The new demarcation of Egyptian provincial borders, announced by Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in May, is starting to be implemented. Maj. Gen. Adel Labib, minister of state for local development, announced the establishment of three new provinces: Central Sinai, El Alamein and Oases. Labib also announced that the government intended to redraw the provincial boundaries and that it has already completed some, but details were yet to be announced.

According to Sisi’s program, the number of provinces will increase from 27 to 33. The demarcation of new provinces faces objections, especially from residents of border and remote regions inhabited by Arab tribes in the provinces of Sinai, the Red Sea (eastward), Nubia (south) and Marsa Matrouh (westward).

Marwan Rabah, vice president of the Federation of the Sinai tribes, told Al-Monitor that the demarcation of new provinces was of no benefit, and that it would lead to damage in the cities al-Hasana and Nakhl (poorest in the Sinai) by separating them from north Sinai and converting them into provinces with independent funds (under central Sinai).

“The financial allocations of each province depend on its own resources, and Hasana and Nakhl are the poorest in terms of resources, which will lead to a lack of funds in central Sinai, and an increase in people's poverty,” Rabah said.