Egypt opens Octagon, largest defense ministry complex

Egypt has inaugurated a sprawling new military command complex, described by officials as the world's largest defense ministry building, in a ceremony marked by military pageantry and a rare public appearance by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in uniform. The facility, known as the Octagon, was formally opened on Saturday, July 4, in the New Administrative Capital east of Cairo.

President Sisi presided over the inauguration, arriving under an escort of attack helicopters and wearing military attire for the first time in more than a decade. The ceremony featured a 21-gun salute, an aerial display, and a military parade. Sisi signed an official inauguration charter and raised the Armed Forces flag over the facility.

The State Strategic Command Headquarters covers approximately 22,000 acres, an area comparable in size to the city of Lisbon. The complex consists of eight interconnected octagonal buildings surrounding central command structures. Egyptian authorities describe it as the largest defense and administrative complex in the Middle East, surpassing the Pentagon in physical scale. Officials said the design blends traditional Egyptian architecture with modern military...