How did Muhammad Ali revive Alexandria in the early 1800s?

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Abu El-Abbas mosque in Alexandria, Egypt, featuring ornate domes, arched entrances, intricate stonework, and a large patterned courtyard in the foreground. — Alexandria The mosque of Abū al-ʿAbbās al-Mursī, Alexandria, Egypt.

Following his appointment as Ottoman viceroy of Egypt in 1805, Muḥammad ʿAlī initiated the revival of Alexandria to serve as a base for expanding his power. His efforts included several key infrastructure and economic developments:

Infrastructure: He reconnected Alexandria to the Nile by constructing the 45-mile-long Al-Maḥmūdiyyah Canal, which was completed between 1818 and 1820. Additionally, he established an arsenal to locally produce warships, aiming to rebuild his naval fleet.1
Economic Growth: He encouraged foreign trade by utilizing the Capitulations, which granted foreign merchants specific legal rights and privileges, attracting them to settle in the city. Furthermore, the introduction of cotton cultivation in the 1820s transformed the city into a major commercial and banking center as European demand for the commodity grew.1
Labor Force: While some Egyptians were conscripted into the urban labour force, the city's expanding economic opportunities also drew many others to the area, fueling its growth.1