In an interview with Al-Estiklal, Egyptian economic expert Abdul Hafiz al-Sawi criticized the decision to reopen the famous Helwan Iron and Steel Factory, calling it a sign of confusion and inconsistency in the country’s economic policymaking after the plant was shut down in 2021.

El-Sisi’s rule in Egypt mirrors a dangerous blend of authoritarian megalomania and ill-conceived, grandiose projects—driven more by personal whim than logic—resulting in widespread economic mismanagement, public ridicule, and deepening national crises.