The cornerstone of Zewail City of Science and Technology was laid on January 1, 2000 in the Sheikh Zayed District in 6th of October City. The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Dr. Ahmed Zewail, former Prime Minister Dr. Atef Ebeid, and a number of ministers, including Ahmed Nazif, who later headed the ministry.

After many obstacles in its establishment, the January 25, 2011 revolution sparked a new spirit in the project, and the Egyptian government asked Dr. Ahmed Zewail to form the Supreme Consultative Council and re-launch the initiative in its original location. On May 11, 2011 the Council of Ministers issued a decision establishing the National Project for the Scientific Renaissance, and named it Zewail City of Science and Technology.

The city was officially opened on November 1, 2011 on two buildings of the Egyptian government, Sheikh Zayed. The legal entity of the city was completed after the promulgation of Law 161 on December 20, 2012 that outlines the goals and components of the city, as well as financial and administrative structures. On April 9, 2014, the former Egyptian President, Adly Mansour, issued a Republican Decree (No. 115) allocating 198 acres; To build the new headquarters for the city of Zewail in the October Gardens area in 6th of October City. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, has assigned the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces to build and construct the new site for the city.

The University of Science and Technology, as well as research institutes in the city of Zewail, are operating at full capacity at the city site in Sheikh Zayed, in line with the decision of the former Prime Minister, Engineer Ibrahim Mahlab, No. (832), so that construction work on the new site can be completed. In addition, the city's administrative headquarters, located in the Garden City area of ​​Cairo, are also operating today.