An aerial view of the Octagon in Egypt, as shown during a ceremony on July 4, 2026. (Screengrab from the office of the presidency's YouTube channel)
BEIRUT — Flanked by gleaming Egyptian military equipment in an elaborate ceremony, on Saturday Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi inaugurated the nation’s new, sprawling strategic command headquarters in what Cairo described as the largest complex of its kind in the Middle East.
“This massive facility transcends traditional military headquarters, serving as a miniature administrative and defense hub. It operates as an integrated center for crisis management and smart command,” the country’s state information service said in a statement.
El-Sissi said in the announcement that the strategic command represented a “significant leap” in Egypt’s command and control and operations management systems.
The 22,000 acre (34 square mile) complex is located in Cairo’s New Administrative capital, and includes eight buildings forming an Octagon shape, according to a government factsheet .
