In early June 2026, the Management Committee of the Multilateral Development and Financing Cooperation Center approved a funding of $420000 in Beijing to support the preparation work for the extension project of the Alexandria to Abukir subway line in Egypt.

The project is implemented by the Egyptian National Tunnel Authority and is expected to receive joint financing from multiple parties such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, and the French Development Agency. It aims to upgrade a 22 kilometer existing railway corridor into a low-carbon, high-capacity subway system.

Building a low-carbon transportation artery in northern Egypt

Alexandria Port undertakes over 75% of Egypt's maritime trade. The project plans to upgrade and electrify the east-west railway corridor between Abukir Station and Misl Station. After completion, it will be connected to the green line of the Borg Arab International Airport electric express, linking the city's core area, port, industrial zone, and future airport.

Since 2026, the Egyptian National Tunnel Authority has completed geological exploration and preliminary route design along the corridor, and environmental and social assessments have been carried out simultaneously. The project's technical solutions are becoming increasingly mature and are accelerating towards a financing state.

Using small grants to leverage large amounts of financing

The MCDF funding will be used for preparatory work such as technology assessment, environmental and social assessment, climate resilience research, and institutional review. The core goal is to improve project quality and financing readiness, laying the foundation for subsequent evaluations and potential financing by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, and French Development Agency. Keywords: railway infrastructure, railway logistics

In the first half of 2026, multiple development partners have initiated preliminary negotiations on the project financing framework, with an expected total investment of several hundred million US dollars. After completion, the project will effectively alleviate traffic congestion in the Alexandria Port area, shorten cross regional travel time, and improve the efficiency of port collection and distribution, becoming a landmark project for Egypt to promote green and low-carbon transportation transformation.Editor/Cheng Liting