Egyptian social media took to Twitter over the weekend as users expressed anger over an apparent mislabeling on Google Maps that showed the Ras El Hekma region on Egypt’s north coast as belonging to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It went up in flames.
The uproar came after users noticed that when searching for “Ras El Hekma” (also spelled Ras Al Hekma or Ras Al Hikma) on Google Maps, the term “UAE country” appeared for one of the locations. This was the trigger.
But did Google actually label the area as part of the UAE? A closer look at Google Maps reveals that this is not the case.
Indeed, โUAE countryโ clearly appears when searching for Ras El Hekma on Android and Apple devices, but this description is not the result of an official designation by Google. Instead, it’s based on user reviews on Google Maps.
Google highlights the reviews of users who interact the most.
Google Maps often highlights the names of lesser-known places with highly rated user reviews. In this case, the quote “UAE Nation” comes from a review left by a user named Syed Basharat, which had over 75 responses, more responses than any other review in this space ( To date, a total of 6 cases remain).
Due to this engagement, the algorithm automatically displayed this comment under the search for “Ras El Hekma” in Google Maps on mobile devices, which may have caused confusion for users.
Google has not officially responded to the outrage, and the label continues to appear in search results.
Major investment in Ras El Hekma
Ras al-Hekma on the north coast of Egypt. Photo courtesy of UN Habitat/Screengrab.
23 February 2024 Egyptian and Emirati investors announced a US$150 billion (1 trillion Egyptian pound ) signed an agreement.
The project, led by Egypt’s New Cities and Communities Authority and Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company, will reshape an area in western Alexandria. This includes a wide range of developments, including tourist facilities, free zones, residential, commercial and entertainment projects, covering an area of โโover 170 million square meters.
Modon Properties, a development company listed on the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange, was recently announced as the lead developer of the Ras El Hekma project.
Last week, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the official launch of the Ras El Hekma development plan.
The Ras El Hekma city project will be at the center of a broader effort to revitalize Egypt’s tourism and business sectors. Once completed, it aims to become a global destination and a major economic zone on the Mediterranean coast.