The Egyptian Cabinet has issued a new law that permits the locals in Sinai to own land there, after years of denying them this right for security reasons. The cabinet also decided in a meeting to set up the Special Supreme Council for Developing Sinai, with an independent budget and jurisdiction, dedicated to the integrated development of the peninsula.

The new council’s headquarters will be in Sinai and its chairman will report directly to the prime minister.

The government has also decided to set up a new public university in North Sinai, and to issue a license for a private university in South Sinai. Moreover, the government will develop major roads in Sinai to improve tourism in the peninsula.

The government has decided to issue a quota for the employment of Sinai’s locals in public and private companies and projects.

It is also considering setting up a new governorate in the middle of the Sinai peninsula, as this zone in particular suffers from poverty.