Giza Zoo's entry fee may jump to a 100 Egyptian pounds when it reopens, a source familiar with the redevelopment efforts told Al Manassa. The ticket would also cover entry to Orman Botanical Garden.
The hike, still under review, reflects upgrades including a connecting tunnel and 300 new animals.
The Ministry of Agriculture closed the zoo on July 9, 2023, and transferred its development to a public-private coalition. At the time, the ministry said it aimed to upgrade the historic site into a modern facility. Entry at that time cost 5 pounds.
Zoo management said Monday it had cleared procedures to import 362 animals. But earlier promises of a 2024 reopening have slipped.
“The two parks won’t open in 2025,” the source told Al Manassa, requesting anonymity. “The tunnel is unfinished, and the animals haven’t arrived,” they noted.
Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk said in July the state would pay for the animals “with support from the political leadership and the Cabinet—we won’t leave anything missing.”
The redevelopment is run by a consortium with 25-year usufruct rights, aiming for both economic returns and improved visitor services, explained the source.
Outcry over animal deaths, lack of transparency
Speaking to Al Manassa, Animal rights advocate Dina Zulfikar questioned the long closure, suggesting a phased reopening could have worked. She also criticized poor transparency and linked animal deaths to construction stress.
Following online criticism and reports of animal deaths and incinerations, the consortium pledged to uphold “the highest international veterinary standards.”
The outcry grew after Al Manassa reported a mass incineration of lions and tigers, with sources estimating dozens of deaths since construction began.
In response, the consortium said some animals were euthanized “to protect the rest of the zoo population and visitors.”
The redevelopment consortium, led by the National Organization for Military Production, includes Abnaa Sinai for Construction and Building, and Hadayieq, which is chaired by Mohamed Kamel—the former CEO of Estadat Sports Investment Company, a state-linked sports facility operator.
Two foreign firms, Harrison Assessments and Worldwide Zoo, are also involved. Their role is limited to the first five years of the 25-year agreement.
