CAIRO — In an attempt to empower university graduates in the northern Sinai governorate, Gov. Abdul Fadel Shosha announced July 3 that the deadline for graduates' applications for the draw of agricultural land in Bir al-Abd has been extended until Aug. 7.

The draw, which was announced March 21, is part of a project to develop the Sinai Peninsula, particularly the town of Bir al-Abd, west of el-Arish. The winners will each receive a usufruct to 5 acres of land — of the 2,500 acres made available — with the option of paying the purchase price in installments over 20 years. 

The Egyptian government is intensifying efforts to establish various service projects for northern Sinai residents in order to achieve sustainable development in line with Egypt Vision 2030.

Atef Matar, engineer and undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation in northern Sinai, told Al-Monitor, “[The governor] in northern Sinai decided to distribute 2,500 acres of land in el-Salam Canal in Bir al-Abd municipality in a public draw for the graduates and permanent residents of the governorate. Each winning applicant gets 5 acres of land. The applicant must be Egyptian, born to Egyptian parents and a graduate of an Egyptian university and unemployed. Agriculture and veterinary students are given priority.”