Consisting of roughly half of Egypt's area, this spacious governorate is the country's largest and most sparsely populated, and one of the largest country subdivisions in the world. At 440,098 square kilometers in area, New Valley Governorate is just slightly larger than the country of Iraq. The capital is at the Kharga Oasis. New Valley Governate is named after the New Valley Project, which aims to irrigate parts of the Western Desert.
Municipal divisions
The governorate is divided into municipal divisions with a total estimated population as of January 2023 of 265,003. In the case of New Valley governorate, there is one kism with urban and rural parts, and four marakiz.[2]
In an effort to decentralize the administration of Kharga, it was divided into four sections effective 19 June, 2018.[5]
Population
According to population estimates, in 2015 the majority of residents in the governorate lived in rural areas, with an urbanization rate of only 48.0%. Out of an estimated 225,416 people residing in the governorate, 117,180 people lived in rural areas and only 108,236 lived in urban areas.[6][7]
According to population estimates, in 2018 the population was 245,000, with an urbanization rate of 46.7%.[8]
Cities, towns, oases
New Valley has a number of cities, towns and oases. As of 2018, Kharga Oasis, and Dakhla Oasis were the two places in New Valley with a population of over 15,000. Farafra Oasis and Baris Oasis are also in New Valley.[9]
More information Anglicized name, Native name ...
Cities and towns with over 15,000 inhabitants
Anglicized name
Native name
Arabic transliteration
Nov. 1996 Census
Nov. 2006 Census
Population (July 2017 Est.)
Kharga Oasis
الخارجة
Al-Khārijah
49,446
60,584
72,558
Dakhla
الداخلة
Mūṭ (Ad-Dākhlah)
16,252
20,439
23,415
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Industrial zones
According to the Egyptian Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), in affiliation with the Ministry of Investment (MOI), the following industrial zones are located in this governorate:[10]
Al Kharga
Heavy industrial zone - El Dakhla
Heavy industrial zone - Wadi Waer West
New Valley also contains some farming areas created by the New Valley project, like Sharq El Owainat.
Violent clashes were reported in the New Valley Governorate on February 8–9, 2011 as part of the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Protesters set fire to police stations and the National Democratic Party building. Multiple deaths were reported in addition to hundreds of injuries amid claims that the police opened fire on protesters in Kharga Oasis with live ammunition.[11][12]
"تقسيم مدينة الخارجة إلى 4 أحياء وتعيين رؤساء لها"[Divide the city of Kharja into 4 districts and appoint its chiefs]. El Watane News (in Arabic). 19 June 2018. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
