Cairo to be Garden City once again

In the desert, an oasis is akin to paradise and in the sands of Egypt, many of history's greatest gardens flowered on the banks of the Nile.

But in Cairo, a city of 16 million people that has ballooned on the ruins of many Islamic dynasties from the 8th century Abbasid Caliphs to 19th century Ottomans, there has been, for several generations, barely a footprint of unbuilt open space for each of the city's inhabitants. Cairo has been choking on natural dust storms, the grit of modernity and even the smoke of kebab grills that are set up along the river bank every evening - with nary a green spot to retreat to.

Until now.