Quarries in the mountain and access roads: What is Egypt building underground?

Egypt is advancing construction of an underground complex carved into a mountainside near the Cairo-Suez road. Geo-analyst Ben Zion Maklas published a satellite image comparison and estimated that most of the construction and excavation work has been completed. The exact purpose of the complex remains unknown.

Egypt is advancing construction of an underground complex carved into a mountainside near the Cairo-Suez road, about 70 km east of Cairo and west of the Suez Canal. Geo-analyst Ben Zion Maklas published yesterday (Monday) a satellite image comparison of the site and estimated that most of the construction and excavation work has already been completed, with mainly interior finishing and environmental development remaining before activation. The documentation shows excavation sites, a covered entrance, and paved access roads. The monitoring of the site has continued for over a year: in August 2025, Maklas reported new excavation work that began in June of that year, and estimated that these are tunnels for military use, noting the site's proximity to a fenced base and a Russian Rezonans-NE radar system. In September, he published a close-up showing one completed entrance, two under excavation, and a fourth whose work was apparently halted due to engineering constraints. The exact purpose of the complex, the extent of its internal spaces, and the equipment intended for it remain unknown.