LIVING "By the Real Estate Leaders" Winter 2016 - Issue #8 | Page 11

general has suffered. Salem also notes that, in spite of
the large number of factories there, the industrial
zone is generally overlooked in terms of maintenance of roads, infrastructure, lighting and security.
In fact, beyond income disparity, general maintenance is one of the most noticeable differences
between Sheikh Zayed and 6 of October City.
“In Egypt, it is common to find new areas being
developed at the expense of older communities. In 6
of October, people complain that many of the
services have begun to deteriorate or that maintenance is not being done on schedule,” explains
Salem. “In my opinion, this is partially a result of the
state becoming a trader rather than a caretaker for
the citizens.The state has moved its attention to
where it can make more money.”
Salem – who works primarily with commercial
properties in the industrial zone – explains that,
today, the city includes 5-6 large industrial parks –
including POLARIS, E-Square, Zamil, El Oula and El
Sewedy – which are replete with security personnel,
facilities, and environmentally friendly disposal
methods.“The area has become an important feature
of the city and many large brands have moved their
factories there,” he adds.
Salem notes that although there is a demand for
industrial spaces, many customers still shy away from
industrial parks because of their cost. He explains
that one of his challenges as an agent lies in educating customers about the benefits of being in an
industrial park.

The Green Belt & Commercial
Expansion
The addition of Sheikh Zayed is just one of the ways in which
6 of October has grown; the city has also eaten into what was
previously reserved as agricultural land in the Green Belt on
the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road. This legally contentious
expansion has allowed developers to build large luxury villas
on what had previously been earmarked as agricultural land.
According to El Sadek, companies first realized the potential
of investing in the Green Belt when property in the area appreciated quickly; when the government realized the opportunity, they began to legalize the building of residential properties there. “Until today, the laws are not clear and commercial
activities are very slim, but it could be a good expansion to the
6 of October area if it is well regulated," he says.
The erosion of the green belt – originally conceived of as a
housing-free zone that would provide a green breathing
space for the new communities– is closely associated with
fast-changing policies. Salem partially attributes the erosion
of the belt to what he calls the “commercialization o