A Digital Paradigm for Shaping Smart Sustainable New Cities in Egypt

Shaping the future of cities is a crucial responsibility that depends on today’s developers and designers. In light of the ongoing technological advancements across all fields, cities are obliged to harness this accelerated continuous progress to rescue from global challenges facing communities. Rapid urbanization, population growth, fragile infrastructure, and many other threatening environmental issues have prompted many governments across the world to expedite the digital transformation of cities to achieve sustainable urban progression. In Egypt, planning for smart cities is still taking its first step. Various significant economic, environmental, and social challenges are confronted. This research explores the pivotal role of smart digitalization in driving cities towards sustainability. The study depends on a comparative analytical methodology, starting with theoretical review followed by presents three selected case studies, finally the study focuses on the Egyptian new cities of the 4th generation, through a SWOT analysis. The study presents the concepts of smart digitalization and its impact on developing sustainable cities, increasing levels of safety and security, enhancing city management and services, escalating connectivity within city infrastructure, the study proposes a new paradigm for approaching new cities’ development. A set of guidelines is concluded to support planners, urban designers, and governments to achieve smart sustainable cities in Egypt, laying the foundations for the future transformation of cities.