- Great Pyramids of Giza
- Pyramid of Menkaure
- Pyramid of Khafre
- Great Pyramid of Khufu
Pyramids of Egypt. Photo/ nationalgeographic.com
A pyramid top honours Egypt’s heritage and history with gorgeous LED lights patterns lighting up at night in different colours. Another engineering marvel of Iconic Tower Egypt is its automated ventilation system. Ventilation pipes have a 360-degree rotation angle to keep the insides of the building cool throughout. Heat in North Africa is unforgiving due to its arid nature thus, an effective air-cooling system is paramount.
In addition, the entire structure features a glass exterior with an imagery of the Egyptian god’s crown Amun Shuti.
How Many Floors are in the Iconic Tower in Egypt?
Iconic Tower Egypt has 77 floors for mixed commercial use. The central printing press, the Egyptian Stock Exchange and the Central Bank of Egypt are some of the major entities housed in the tower’s first 40 stories. Posh entertainment joints, a five-star hotel, luxury apartments, a modern cinema complex, a spa, upmarket offices, a helipad and a state-of-the-art viewing deck occupy the rest of Iconic Tower.
Iconic Tower Egypt Facts
Here are key facts about the Tower in the New Administrative Capital of Egypt.
- Iconic Tower has 77 floors
- The Central Bank of Egypt is located here
- The Egyptian Stock Exchange is also here
- It’s the tallest skyscraper/building in Africa rising 1,300 ft high (400 m)
- It dislodged The Great Mosque of Algiers as Africa’s tallest structure
- It took six years and 5000 workers to complete its construction
- It’s meant for mixed-use
- It combines Egyptian and modern architecture
- Iconic Tower Egypt has a total floor area of 2,850,000 square feet
- It honours Egypt’s ancient history with a pyramid-shaped top
- It has the most advanced ventilation system
- The tower has a pharaonic monument resembling the four sides of a dagger
- Its glass exterior presents a shiny and beautiful façade
- The biggest gold market in North Africa is in the building
What is the Tallest Tower in Africa?
The construction of Iconic Tower in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital ended in 2024. Photo/CSCEC
The tallest tower in Africa is Iconic Tower Egypt located on the eastern part of Cairo City after dethroning the Great Mosque of Algiers also known as Djamaa el Djazaïr. The mosque opened in 2019 and rises 230 ft above the ground. Its minaret is the world’s tallest besides its 120,000 holding capacity for worshippers.
New Administrative Capital
Just as its name suggests, the New Administrative Capital of Egypt is a relatively new city where all government functions and foreign missions are domiciled. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi established it as a central administrative hub geared toward decongesting Cairo where all other government ministries were situated.
There are now at least 48,000 public servants in the new capital while over 1,500 families reside here permanently. More families are expected to relocate permanently by December 2024. The government estimates around 10,000 families will occupy the capital. Some 20 tower blocks surrounding Iconic Towers will provide housing for an anticipated population growth in this Egyptian Administrative Capital.
An electric rail system runs effectively from Cairo to the Administrative Capital with most of its passengers being government employees. Major businesses and banks also moved their headquarters here. The city houses an advanced artificial intelligence headquarters running the optimization of water, waste, gas and electricity.
Further, the government in its development of the multi-billion-dollar smart city defended its decision citing the need to decongest Cairo. An estimated 22 million people live in Cairo which records high levels of pollution and congestion. A striking feature of the New Administrative Capital is the Green River, a green space lacking in the heavily populated Cairo.
