President Hosni Mubarak has decided to transfer Luxor City into Egypt’s 29th governorate.

This came during the President's visit to Luxor city on Monday 7/12/2009. During the visit, the President inaugurated a number of projects within the framework of the comprehensive development plan which costs LE2.2 billion.
Mubarak made the decision as he inaugurated new el-Tod village in the hinterland of Luxor.

The President ordered a study be made into merging Isna and Armant in the new Luxor governorate. The decision was met with applause from people who gathered to welcome the President.

This is the third visit by Mubarak to Luxor since comprehensive development projects started in the city to turn it into an open international museum.
Luxor has now become Egypt's 29th governorate after Helwan and the 6th of October were recently declared separate governorates.

Mubarak's visit to Luxor reflects his keenness to achieve comprehensive development and to see for himself how far his electoral platform is being implemented on the ground.

Development projects in Luxor are meant to increase the flow of tourism and investment and to create more jobs for Upper Egyptians.

The projects also aim to upgrade services and to improve living conditions of citizens.