full major city built from scratch and pitched as a model for sustainable living. So, can the infrastructure, connectivity and social inclusion keep up with the hype, or will it only serve a select few with the resources to live in it.

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than structural transformation. CFC feels like a test case of what it means to build a new financial city on an existing city’s footprint, ambitious and well-connected, yet still dealing with the issue of who benefits and how genuinely transformative it can be for the local population.

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That narrative comes with a caveat, critics say that while the tower blocks and tax incentives draw global firms, the shift hasn’t really tackled deeper inequalities inside Morocco, and two-thirds of Moroccan exports still go to Europe rather than Africa. Some argue that the hub is more about optics

The piece highlights that Moroccan investment in Africa jumped from 100 million USD in 2014 to 2.8 billion USD in 2024, while CFC now ranks 4th in the Middle East & Africa region on the Global Financial Centres Index.

Yet the real test will be who actually lives there, how affordable it remains, and whether it genuinely shifts the urban burdens of Dakar or simply becomes a tech-elite enclave.

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What stands out is how the design leans hard into symbolism with buildings inspired by the baobab tree, green roofs, and LEED certification.

and whether the infrastructure, affordability and social fabric will keep pace.

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but a prototype for China’s next phase of urbanisation where innovation, technology and state planning combine. At the same time, “city of the future” labels often gloss over what everyday life will actually be like for residents,

by February, four centrally-administered SOEs already relocated, and dozens of high-tech firms establishing operations there. What strikes me is how much of the narrative is about model-building, not just a new city,

But can all this growth be managed so that it benefits local residents and stays sustainable, or will it tilt toward investor-driven development and leave ordinary people behind?

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highways that have cut travel time up to half, its green metro, smart-city upgrades, and a major hotel. This kind of rapid mobilization is exciting as it shows how a city can pivot to national contender.

driven by tourism and foreign capital. What I find fascinating is the tension this creates, on one hand, it’s real estate with global appeal, and on the other hand, it raises questions about local access, sovereignty and whether these developments serve Egyptian residents at all.

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climate risks like heavy rain. The less good news is that it still struggles with financial issues and fairness. Green design doesn’t mean equitable growth. Is a “smart, sustainable” city good if it only has a few benefits and the rest are left exposed to the same old risks?

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Farmers remain cautious, infrastructure gaps persist, and public trust is weak. Can this project truly recover?

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Recently the project has been relaunched with a renewed investment and heavy machinery now back on site. But this comeback risks stalling again because the political divide that halted Amaravati in the first place hasn’t disappeared.

wonder whether the vision will match the practicalities of delivering homes, jobs and connectivity in a remote border region. It’s an inspiring concept, but ambition alone won’t make it a lived-in place.

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