President El-Sisi signed the official document inaugurating the Egyptian Strategic Command headquarters and handed the Armed Forces flag to the guard of honour to raise above the newly inaugurated HQ.
The inauguration ceremony marks the official launch of Egypt’s largest and most advanced strategic command facility.
The inauguration of the new strategic command HQ, marking a major milestone in the modernization of the country's military and administrative infrastructure and state crisis management capabilities, was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Defence and Military Production Lieutenant General Ashraf Salem Zaher, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa, and other top military commanders.
President El-Sisi delivered a strong message extolling the unity of the people with the armed forces in confronting challenges and achieving goals of progress, as he inaugurated the new Strategic Command Headquarters in the New Capital on Saturday.
After signing the inauguration document, the President said: “In the name of the great people of Egypt, and relying on God Almighty, we, Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, announce the opening of the Strategic Command Headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. This headquarters will stand as a monument to the great people of Egypt, embodying Egypt’s role as a force for peace and stability, a nation capable of confronting challenges and achieving its aspirations through the unity of its noble people and its valiant armed forces.”
He added: “(The Command Headquarters) ensures integrated planning and coordination across all branches of the armed forces, enhancing combat capabilities and maintaining constant readiness to effectively and efficiently face challenges using the latest advanced technologies. This will achieve the state’s strategic objectives and contribute to securing its resources. May God protect Egypt and its great people, always and forever. By God Almighty, long live Egypt! Long live Egypt! Long live Egypt!”
The First Lady Entissar El-Sisi, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, and Pope Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, were among the dignitaries attending the event.
Armed Forces artillery fired a 21-gun salute on Saturday to welcome President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi upon his arrival at the Strategic Command headquarters.
The event started with the orchestra playing the national anthem and a recitation from the Holy Quran.
A documentary video reviewed the major accomplishments of the state and the Armed forces in pushing forward the wheels of economic development and strengthening the defensive capabilities of the army in the past 13 years since the 30 June Revolution in 2013.
After the official inauguration, a documentary video paid tribute to past presidents and military leaders who led the country and armed forces through various critical periods and wars in the history of the nation since 1952, including President Mohamed Naguib; President Gamal Abdel-Nasser; General Mahmoud Fawzy; General Saad El-Shazli; President Anwar El-Sadat, Field Marshal Ahmed Ismail; Field Marshal Abdel-Ghani El-Gamassi; President Hosni Mubarak; Field Marshal Abdel-Halim Abu Ghazala; Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawy; and Field Marshal Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.
Read the full speech delivered by President El-Sisi after the official inauguration of the headquarters here
Vision
The inauguration reflects the Egyptian state's vision for the future, including developing its strategic capabilities in line with the latest global systems, and ensuring integrated management and oversight of all vital state sectors and institutions.
The facility is designed to serve as a unified, control, communications, and highly technologically and security-equipped center, in addition to being the headquarters of the Egyptian Armed Forces, rivaling the strongest military headquarters in the world.
Beyond its military role, the headquarters is intended to facilitate coordination between the Armed Forces and various government ministries, agencies, and state institutions through integrated communications and information systems.
Location and iconic eightfold design
Described as a "strategic brain" for the Egyptian state, the complex consists of eight interconnected main buildings, representing the various branches and strategic departments of the Egyptian Armed Forces, with two central structures dedicated to political leadership.
At the centre stands the Central Command Building, designed to ensure seamless information flow and command coordination.
According to its official launch film, the architectural design combines operational efficiency with high security standards, featuring underground data and communications centres with rapid response capabilities.
In addition, the facility, which features modern technological capabilities has protective engineering that is intended to withstand explosions and potential aerial attacks, in addition to defense systems against the latest weapons.
The headquarters is supported by satellite-based intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities, allowing decision-makers to receive and analyse strategic information in real time.
The launch film also highlighted the symbolic significance of the headquarters' architectural design, noting that the number eight, reflected in the complex's layout, draws inspiration from different periods of Egypt's history.
The facility is inspired by ancient Egyptian architecture, particularly interpretations of the Great Pyramid's eight-sided geometry, and the eight-pointed star Islamic architectural patterns, which symbolizes balance, order, and precision.
The headquarters occupies a strategically selected site at the heart of the New Capital. The complex spans approximately 22,000 feddans (around 92 square kilometres) and is divided into 13 integrated strategic and logistical zones.
It also includes cloud data centres, featuring advanced digital infrastructure dedicated to storing, processing, and protecting national data using the highest cybersecurity standards.
Additionally, the facility has independent energy stations, advanced water and cooling systems, and fully integrated residential facilities capable of sustaining operations for extended periods under exceptional circumstances.
A snap shot of the video showing the new Armed Forces Strategic Command HQ in New Capital.
Latest technological systems
Equipped with the world's latest defence and advanced technological systems
This landmark facility has been established as a fully integrated central hub for managing state institutions and command-and-control operations, enhancing the efficiency of data exchange while strengthening Egypt's security and defence capabilities.
It also reflects a forward-looking scientific vision aimed at safeguarding national assets and supporting strategic decision-making.
The headquarters was developed as part of Egypt's comprehensive plan to build a modern New Capital that houses the country's key sovereign institutions.
The complex was planned and constructed by Egyptian Armed Forces personnel in cooperation with leading national companies.
It was designed to match the efficiency and security standards of the world's most advanced command-and-control centres, supporting coordinated institutional operations.
Key objectives
According to Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS), the headquarters was built to address several strategic and security priorities.
These priorities include ensuring an administrative and strategic centralization, through consolidating sovereign headquarters and operations rooms into a single secure complex to facilitate rapid information sharing and decision-making.
In addition, it aims to respond to modern threats through enhancing preparedness against fourth- and fifth-generation warfare, and cyber threats that require advanced digital defence systems.
Furthermore, the facility provides a centralized crisis management through establishing a unified command centre linking Egypt's governorates, ministries, and state institutions to coordinate responses to emergencies and disasters with maximum speed and efficiency.
Command-and-control system
The headquarters operates an advanced command-and-control system built on fifth- and sixth-generation smart technologies, featuring secure real-time networking, with a high-speed fibre-optic infrastructure and encrypted wireless networks connecting the headquarters with state institutions, military units, and governorates in real time.
It also has artificial intelligence (AI) powered algorithms capable of analysing vast quantities of data (Big Data) and presenting it on giant command displays to support rapid decision-making, based on advanced data processing.
In addition, the facility’s advanced cybersecurity and state-of-the-art software protections are designed to safeguard classified information and protect critical infrastructure from cyberattacks.
The headquarters is intended to enhance Egypt's military and administrative readiness by ensuring continuity and efficiency of command and decision-making during crises and emergencies, strengthening the state’s position as a regional power with an integrated, resilient defence infrastructure.
Egypt completed the relocation of all ministerial headquarters to the New Capital in July 2023, following a phased transition that began with a trial move in December 2021.
Saturday's ceremony is expected to feature high-level participation, showcasing the facility and its technological capabilities, highlighting its role in supporting strategic planning, decision-making, and national crisis management.
*Ezzat Sameh contributed to this report.
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