New Valley Governorate


New Valley Governorate or El Wadi El Gedid Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is in the southwestern part of the country, in Egypt's Western Desert, between the Nile, northern Sudan, and southeastern Libya.
Consisting of roughly half of Egypt's area, this spacious governorate is the country's largest and one of the biggest subnational divisions on the African continent, as well as 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.

Municipal divisions

The governorate is divided into municipal divisions with a total estimated population as of July 2017 of 242,300. In the case of New Valley governorate, there is one kism with urban and rural parts, and four marakiz.
Anglicized nameNative nameArabic transliterationPopulation
Type
Khargaقسم الواحات الخارجةAl-Wāḥāt al-Khārijah90,650 Kism
Balatمركز بلاطBalāṭ12,268 Markaz
Dakhlaمركز شرطة الداخلةShurṭah al-Dākhlah89,868 Markaz
Farafraمركز شرطة الفرافرةShurṭah al-Farāfirah35,899 Markaz
Barisمركز شرطة باريسShurṭah Bārīs13,615 Markaz

In an effort to decentralize the administration of Kharga, it was divided into four sections effective 19 June, 2018.

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.
According to population estimates, in 2018 the population was 245,000, with an urbanization rate of 46.7%.

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.

Industrial zones

According to the Egyptian Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones, in affiliation with the Ministry of Investment, the following industrial zones are located in this governorate:

History

;2011 Egyptian revolution
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.

Industry