Taj City vs Sarai · The 2026 Complete Comparison

Taj City and Sarai are MNHD's (Madinet Nasr for Housing and Development) two flagships in New Cairo. Both sit in upper-middle-class price territory (among the most accessible large compounds in New Cairo), both offer 5% down over 10 years (the longest plan in the market), and both come from the same developer. The choice depends on subtle differences in location, area, and amenities.

In one line · TL;DR

| Metric | Taj City | Sarai | |---|---|---| | Developer | [MNHD](/en/developers/mnhd) | [MNHD](/en/developers/mnhd) | | Location | North of Suez Road, near the airport | South of Suez Road, east of the Capital | | Total area | 905 acres | 600 acres | | Total units | ~14,000 | ~9,000 | | Green coverage | 70% | 75% | | Starting price | EGP 5.4M | EGP 4.8M | | Starting EGP/sqm | 45,000 | 42,000 | | Down payment | 5% | 5% | | Installment years | 10 | 10 | | Delivery year | 2026 | 2026 |

“Prices are starting-from as of April 2026. Confirm today's number and unit availability on [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/201555571114).”

Project overviews

Taj City

Taj City launched in 2014 by MNHD across 905 acres north of the Suez Road, near Cairo International Airport. It is "the closest compound to the airport" in New Cairo. Inside: Taj International School, the Taj Mall open-air mall, a sports club, Taj Lakes (internal lakes), with delivery starting in 2020. About 50% of the project is delivered. Primary buyer: frequent travellers (for airport proximity), upper-middle-class families, and investors looking for value at a reasonable price.

Sarai

Sarai launched in 2017 by MNHD across 600 acres south of the Suez Road, east of the New Administrative Capital, close to the Presidency Square gateway. The location next to the Capital's entrance makes it favoured by those working in the Capital, with a more contemporary design than Taj City and a "Resort Living" philosophy. About 45% of the project is delivered starting in 2022. Primary buyer: families working in the Capital, investors targeting capital growth before the Capital fully opens, and those seeking a villa at a lower price than the centre.

Location showdown

| Distance to | Taj City | Sarai | |---|---|---| | Cairo Airport | 8 km | 11 km | | Downtown Cairo | 18 km | 22 km | | Cairo Festival City | 6 km | 9 km | | AUC | 14 km | 16 km | | New Administrative Capital | 22 km | 12 km | | Suez | 70 km | 60 km |

Taj City wins on airport proximity (8 km, the closest in New Cairo). Sarai wins on Capital proximity (12 km, the closest from New Cairo compounds). The choice depends on the weight of "airport" vs "Capital" in your daily life.

Master plan & density

Taj City: 14,000 units on 905 acres ≈ 15.5 units/acre. Medium density, 70% green, buildings up to 6 floors, includes Taj Lakes (3 internal lakes) and Taj Mall.
Sarai: 9,000 units on 600 acres ≈ 15 units/acre. Medium density, 75% green (higher than Taj City), buildings up to 5 floors, "Resort Living" philosophy.

The two are close on density, Sarai greener by 5%, Taj City larger in absolute area.

Unit types & sizes

Taj City

Boulevard apartments: 120–200 sqm
Duplexes and penthouses: 200–300 sqm
Townhouses: 220–320 sqm
Twin houses: 280–380 sqm
Lakeside villas: 320–460 sqm

Sarai

Standard apartments: 115–180 sqm
Duplexes / penthouses: 180–260 sqm
Townhouses: 200–280 sqm
Twin houses: 250–340 sqm
Standalone villas: 300–420 sqm

Taj City has larger villas (up to 460 sqm) and wider variety. Sarai is more focused on mid-tier units (small apartments and townhouses), better suited to young couples.

2026 pricing comparison

| Unit | Taj City | Sarai | |---|---|---| | 130 sqm apartment starts from | EGP 5.9M | EGP 5.5M | | 150 sqm apartment starts from | EGP 6.8M | EGP 6.3M | | 200 sqm apartment starts from | EGP 9.0M | EGP 8.4M | | Townhouse starts from | EGP 12M | EGP 11M | | Twin house starts from | EGP 16M | EGP 14M | | Standalone villa starts from | EGP 22M | EGP 19M | | Starting EGP/sqm | 45,000 | 42,000 |

Sarai is ~7% cheaper per sqm than Taj City. The delta is small because both come from the same developer with the same pricing philosophy. Payment plans are identical (5% down, 10 years). Both are among New Cairo's most accessible compounds at the quality offered.

“Disclosure: prices last refreshed on 24 May 2026. Message us on [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/201555571114?text=Start%20my%20consultation%20on%20Taj%20City%20vs%20Sarai) to confirm before signing.”

Amenities comparison

| Amenity | Taj City | Sarai | |---|:-:|:-:| | Taj Mall / Sarai Strip | Yes (large Taj Mall) | Yes (Sarai Strip) | | International school | Yes (Taj International School) | Yes (international school in development) | | Internal lakes | Yes (3 lakes) | Yes (1 lake) | | Sports club | Yes | Yes | | Hospital / medical centre | Yes | Yes (medical centre) | | Clubhouse | Yes | Yes | | Cycling tracks | Yes (10 km) | Yes (8 km) | | Co-working | Partial | No | | Airport proximity | 8 km | 11 km |

Taj City wins amenities thanks to the larger Taj Mall, operational international school, and 3 internal lakes. Sarai wins on Capital location.

Developer track record

MNHD (Madinet Nasr for Housing and Development) is one of Egypt's most established developers, founded in 1959 (before the republic). It has built historic projects like Nasr City, Al Rehab, and El Nozha El Gedida. Its historical track record is excellent.

In Taj City, deliveries started in 2020 and are now ~50% complete. Delivery record is clean with short delays (3–6 months). Sarai started delivery in 2022, ~45% complete, clean record.

Track records are tied — same developer, same philosophy, same quality.

Investment perspective

Price evolution 2021–2026

Taj City: 12.2% 5-year CAGR
Sarai: 13.6% 5-year CAGR

2026 rental yield

Taj City: 6.4% annualised (150 sqm rent: EGP 36–44K/month)
Sarai: 6.1% annualised (150 sqm rent: EGP 32–40K/month)

Sarai wins on capital growth because it's newer and closer to the New Administrative Capital with rising demand. Taj City wins on rental thanks to its airport-proximate location attracting expats and corporates.

Who should buy each

Buy Taj City if you:

Travel often (airport proximity matters)
Work in central New Cairo or east Cairo
Are looking for a larger villa (up to 460 sqm) at a reasonable budget
Like the idea of a large onsite mall (Taj Mall) and an operational international school
Have a budget between EGP 6–22M

Buy Sarai if you:

Work in the New Administrative Capital or are planning to move there
Are looking for a villa at a lower price than Taj City at the same quality
Have a budget between EGP 5–19M
Prefer lower density and more green coverage
Are after stronger capital growth as the Capital opens

The verdict

The Taj City vs Sarai choice isn't a "better-or-worse" call:

Taj City for the traveller and "delivered amenities" buyer: if airport proximity matters, or you need an operational international school and onsite mall, Taj City is the realistic pick. Similar budget to Sarai with more developed amenities.
Sarai for the Capital-bound buyer and the capital-growth seeker: if you work in the New Administrative Capital or are betting on its price growth, Sarai is the pick. Slightly cheaper, greener, with higher expected growth.

To narrow this down, talk to a specialist who'll compare based on your priorities.

FAQs

What's the core difference between Taj City and Sarai?

Both are by MNHD. Taj City sits north of the Suez Road near the airport (905 acres, 14,000 units). Sarai is south of the road near the New Administrative Capital (600 acres, 9,000 units). Taj City is more complete in amenities; Sarai is closer to the Capital.

Which is cheaper in 2026?

Sarai is ~7% cheaper per sqm. A 150 sqm apartment in Sarai starts at EGP 6.3M; in Taj City it starts at EGP 6.8M (April 2026).

Which is better for investment?

Sarai posted 13.6% annualised growth vs 12.2% for Taj City; Taj City yields 6.4% rental vs 6.1% for Sarai. Sarai is better for long-term growth; Taj City is better for rental income.

Which is closer to Cairo Airport?

Taj City — 8 km only (closest compound in New Cairo). Sarai 11 km. Difference is ~5 minutes at rush hour.

Which is closer to the New Administrative Capital?

Sarai — 12 km. Taj City 22 km. Difference is ~15 minutes. If you work in the Capital, Sarai is the realistic pick.

What's MNHD's payment plan?

Both at 5% down over 10 years. A market-standard plan, the longest currently offered (along with Mountain View's iCity).

Which project is more delivered?

Taj City ~50% delivered (started 2020). Sarai ~45% delivered (started 2022). The difference is small; both are in active delivery.

What's the best fit for a family with three children in international schools?

Taj City — Taj International School has been operational since 2018, Taj Mall is large, 3 lakes, and a full sports club. Sarai's onsite international school is still in development.

What's the best fit for an investor with an EGP 6M budget?

Sarai — a 145 sqm apartment at EGP 5.95M (5% down = EGP 297,500 + EGP 50K monthly over 10 years), with expected 6.1% rental yield and 13.6% capital growth. Taj City at the same budget gives a 130 sqm apartment.

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