Cairo - Mubasher: The Egyptian minister of housing, utilities and Urban Development said Wednesday that his ministry has been working for two and a half years on establishing nine new cities.

The new projects are led by the new administrative capital, as well as the New Alamein, East Port Said, Al Galala, New Ismailia, Toshka, West Qena, Nasser City, and the New Mansoura, minister Moustafa Madbouli said in a statement.

Recently 500 land lots were offered for residential projects in West Qena, and Nasser City west of Asyut, the minister added.

Soon, work will begin on developing the new city of Mansoura, which has a 20 kilometer waterfront in a special location, he noted.