Urbanization and Land Use Dynamics in Greater Cairo: Planning for Sustainable Urban Futures

Greater Cairo, one of the fastest-growing megacities in the Global South, presents a compelling case for studying the complex interplay between rapid urbanization, land use change, and planning governance. This proposed study aims to investigate the evolving land use patterns in Greater Cairo and assess the effectiveness of urban planning interventions in directing urban growth toward sustainability. The research will adopt a mixed-methods approach, combining spatial analysis of satellite imagery (2000–2023) with a review of urban policy frameworks and qualitative interviews with key stakeholders, including planning authorities, developers, and community representatives. GIS and remote sensing techniques will be used to quantify land use change and urban expansion, while interviews will explore the underlying drivers of informal development and governance challenges. Preliminary expectations suggest a continued shift toward peri-urban expansion and land consumption beyond officially planned areas, influenced by demographic pressures and weak regulatory enforcement. The study will also examine the impact of recent planning efforts, such as the establishment of new towns and strategic master plans, to identify gaps between policy intent and implementation. The proposed paper will argue for more integrated, inclusive, and adaptive urban planning frameworks that bridge the divide between formal and informal systems. It will highlight the importance of strengthening land governance institutions, decentralizing planning processes, and incorporating participatory mechanisms to support sustainable urban development. Insights from Greater Cairo will contribute to broader regional and global discussions on managing urbanization in rapidly transforming cities.