For 500 years (1420–1924), China’s “Forbidden City” served as the exclusive realm of 24 emperors—off-limits to the public, shielded by high walls, massive gates, stern guards, and a deep, wide moat.
Today, that once-impenetrable palace sits in the heart of Beijing as one of the world’s most famous tourist landmarks, welcoming millions of visitors from every corner of the globe.
I was reminded of the Forbidden City during my visit to New Alamein this summer.
Granted, New Alamein is physically wide open to the public; it boasts ultra-wide avenues, soaring skyscrapers, beautifully diverse residential neighborhoods, and modern commercial hubs.
Yet, it feels strangely exclusive—far beyond the financial reach of most average visitors, with an empty, ghost-town atmosphere where actual residents are nowhere to be seen.
The city appears engineered strictly for car owners, yet you quickly realize that every single convenience comes with a price tag. While almost every building features covered parking garages, they remain locked for one reason or another.
Open-air parking is available, but at an official fee ranging from LE 100 to LE 200—collected exclusively via Visa card by young workers hired by the city authority.
New Alamein was designed to serve as Egypt’s modern northern waterfront, however you mostly glimpse the sea from a distance.
Reaching the shore from your parked car requires at least a 15-minute walk.
Actual beach access comes with its own entry fees, starting at LE 600 per person and soaring to LE 3,000 at certain venues if you happen to be alone just looking to take in the view.
The city features a massive mall housing dozens of shops, restaurants, and cafes, alongside an overpriced covered parking garage.
Nearby lies a new waterfront market complex known by its English name, the “North Market.”
Finding it is a challenge regardless of the language you speak; the city is so new that most staff—despite wearing formal uniforms and distinctive white caps—are unfamiliar with its own landmarks.
One of the most peculiar sights in New Alamein is a dense cluster of nearly twenty well-known coffee chains lined up side-by-side along the corner of a massive plaza. Their sole redeeming feature? Free parking.
Founded eight years ago in 2018 with investments ranging between LE 240 and LE 350 billion, New Alamein is still struggling to take off.
Compared to private-sector developments built during the same period—which now host hundreds of thousands of residents and pulse with activity—the city remains surprisingly quiet.
This stark contrast raises serious questions about why such a promising project continues to stall despite unlimited government backing.
The North Coast’s “Forbidden City” Egypt Independent.
Hence then, the article about the north coast s forbidden city was published today ( ) and is available on EGYPT INDEPENDENT ( Egypt ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The North Coast’s “Forbidden City” )
Also on site :
- Bessent’s $4 billion bond plan is like ‘rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic given the U.S. national debt of $40 trillion,’ ING says
- Walmart’s Rustic 5-Tier Bookcase Brimming With Farmhouse Charm Is Perfect for Book Lovers and Plant Parents
- 1990 No. 1 Garth Brooks Hit, Reimagined by a Rising Star, Ranked Among the ‘Greatest Country Songs of All Time’