Vision 2050. A surgical intervention in the heart of Cairo - Vision 2050, the most recent strategic plan for the Cairo mega region, has been going through a phase of preparation and modification for four years which has not yet allowed the Egyptian government to proceed with official publication of the plan. Despite this, the Gopp (General Organisation for Physical Planning) has started to promote Vision 2050 through participation in seminars and workshops and through interviews in order to create public agreement. The article that follows initially presents a general overview of the document, based on interviews published or conducted by the author with strategic planning consultants and experts in Egypt. The second part of the text considers judgements of Vision 2050, its strong points, failings and grey areas.