Cairo
UMR Index
Score: 35.9%
Sustainable Mobility
Score: 31.2%
Public Transit
Score: 40.8%
| Population | 21.2 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 2,010 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 10,567 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 7,886 |
What Cairo Does Well in Urban Mobility
Cairo's diverse public transit system is known for quick travel times and long operating hours, leading to some of the highest ridership levels in the world. The government has invested in its infrastructure with an upgrade of its metro system, an extension of its third line, as well as a light rail project between Cairo and Egypt’s new administrative capital.
Egypt’s extensive national road network gives Cairo solid linkages to other regions of the country. The government is expanding the capital’s ring road and equipping it with a bus rapid transit system to reduce congestion and improve travel times.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility and Public Transit scores
Challenges and Opportunities for Cairo’s Transportation System
Similar to other cities in the region, active mobility in Cairo is limited by a lack of car-free zones and dedicated walking and cycling infrastructure. However, some historic streets in Old Cairo are limited to pedestrian travel only.
Cairo has not invested heavily in electric vehicles (EVs), with limited government funding for charging infrastructure and subsequent low market share. In 2023, the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport university reportedly announced plans to launch two locally manufactured and affordable EVs in the Egyptian market.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
How Cairo Can Improve Its Public Transportation and Sustainable Mobility
Cairo lags behind many other cities in terms of EV incentives. To help close this gap, Cairo could increase purchase subsidies and tax exemptions or introduce non-monetary incentives like dedicated EV lanes. In addition, the city could implement a low-emission zone to limit combustion engine car usage and give EVs priority access to key areas in the city. The government has announced it would offer subsidies for locally manufactured EVs.
Compared with its peers, Cairo does not have a strong multimodal network, and residents face challenges integrating the city’s various transportation options. To improve multimodality, Cairo can introduce a park-and-ride program to increase access to the city center. Permitting bikes aboard buses and metro or investing in a bus fleet with bike racks would allow more cyclists to utilize public transit.