Egypt, Then and Now: A Brief History of Surviving Turmoil and Rebuilding for the Future

Following a period of political instability, economic hardship, and acts of terrorism, Egypt today is stabilizing and gradually moving toward a safer, more open, and more prosperous society. Although much work remains to reset old institutional practices, Egypt’s future is looking bright. It has a young and well-educated population and is attracting foreign investment, partnering with Israel in joint ventures and technology, and re-energizing tourist trade. And the young government is already acting on its dual commitment to advance religious tolerance while curbing religious extremism. Egypt’s journey out of instability and unrest is a remarkable one, but it’s far easier to see where the nation is going — and how far it’s already come — by examining its past. Read on for three telling snapshots of Egypt’s progress, then and now. Some 5,000 Years Ago: The Great Pyramid, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, rises from the sands of Giza, alongside the magisterial shape of the Sphinx. To this day, researchers debate how the ancient Pharaohs could have built the pyramids without modern engineering or equipment. Now: The same civilization that gave us the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World that survives intact to this day, is now bringing its ancient tradition into the future — using the latest in sustainable design and technologies to build a new capital city 28 miles east of Cairo. The planned $45 billion development will populate 270 square miles with everything from foreign embassies, financial services, and industrial zones to educational institutions, smart villages, and a medical city. Not to mention a 5,000-seat conference center, the world’s largest park and housing for over five million people. 2012: After narrowly winning the presidential race, Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi purges secular and liberal leaders from government. With an Islamist-dominated constituent assembly in place, a new constitution is rushed through to elevate the role of Islam and limit freedom of speech and assembly. Protests mount from opposition leaders across secular, Christian, and women’s groups. Now: Not only is promoting religious tolerance a cornerstone of President Sisi’s agenda, a new constitution passed by national referendum mandates a clear separation of powers, with checks and balances between the President, Judiciary, and Parliament. Protections for fundamental civil rights are given vigorous debate and are also enshrined in the constitution. With more women, youth, and Coptic Christians serving than ever, the new Parliament is the most diverse in Egypt’s history. At every turn, the country is positioning to deliver on its commitment to the ongoing improvement of civil rights and Egypt’s social, political, and economic institutions. 2011: With the worldwide food price index reaching an all-time high, Egypt, the world’s biggest importer of wheat, is hit particularly hard as bread gets harder to find and more expensive to buy. The nation stands on the precipice — about to slide into its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Now: Standard & Poor’s, Fitch, and Moody’s have all upgraded Egypt’s sovereign credit rating to stable. A new startup scene in Cairo is exploding. A $4 billion Eurobond issued by the government in early 2017 was oversubscribed by three times. With a highly-educated, young, and ambitious population, Egypt is swiftly reshaping — and recharging — the engines of its economy. As tourism steadily returns, investments in already dependable revenue streams like the Suez Canal are priming to pay off. And to address systemic imbalances in the economy, the government has launched a comprehensive structural reform program, giving foreign investors even more confidence in Egypt’s medium- and long-term economic prospects. 1948: Egypt joins Iraq, Jordan, and Syria in attacking the new state of Israel. Now: 38 years since becoming the first of only two Arab nations to sign a peace treaty with Israel — the single most significant diplomatic achievement for the promotion of Arab-Israeli peace — Egypt’s commitment to Israeli relations has only strengthened under the current government. Egypt actively serves as a broker between Palestinian factions, and plays a leading role in fostering people-to-people relationships between the United States and the Arab world. Its leadership among moderate Arab states has helped earn the nation a seat as one of ten non-permanent members of the UN Security Council. Download the fact sheet to learn more.