Cairo

CairoTemplate:Efn is the capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate. It is home to more than 9.8 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world, and the Middle East. The Greater Cairo metropolitan area is one of the largest in the world by population with over 22 million people. Areas of what would become Cairo were inhabited from pre-dynastic and early-dynastic ancient Egypt c. 6000 years ago, as the Giza pyramid complex and the ancient cities of Memphis and Heliopolis are today within the city.

Located near the Nile Delta, the predecessor city was Fustat following Babylon. Subsequently, Cairo was founded in 969. It later superseded Fustat as the main urban centre during the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods (12th–16th centuries).Template:Sfn Cairo has since become a longstanding centre of political and cultural life, and is titled "the city of a thousand minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture. Cairo's historic center was awarded World Heritage Site status in 1979. The city is considered a regional center of finance and commerce, academics and the arts, and is home to the Cairo Symphony Orchestra and the Cairo Opera House, while the Academy of Arts provides visual arts education.

Cairo is home to Egypt's oldest university, Al-Azhar University, one of the oldest universities in the world, as well as the oldest and largest film and music industry in Africa and the Arab world. Many international media, businesses, and organizations have regional headquarters in Cairo, such as the headquarters of the Arab League, and the regional offices of the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, and the African Space Agency.

Cairo is a key global city and, like many other megacities, suffers from high levels of pollution and traffic. The Cairo Metro, opened in 1987, is the oldest metro system in Africa, and ranks amongst the fifteen busiest in the world, with over 1 billion annual passenger rides. The economy of Cairo was ranked first in the Middle East in 2005 by Foreign Policy's Global Cities Index, and first in Africa in 2025 according to the International Monetary Fund, and continues to be a major destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) due to its massive consumer market and strategic location.

Etymology

The name of Cairo is derived from the Arabic (), meaning 'the Vanquisher' or 'the Conqueror', given by the Fatimid Caliph al-Mu'izz following the establishment of the city as the capital of the Fatimid dynasty. Its full, formal name was (), meaning 'the Vanquisher of al-Mu'izz'. It is also supposedly due to the fact that the planet Mars, known in Arabic by names such as (, 'the Conquering Star'), was rising at the time of the city's founding.

Egyptians often refer to Cairo as (; ), the Egyptian Arabic name for Egypt itself, emphasising the city's importance for the country.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

There are a number of Coptic names for the city. Tikešrōmi (Template:Langx Late Coptic: ) is attested in the 1211 text The Martyrdom of John of Phanijoit and is either a calque meaning 'man breaker' (, 'the', , 'to break', and , 'man'), akin to Arabic , or a derivation from Arabic (qaṣr ar-rūm, "the Roman castle"), another name of Babylon Fortress in Old Cairo. The Arabic name is also calqued as ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ϯⲣⲉϥϭⲣⲟ, "the victor city" in the Coptic antiphonary.

The form Khairon (Template:Langx) is attested in the modern Coptic text Ⲡⲓⲫⲓⲣⲓ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ϯⲁⲅⲓⲁ ⲙ̀ⲙⲏⲓ Ⲃⲉⲣⲏⲛⲁ (The Tale of Saint Verina).Template:Better source needed ( Late Coptic: ) or ( Late Coptic: ) is another name which is descended from the Greek name of Heliopolis (). Some argue that ( Late Coptic: ) or ( Late Coptic: ) is another Coptic name for Cairo, although others think that it is rather a name for the Abbasid province capital al-Askar. () is a popular modern rendering of an Arabic name (others being [Kairon] and [Kahira]), which is modern folk etymology meaning 'land of sun'. Some argue that it was the name of an Egyptian settlement upon which Cairo was built, but it is rather doubtful as this name is not attested in any Hieroglyphic or Demotic source, although some researchers, like Paul Casanova, view it as a legitimate theory. Cairo is also referred to as (Late Coptic: ) or (Late Coptic: ), which means Egypt in Coptic, the same way it is referred to in Egyptian Arabic.

People from Alexandria sometimes informally refer to the city as (; Template:Langx).

History

Ancient settlements

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The remains of a circular Roman tower at Babylon Fortress, late 3rd century, in Old Cairo

The area around present-day Cairo had long been a focal point of Ancient Egypt due to its strategic location at the junction of the Nile Valley and the Nile Delta regions (roughly Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt), which also placed it at the crossing of major routes between North Africa and the Levant.Template:Sfn Memphis, the capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom and a major city up until the Ptolemaic period, was located a short distance south west of present-day Cairo. Heliopolis, another important city and major religious center, was located in what are now the modern districts of Matariya and Ain Shams in northeastern Cairo. It was largely destroyed by the Persian invasions in 525 BC and 343 BC and partly abandoned by the late first century BC.Template:Sfn

However, the origins of modern Cairo are generally traced back to a series of settlements in the first millennium AD. Around the turn of the fourth century,Template:Sfn as Memphis was continuing to decline in importance, the Romans established a large fortress along the east bank of the Nile. The trading post of Babylon, first mentioned in 50 BC, became a fortress, built by the Roman emperor Diocletian (r. 285–305) at the entrance of a canal connecting the Nile to the Red Sea that was created earlier by Emperor Trajan (r. 98–117).Template:EfnTemplate:Sfn Further north of the fortress, near the present-day district of al-Azbakiya, was a port and fortified outpost known as Tendunyas (Template:Langx) or Umm Dunayn.Template:Sfn While no structures older than the 7th century have been preserved in the area aside from the Roman fortifications, historical evidence suggests that a sizeable city existed. The city was important enough that its bishop, Cyrus, participated in the Second Council of Ephesus in 449.Template:Sfn

The Byzantine-Sassanian War between 602 and 628 caused great hardship and likely led much of the urban population to leave for the countryside, leaving the settlement partly deserted.Template:Sfn The site today remains at the nucleus of the Coptic Orthodox community, which separated from the Roman and Byzantine churches in the late 4th century. Cairo's oldest extant churches, such as the Church of Saint Barbara and the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus (from the late 7th or early 8th century), are located inside the fortress walls in what is now known as Old Cairo or Coptic Cairo.Template:Sfn

Fustat and other early Islamic settlements

A man on a donkey walks past a palm tree, with a mosque and market behind Mohamed kamal

Excavated ruins of Fustat, 2004

The Muslim conquest of Byzantine Egypt was led by Amr ibn al-As from 639 to 642. Babylon Fortress was besieged in September 640 and fell in April 641. In 641 or early 642, after the surrender of Alexandria, the Egyptian capital at the time, he founded a new settlement next to Babylon Fortress.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The city, known as Fustat (Template:Langx), served as a garrison town and as the new administrative capital of Egypt. Historians such as Janet Abu-Lughod and André Raymond trace the genesis of present-day Cairo to the foundation of Fustat.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

The choice of founding a new settlement at this inland location, instead of using the existing capital of Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast, may have been due to the new conquerors' strategic priorities. One of the first projects of the new Muslim administration was to clear and re-open Trajan's ancient canal in order to ship grain more directly from Egypt to Medina, the capital of the caliphate in Arabia.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn Ibn al-As also founded a mosque for the city at the same time, now known as the Mosque of Amr Ibn al-As, the oldest mosque in Egypt and Africa (although the current structure dates from later expansions).Template:Sfn

A man on a donkey walks past a palm tree, with a mosque and market behind Mohamed kamal

The Nilometer in Cairo, built by the order of the Abbasid caliph al-Mutawakkil (r. 847–861)

In 750, following the overthrow of the Umayyad Caliphate by the Abbasids, the new rulers created their own settlement to the northeast of Fustat which became the new provincial capital. This was known as al-Askar (Template:Langx) as it was laid out like a military camp. A governor's residence and a new mosque were also added, with the latter completed in 786.Template:Sfn The Red Sea canal re-excavated in the 7th century was closed by the Abbasid Caliph al-Mansur (Template:Reign),Template:Sfn but a part of the canal, known as the Khalij, continued to be a major feature of Cairo's geography and of its water supply until the 19th century.Template:Sfn In 861, on the orders of the Abbasid Caliph al-Mutawakkil, a Nilometer was built on Roda Island near Fustat. Although it was repaired and given a new roof in later centuries, its basic structure is still preserved today, making it the oldest preserved Islamic-era structure in Cairo today.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

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The Mosque of Ibn Tulun, built by Ahmad Ibn Tulun in 876–879 AD

In 868, a commander of Turkic origin named Bakbak was sent to Egypt by the Abbasid Caliph al-Mu'taz to restore order after a rebellion in the country. He was accompanied by his stepson, Ahmad ibn Tulun, who became effective governor of Egypt. Over time, Ibn Tulun gained an army and accumulated influence and wealth, allowing him to become the de facto independent ruler of both Egypt and Syria by 878.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn In 870, he used his growing wealth to found a new administrative capital, al-Qata'i (Template:Langx), to the northeast of Fustat and of al-Askar.Template:Sfn

The new city included a palace known as the Dar al-Imara, a parade ground known as al-Maydan, a bimaristan (hospital), and an aqueduct to supply water. Between 876 and 879 Ibn Tulun built a great mosque, now known as the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, at the center of the city, next to the palace.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn After his death in 884, Ibn Tulun was succeeded by his son and his descendants who continued a short-lived dynasty, the Tulunids. In 905, the Abbasids sent general Muhammad Sulayman al-Katib to re-assert direct control over the country. Tulunid rule was ended and al-Qatta'i was razed to the ground, except for the mosque which remains standing today.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Foundation and expansion of Cairo under the Fatimids

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The Al-Azhar Mosque, built in 970–972 in the wake of the establishment of Cairo as the capital of the Fatimid Caliphate

In 969, the Fatimid Caliphate conquered Egypt after ruling from Ifriqiya. The Fatimid Caliph al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah instructed his courtier and general Jawhar al-Saqili to establish a new fortified city northeast of Fustat and of former al-Qata'i. It took four years to build the city, initially known as al-Manṣūriyyah,Template:Sfn which was to serve as the new capital of the caliphate. During that time, the construction of the al-Azhar Mosque was commissioned by order of the caliph, which developed into the third-oldest university in the world. Cairo would eventually become a centre of learning, with the library of Cairo containing hundreds of thousands of books.Template:Sfn When Caliph al-Mu'izz arrived from the old Fatimid capital of Mahdia in Tunisia in 973, he gave the city its present name, Qāhirat al-Mu'izz ("The Vanquisher of al-Mu'izz"),Template:Sfn from which the name "Cairo" (al-Qāhira) originates. The caliphs lived in a vast and lavish palace complex that occupied the heart of the city. Cairo remained a relatively exclusive royal city for most of this era, but during the tenure of Badr al-Gamali as vizier (1073–1094) the restrictions were loosened for the first time and richer families from Fustat were allowed to move into the city.Template:Sfn Between 1087 and 1092 Badr al-Gamali also rebuilt the city walls in stone and constructed the city gates of Bab al-Futuh, Bab al-Nasr, and Bab Zuweila that still stand today.Template:Sfn

During the Fatimid period Fustat reached its apogee in size and prosperity, acting as a center of craftsmanship and international trade and as the area's main port on the Nile.Template:Sfn Historical sources report that multi-story communal residences existed in the city, particularly in its center, which were typically inhabited by middle and lower-class residents. Some of these were as high as seven stories and could house some 200 to 350 people.Template:Sfn They may have been similar to Roman insulae and may have been the prototypes for the rental apartment complexes which became common in the later Mamluk and Ottoman periods.Template:Sfn However, in 1168 the Fatimid vizier Shawar set fire to the unfortified Fustat to prevent its potential capture by Amalric, the Crusader king of Jerusalem. While the fire did not destroy the city and it continued to exist afterward, it did mark the beginning of its decline. Over the following centuries it was Cairo, the former palace-city, that became the new economic center and attracted migration from Fustat.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

A multi-domed mosque dominates the walled Citadel, with ruined tombs and a lone minaret in front.

The Cairo Citadel, seen above in the 19th century, commissioned in 1176

While the Crusaders did not capture the city in 1168, a continuing power struggle between Shawar, King Amalric, and the Zengid general Shirkuh led to the downfall of the Fatimid establishment.Template:Sfn In 1169, Shirkuh's nephew Saladin was appointed as the new vizier of Egypt by the Fatimids, and two years later, he seized power from the family of the last Fatimid caliph, al-'Āḍid.Template:Sfn As the first Sultan of Egypt, Saladin established the Ayyubid dynasty, based in Cairo, and aligned Egypt with the Sunni Abbasids, who were based in Baghdad.Template:Sfn In 1176, Saladin began construction on the Cairo Citadel, which was to serve as the seat of the Egyptian government until the mid-19th century. The construction of the Citadel definitively ended Fatimid-built Cairo's status as an exclusive palace-city and opened it up to common Egyptians and to foreign merchants, spurring its commercial development. Along with the Citadel, Saladin also began the construction of a new 20-kilometre-long wall that would protect both Cairo and Fustat on their eastern side and connect them with the new Citadel. These construction projects continued beyond Saladin's lifetime and were completed under his Ayyubid successors.Template:Sfn

Further expansion and decline under the Ayyubids and Mamluks

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The Mausoleum-Madrasa-Hospital complex of Sultan Qalawun, built in 1284–1285 in the center of Cairo, over the remains of a Fatimid palace

In 1250, during the Seventh Crusade, the Ayyubid dynasty had a crisis with the death of al-Salih and power transitioned instead to the Mamluks, partly with the help of al-Salih's wife, Shajar ad-Durr, who ruled for a brief period around this time.Template:Sfn Mamluks were soldiers who were purchased as young slaves and raised to serve in the sultan's army. Between 1250 and 1517 the throne of the Mamluk Sultanate passed from one mamluk to another in a system of succession that was generally non-hereditary, but also frequently violent and chaotic.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The Mamluk Empire nonetheless became a major power in the region and was responsible for repelling the advance of the Mongols (most famously at the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260) and for eliminating the last Crusader states in the Levant.Template:Sfn

Despite their military character, the Mamluks were also prolific builders and left a rich architectural legacy throughout Cairo. Continuing a practice started by the Ayyubids, much of the land occupied by former Fatimid palaces was sold and replaced by newer buildings, becoming a prestigious site for the construction of Mamluk religious and funerary complexes.Template:Sfn Construction projects initiated by the Mamluks pushed the city outward while also bringing new infrastructure to the centre of the city.Template:Sfn Meanwhile, Cairo flourished as a centre of Islamic scholarship and a crossroads on the spice trade route among the civilisations in Afro-Eurasia.Template:Sfn Under the reign of the Mamluk sultan al-Nasir Muhammad (1293–1341, with interregnums), Cairo reached its apogee in terms of population and wealth.Template:Sfn By 1340, Cairo had a population of close to half a million, making it the largest city west of China.Template:Sfn

Multi-story buildings occupied by rental apartments, known as a rab' (plural ribā' or urbu), became common in the Mamluk period and continued to be a feature of the city's housing during the later Ottoman period.Template:Sfn These apartments were often laid out as multi-story duplexes or triplexes. They were sometimes attached to caravanserais, where the two lower floors were for commercial and storage purposes and the multiple stories above them were rented out to tenants. The oldest partially-preserved example of this type of structure is the Wikala of Amir Qawsun, built before 1341.Template:Sfn Residential buildings were in turn organised into close-knit neighbourhoods called a harat, which in many cases had gates that could be closed off at night or during disturbances.Template:Sfn

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Funerary complex of Sultan Qaytbay, built in 1470–1474 in the Northern Cemetery (seen in 1880)

When the traveller Ibn Battuta first came to Cairo in 1326, he described it as the principal district of Egypt.Template:Sfn When he passed through the area again on his return journey in 1348, the Black Death was ravaging most major cities. He cited reports of thousands of deaths per day in Cairo.Template:Sfn Although Cairo avoided Europe's stagnation during the Late Middle Ages, it could not escape the Black Death, which struck the city more than fifty times between 1348 and 1517.Template:Sfn

During its initial and most deadly waves, approximately 200,000 people were killed by the plague,Template:Sfn and by the 15th century, Cairo's population had been reduced to between 150,000 and 300,000.Template:Sfn The population decline was accompanied by a period of political instability between 1348 and 1412. It was nonetheless in this period that the largest Mamluk-era religious monument, the Madrasa-Mosque of Sultan Hasan, was built.Template:Sfn In the late 14th century, the Burji Mamluks replaced the Bahri Mamluks as rulers of the Mamluk state, but the Mamluk system continued to decline.Template:Sfn

Though the plagues returned frequently throughout the 15th century, Cairo remained a major metropolis and its population recovered in part through rural migration.Template:Sfn More conscious efforts were conducted by rulers and city officials to redress the city's infrastructure and cleanliness. Its economy and politics also became more deeply connected with the wider Mediterranean.Template:Sfn Some Mamluk sultans in this period, such as Barbsay (r. 1422–1438) and Qaytbay (r. 1468–1496), had relatively long and successful reigns.Template:Sfn After al-Nasir Muhammad, Qaytbay was one of the most prolific patrons of art and architecture of the Mamluk era. He built or restored numerous monuments in Cairo, in addition to commissioning projects beyond Egypt.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The crisis of Mamluk power and of Cairo's economic role deepened after Qaytbay. The city's status was diminished after Vasco da Gama discovered a sea route around the Cape of Good Hope between 1497 and 1499, thereby allowing spice traders to avoid Cairo.Template:Sfn

Ottoman rule

File:Environs du Kaire (Cairo). Plan général de Boulâq, du Kaire, de l'île de Roudah (el-Rôda), du Vieux Kaire et de Gyzeh (Jîzah) (NYPL b14212718-1268726).jpg

A map of Cairo in 1809, from the Description de l'Égypte

Cairo's political influence diminished significantly after the Ottomans defeated Sultan al-Ghuri in the Battle of Marj Dabiq in 1516 and conquered Egypt in 1517. Ruling from Constantinople, Sultan Selim I relegated Egypt to a province, with Cairo as its capital.Template:Sfn For this reason, the history of Cairo during the Ottoman era is often described as inconsequential, especially in comparison to other time periods.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

During the 16th and 17th centuries, Cairo still remained an important economic and cultural centre. Although no longer on the spice route, the city facilitated the transportation of Yemeni coffee and Indian textiles, primarily to Anatolia, North Africa, and the Balkans. Cairene merchants were instrumental in bringing goods to the barren Hejaz, especially during the annual hajj to Mecca.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn It was during this same period that al-Azhar University attained a predominance among Islamic schools that it continues to hold today;Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn pilgrims on their way to hajj often attested to the superiority of the institution, which had become associated with Egypt's body of Islamic scholars.Template:Sfn The first printing press of the Middle East, printing in Hebrew, was established in Cairo c. Template:Trim by a scion of the Soncino family of printers, Italian Jews of Ashkenazi origin who operated a press in Constantinople. The existence of the press is known solely from two fragments discovered in the Cairo Geniza.

File:Louis Comfort Tiffany - On the Way between Old and New Cairo, Citadel Mosque of Mohammed Ali, and Tombs of the Mamelukes - Google Art Project.jpg

Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933). On the Way Between Old and New Cairo, Citadel Mosque of Mohammed Ali, and Tombs of the Mamelukes, 1872. Oil on canvas. Brooklyn Museum.

Under the Ottomans, Cairo expanded south and west from its nucleus around the Citadel.Template:Sfn The city was the second-largest in the empire, behind Constantinople, and, although migration was not the primary source of Cairo's growth, twenty percent of its population at the end of the 18th century consisted of religious minorities and foreigners from around the Mediterranean.Template:Sfn Still, when Napoleon arrived in Cairo in 1798, the city's population was less than 300,000, forty percent lower than it was at the height of Mamluk—and Cairene—influence in the mid-14th century.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

The French occupation was short-lived as British and Ottoman forces, including a sizeable Albanian contingent, recaptured the country in 1801. Cairo itself was besieged by a British and Ottoman force culminating with the French surrender on 22 June 1801.Template:Sfn The British vacated Egypt two years later, leaving the Ottomans, the Albanians, and the long-weakened Mamluks jostling for control of the country.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Continued civil war allowed an Albanian named Muhammad Ali Pasha to ascend to the role of commander and eventually, with the approval of the religious establishment, viceroy of Egypt in 1805.Template:Sfn

Modern era

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The Qasr El Nil Bridge

Until his death in 1848, Muhammad Ali Pasha instituted a number of social and economic reforms that earned him the title of founder of modern Egypt.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn However, while Muhammad Ali initiated the construction of public buildings in the city,Template:Sfn those reforms had minimal effect on Cairo's landscape.Template:Sfn Bigger changes came to Cairo under Isma'il Pasha (r. 1863–1879), who continued the modernisation processes started by his grandfather. Drawing inspiration from Paris, Isma'il envisioned a city of maidans and wide avenues; due to financial constraints, only some of them, in the area now composing Downtown Cairo, came to fruition.Template:Sfn Isma'il also sought to modernise the city, which was merging with neighbouring settlements, by establishing a public works ministry, bringing gas and lighting to the city, and opening a theatre and opera house.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

The immense debt resulting from Isma'il's projects provided a pretext for increasing European control, which culminated with the British invasion in 1882.Template:Sfn The city's economic centre quickly moved west toward the Nile, away from the historic Islamic Cairo section and toward the contemporary, European-style areas built by Isma'il.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Europeans accounted for five percent of Cairo's population at the end of the 19th century, by which point they held most top governmental positions.Template:Sfn

File:CH-NB Photoglob-Wehrli EAD-WEHR-32043-B.tiff

An aerial view in 1904 from a balloon of the central-eastern edge of Cairo, showing the early development of Gezira/Zamalek Island (center left), and Downtown (lower right), as well as Bulaq (upper right).

In 1906, the Heliopolis Oasis Company headed by the Belgian industrialist Édouard Empain and his Egyptian counterpart Boghos Nubar, built a suburb called Heliopolis (city of the sun in Greek) ten kilometers from the center of Cairo.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn In 1905–1907 the northern part of the Gezira island was developed by the Baehler Company into Zamalek, which would later become Cairo's upscale "chic" neighbourhood.Template:Sfn In 1906 construction began on Garden City, a neighbourhood of urban villas with gardens and curved streets,Template:Sfn which would become the seat of British rule in Egypt in 1914.

File:Continental Savoy Hotel Cairo 1920.jpg

View of the Continental hotel in 1920

The British occupation was intended to be temporary, but it lasted well into the 20th century. Nationalists staged large-scale demonstrations in Cairo in 1919,Template:Sfn five years after Egypt had been declared a British protectorate.Template:Sfn Nevertheless, this led to Egypt's independence in 1922.

The King Fuad I Edition of the Qur'an was first published on 10 July 1924 in Cairo under the patronage of King Fuad. The goal of the government of the newly formed Kingdom of Egypt was not to delegitimise the other variant Quranic texts ("qira'at"), but to eliminate errors found in Qur'anic texts used in state schools. A committee of teachers chose to preserve a single one of the canonical qira'at "readings", namely that of the "Ḥafṣ" version,Template:Sfn an 8th-century Kufic recitation. This edition has become the standard for modern printings of the Quran for much of the Islamic world. The publication has been called a "terrific success", and the edition has been described as one "now widely seen as the official text of the Qur'an", so popular among both Sunni and Shi'a that the common belief among less well-informed Muslims is "that the Qur'an has a single, unambiguous reading". Minor amendments were made later in 1924 and in 1936 - the "Faruq edition" in honour of then ruler, King Faruq.Template:Sfn

British occupation until 1956

British troops remained in the country until 1956. During this time, urban Cairo, spurred by new bridges and transport links, continued to expand to include the upscale neighbourhoods of Garden City, Zamalek, and Heliopolis.Template:Sfn Between 1882 and 1937, the population of Cairo more than tripled—from 347,000 to 1.3 millionTemplate:Sfn —and its area increased from Template:Cvt.Template:Sfn

The city was devastated during the 1952 riots known as the Cairo Fire or Black Saturday, which saw the destruction of nearly 700 shops, movie theatres, casinos and hotels in downtown Cairo. The British departed Cairo following the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, but the city's rapid growth showed no signs of abating. Seeking to accommodate the increasing population, President Gamal Abdel Nasser redeveloped Tahrir Square and the Nile Corniche, and improved the city's network of bridges and highways.Template:Sfn Meanwhile, additional controls of the Nile fostered development within Gezira Island and along the city's waterfront. The metropolis began to encroach on the fertile Nile Delta, prompting the government to build desert satellite towns and devise incentives for city-dwellers to move to them.Template:Sfn

After 1956

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View of Qasr El Nil Bridge in Cairo, 1965

In the second half of the 20th century, Cairo continued to grow enormously in both population and area. Between 1947 and 2006, the population of Greater Cairo went from 2,986,280 to 16,292,269.Template:Sfn The population explosion also drove the rise of "informal" housing ('ashwa'iyyat), meaning housing that was built without any official planning or control.Template:Sfn The exact form of this type of housing varies considerably but usually has a much higher population density than formal housing. By 2009, over 63% of the population of Greater Cairo lived in informal neighbourhoods, even though these occupied only 17% of the total area of Greater Cairo.Template:Sfn According to economist David Sims, informal housing has the benefits of providing affordable accommodation and vibrant communities to huge numbers of Cairo's working classes, but it also suffers from government neglect, a relative lack of services, and overcrowding.Template:Sfn

The "formal" city was also expanded. The most notable example was the creation of Madinat Nasr, a huge government-sponsored expansion of the city to the east which officially began in 1959 but was primarily developed in the mid-1970s.Template:Sfn In 1979, the government established the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) to initiate and direct the development of new towns on the outskirts of Cairo, generally established on desert land. These new satellite cities were intended to provide housing, investment, and employment opportunities for the region's growing population as well as to pre-empt the further growth of informal neighbourhoods. As of 2014, about 10% of the population of Greater Cairo lived in the new cities. This portion also carried over through 2023, showing how most housing units in the new urban communities (NUCs) remained vacant.

Concurrently, Cairo established itself as a political and economic hub for North Africa and the Arab world, with many multinational businesses and organisations, including the Arab League, operating out of the city. In 1979 the historic districts of Cairo were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In 1992, Cairo was hit by an earthquake which caused 545 deaths, injured 6,512 and left around 50,000 people homeless.

2011 Egyptian revolution

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A protester holding an Egyptian flag during the protests that started on 25 January 2011

Cairo's Tahrir Square was the focal point of the 2011 Egyptian revolution against former president Hosni Mubarak. More than 50,000 protesters first occupied the square on 25 January, during which the area's wireless services were reported to be impaired. In the following days, Tahrir Square continued to be the primary destination for protests in Cairo. The uprising was mainly a campaign of non-violent civil resistance, which featured a series of demonstrations, marches, acts of civil disobedience, and labour strikes. Millions of protesters from a variety of socio-economic and religious backgrounds demanded the overthrow of the regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Despite being predominantly peaceful in nature, the revolution was not without violent clashes between security forces and protesters, with at least 846 people killed and 6,000 injured. The uprising took place in Cairo, Alexandria, and in other cities in Egypt, following the Tunisian revolution that resulted in the overthrow of the long-time Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. On 11 February, following weeks of determined popular protest and pressure, Hosni Mubarak resigned from office.

Post-revolutionary Cairo

Under the rule of President el-Sisi, in March 2015, plans were announced for another yet-unnamed planned city to be built further east of the existing satellite city of New Cairo, intended to serve as the new capital of Egypt.

Geography

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Greater Cairo seen from Sentinel-2A

File:Cairo Opera House, Al Hurriyah Park and the Nile river (14797782354).jpg

The river Nile flows through Cairo, here contrasting ancient customs of daily life with the modern city of today.

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An aerial view looking south, with the Zamalek and Gezira districts on Gezira Island, surrounded by the Nile

Cairo is located in northern Egypt, known as Lower Egypt, Template:Cvt south of the Mediterranean Sea and Template:Cvt west of the Gulf of Suez and Suez Canal. The city lies along the Nile River, immediately south of the point where the river leaves its desert-bound valley and branches into the low-lying Nile Delta region. Although the Cairo metropolis extends away from the Nile in all directions, the city of Cairo resides only on the east bank of the river and two islands within it on a total area of Template:Cvt. Geologically, Cairo lies on alluvium and sand dunes which date from the quaternary period.

Until the mid-19th century, when the river was tamed by dams, levees, and other controls, the Nile in the vicinity of Cairo was highly susceptible to changes in course and surface level. Over the years, the Nile gradually shifted westward, providing the site between the eastern edge of the river and the Mokattam highlands on which the city now stands. The land on which Cairo was established in 969 (present-day Islamic Cairo) was located underwater just over three hundred years earlier, when Fustat was first built.Template:Sfn

Low periods of the Nile during the 11th century continued to add to the landscape of Cairo; a new island, known as Geziret al-Fil, first appeared in 1174, but eventually became connected to the mainland. Today, the site of Geziret al-Fil is occupied by the Shubra district. The low periods created another island at the turn of the 14th century that now composes Zamalek and Gezira. Land reclamation efforts by the Mamluks and Ottomans further contributed to expansion on the east bank of the river.Template:Sfn

Because of the Nile's movement, the newer parts of the city—Garden City, Downtown Cairo, and Zamalek—are located closest to the riverbank. The areas, which are home to most of Cairo's embassies, are surrounded on the north, east, and south by the older parts of the city. Old Cairo, located south of the centre, holds the remnants of Fustat and the heart of Egypt's Coptic Christian community, Coptic Cairo. The Boulaq district, which lies in the northern part of the city, was born out of a major 16th-century port and is now a major industrial centre.

The Citadel is located east of the city centre around Islamic Cairo, which dates back to the Fatimid era and the foundation of Cairo. While western Cairo is dominated by wide boulevards, open spaces, and modern architecture of European influence, the eastern half, having grown haphazardly over the centuries, is dominated by small lanes, crowded tenements, and Islamic architecture.

Northern and extreme eastern parts of Cairo, which include satellite towns, are among the most recent additions to the city, as they developed in the late 20th and early 21st centuries to accommodate the city's rapid growth. The western bank of the Nile is commonly included within the urban area of Cairo, but it composes the city of Giza and the Giza Governorate. Giza city has also undergone significant expansion over recent years, and today has a population of 2.7 million. The Cairo Governorate was just north of the Helwan Governorate from 2008 when some Cairo's southern districts, including Maadi and New Cairo, were split off and annexed into the new governorate, to 2011 when the Helwan Governorate was reincorporated into the Cairo Governorate.

According to the World Health Organization, the level of air pollution in Cairo is nearly 12 times higher than the recommended safety level.

Climate

File:Cairo weather observations by French savants.jpg

Cairo weather observations by French savants

In Cairo, and along the Nile River Valley, the climate is a hot desert climate (BWh according to the Köppen climate classification system).

Wind storms can be frequent, bringing Saharan dust into the city from March to May, and the air often becomes uncomfortably dry. Winters are mild, while summers are long and hot. High temperatures in winter range from Template:Cvt, while night-time lows drop to below Template:Cvt, often to Template:Cvt. In summer, the highs often exceed Template:Cvt but rarely surpass Template:Cvt, and lows drop to about Template:Cvt. Rainfall is sparse and only happens in the colder months, but sudden showers can cause severe flooding. The summer months have high humidity due to Cairo's proximity to the Mediterranean coast. Snowfall is extremely rare; a small amount of graupel, widely believed to be snow, fell on Cairo's easternmost suburbs on 13 December 2013, the first time Cairo's area had received this kind of precipitation in many decades. Dew points in the hottest months range from Template:Cvt in June to Template:Cvt in August.

Metropolitan area and districts

File:Cairo city administrative boundary and districts En.jpg

Cairo city administrative boundary and districts in English

The city of Cairo forms part of Greater Cairo, the largest metropolitan area in Africa. While it has no administrative body, the Ministry of Planning considers it as an economic region consisting of Cairo Governorate, Giza Governorate, and Qalyubia Governorate. As a contiguous metropolitan area, various studies have considered Greater Cairo be composed of the administrative cities that are Cairo, Giza and Shubra al-Kheima, in addition to the satellite cities/new towns surrounding them.

Cairo is a city-state where the governor is also the head of the city. Cairo City itself differs from other Egyptian cities in that it has an extra administrative division between the city and district levels, and that is areas, which are headed by deputy governors. Cairo consists of four areas (manatiq, singl. mantiqa) divided into 38 districts (ahya', singl. hayy) and 46 qisms (police wards, 1-2 per district):

The Northern Area is divided into eight districts:

• Shubra
• Al-Zawiya al-Hamra
• Hadayek al-Qubba
• Rod al-Farg
• Al-Sharabia
• Al-Sahel
• Al-Zeitoun
• Al-Amiriyya

File:Map of Northern Area, Cairo (En).jpg

Map of Northern Area, Cairo (En)

The Eastern Area is divided into nine districts and three new cities:

• Misr al-Gadidah and Al-Nozha (Heliopolis)
• Nasr City East and Nasr City West
• Al-Salam 1 (Awwal) and al-Salam 2 (Than)
• Ain Shams
• Al-Matariya
• Al-Marg
• Shorouk (Under jurisdiction of NUCA)
• Badr (Under jurisdiction of NUCA)
• Al-Qahira al-Gadida (New Cairo, three qisms, under jurisdiction of NUCA)

File:Map of Eastern Area, Cairo (En).jpg

Cairo Eastern Area map

The Western Area is divided into nine districts:

• Manshiyat Nasser
• Al-Wayli (Incl. qism al-Daher)
• Wasat al-Qahira (Central Cairo, incl. Al-Darb al-Ahmar, al-Gamaliyya qisms)
• Bulaq
• Gharb al-Qahira (West Cairo, incl. Zamalek qism, Qasr al-Nil qism incl. Garden City and part of Down Town)
• Abdeen
• Al-Azbakiya
• Al-Muski
• Bab al-Sha'aria

File:Map of Western Area, Cairo (En).jpg

Cairo Western Area map

The Southern Area is divided into 12 districts:

• Masr El-Qadima (Old Cairo, including Al-Manial)
• Al-Khalifa
• Al-Moqattam
• Al-Basatin
• Dar al-Salam
• Sayyidah Zainab District
• El Tebbin
• Helwan
• Al-Ma'sara
• Al-Maadi
• Tora
• 15th of May (Under jurisdiction of NUCA)

File:Map of Southern Area, Cairo (En).jpg

Cairo Southern Area map

Satellite cities

Since 1977 a number of new towns have been planned and built by the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) in the Eastern Desert around Cairo, ostensibly to accommodate additional population growth and development of the city and stem the development of self-built informal areas, especially over agricultural land. As of 2022, four new towns have been built and have residential populations: 15th of May City, Badr City, Shorouk City, and New Cairo. In addition, two more are under construction: the New Administrative Capital and Capital Gardens, where land was allocated in 2021, which will house most of the civil servants employed in the new capital.

Planned new capital

In March 2015, plans were announced for a new city to be built east of Cairo in an undeveloped area of the Cairo Governorate, which would serve as the New Administrative Capital of Egypt. Cairo also introduced more modern metro lines to reduce traffic in central areas.

Demographics

According to the 2017 census, Cairo had a population of 9,539,673 people, distributed across 46 qisms (police wards):

Qism	Code 2017	Total population	Male	Female
El Tibbin	010100	72,040	36,349	35,691
Helwan	010200	521,239	265,347	255,892
Al Maasara	010300	270,032	137,501	132,531
15 May City	010400	93,574	49,437	44,137
Tura	010500	230,438	168,152	62,286
Maadi	010600	88,575	43,972	44,603
El Basatin	010700	495,443	260,756	234,687
Dar El Salam	010800	525,638	273,603	252,035
Masr El Qedima	010900	250,313	129,582	120,731
El Sayeda Zeinab	011000	136,278	68,571	67,707
El Khalifa	011100	105,235	54,150	51,085
Mokattam	011200	224,138	116,011	108,127
Manshiyat Naser	011300	258,372	133,864	124,508
Al Darb Al Ahmar	011400	58,489	30,307	28,182
El Muski	011500	16,662	8,216	8,446
Abdeen	011600	40,321	19,352	20,969
Garden City	011700	10,563	4,951	5,612
Zamalek	011800	14,946	7,396	7,550
Bulaq	011900	48,147	24,105	24,042
Azbakeya	012000	19,763	9,766	9,997
Bab El Shariya	012100	46,673	24,261	22,412
El Gamaliya	012200	36,368	18,487	17,881
Al Daher	012300	71,870	35,956	35,914
Al Wayli	012400	79,292	39,407	39,885
Hadayek El Qobbah	012500	316,072	161,269	154,803
El Sharabiya	012600	187,201	94,942	92,259
Shubra	012700	76,695	38,347	38,348
Rod El Farag	012800	145,632	72,859	72,773
El Sahel	012900	316,421	162,063	154,358
El Zawya El Hamra	013000	318,170	162,304	155,866
Amairiya	013100	152,554	77,355	75,199
Zeitoun	013200	174,176	87,235	86,941
El Matareya	013300	602,485	312,407	290,078
Ain Shams	013400	614,391	315,394	298,997
El Marg	013500	798,646	412,476	386,170
El Salam 1	013600	480,721	249,639	231,082
El Salam 2	013700	153,772	80,492	73,280
El Nozha	013800	231,241	117,910	113,331
Heliopolis	013900	134,116	68,327	65,789
Nasr City 1	014000	634,818	332,117	302,701
Nasr City 2	014100	72,182	38,374	33,808
New Cairo 1	014200	135,834	70,765	65,069
New Cairo 2	014300	90,668	46,102	44,566
New Cairo 3	014400	70,885	37,340	33,545
El Shorouk	014500	87,285	45,960	41,325
Badr City	014600	31,299	17,449	13,850

Religion

The majority of Egypt and Cairo's population is Sunni Muslim. A significant Christian minority exists, among whom Coptic Orthodox are the majority. Precise numbers for each religious community in Egypt are not available and estimates vary. Other churches that have, or had, a presence in modern Cairo include the Catholic Church (including Armenian Catholic, Coptic Catholic, Chaldean Catholic, Syrian Catholic, and Maronite), the Greek Orthodox Church, the Evangelical Church of Egypt (Synod of the Nile), and some Protestant churches. Cairo has been the seat of the Coptic Orthodox Church since the 12th century, and the seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope is located in Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral. Until the 20th century, Cairo had a sizeable Jewish community, but as of 2022 only three Jews were reported to be living in the city. A total of 12 synagogues in Cairo still exist.

Economy

Cairo was ranked the top business city in Africa for 2025 and continues to be a major destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) due to its massive consumer market and strategic location. As of 2025, the city remains the wealthiest in North Africa, though it faces significant challenges from high inflation and currency depreciation. Cairo is home to a significant concentration of the country's high-net-worth individuals, including roughly 7,200 millionaires and 30 billionaires.

File:Talat Harb Square - Statue.jpg

Statue of Talaat Pasha Harb, the father of the modern Egyptian economy, in Downtown Cairo

Cairo accounts for 11% of Egypt's population and 22% of its economy (PPP). The majority of the nation's commerce is generated there, or passes through the city. The great majority of publishing houses and media outlets and nearly all film studios are there. Cairo is the vibrant heart of both the African and Arab film industries, often called the "Hollywood on the Nile", dominating Middle Eastern cinema with high production output. The city also hosts major events like the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), and featuring dedicated infrastructure, huge number of production companies, while also fostering talent.

Cairo's economy has traditionally been based on governmental institutions and services, with the modern productive sector expanding in the 20th century to include developments in textiles and food processing – specifically the production of sugar cane. As of 2005, Egypt has the largest non-oil based GDP in the Arab world.Template:Sfn This growth until recently surged well ahead of city services. Homes, roads, electricity, telephone and sewer services were all in short supply. Analysts trying to grasp the magnitude of the change coined terms like "hyper-urbanization".Template:Sfn

The city is a growing hub for digital innovation and outsourcing, with major firms like Amazon and Microsoft operating there. The sector currently contributes 5% to the GDP. Cairo ICT is the region's largest annual technology exhibition. The 29th edition in November 2025, themed "AI Everywhere," drew over 160,000 attendees and featured tracks on cybersecurity, 5G, and fintech.

Industry

Cairo's industry is diverse, centering on manufacturing, such as textile, automotive, food processing, chemicals, appliances, in key zones such as 10th of Ramadan alongside burgeoning sectors in IT and Tech, energy (oil, gas, renewables), construction, and a strong startup ecosystem, driven by its role as Egypt's economic hub and a gateway for foreign investment. Home to a diverse industrial landscape ranging from heavy iron and steel production to traditional handicrafts and modern high-tech startups.

The Helwan district, just south of Cairo, is the center of Egypt's iron and steel industry. Large conglomerates such as El Araby Group and ElSewedy Electric are headquartered in Cairo, producing home appliances and electrical infrastructure for both local and international markets. The city of Cairo hosts significant pharmaceutical manufacturing, including Minapharm Pharmaceuticals and Global Napi Pharma, which produce everything from basic generics to complex biologics. Also the food and consumer goods included in Cairo are global giants such as Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, Unilever, and The Coca-Cola Company, maintain large manufacturing operations in Cairo. Local leaders include Edita Food Industries and Cairo 3A (agri-commodities). Textile and Garments industries is a cornerstone of the economy, Cairo produces world-renowned Egyptian cotton textiles. Companies like Jade Textile and Alpha Omega Egypt manufacture apparel for premium global brands.

Automobile manufacturers from Cairo

• Arab American Vehicles Company (vehicles by Stellantis alliance)
• Egyptian Light Transport Manufacturing Company (Egyptian NSU pedant)
• Ghabbour Group (Fuso, Hyundai and Volvo)
• MCV Corporate Group (a part of the Daimler AG)
• Mod Car
• Seoudi Group (Modern Motors: Nissan, BMW [formerly]; El-Mashreq: Alfa Romeo and Fiat)
• Speranza (former Daewoo Motors Egypt; Chery, Daewoo)
• General Motors Egypt

Services

File:Banque Misr Cairo.jpg

Headquarters building of Banque Misr in Cairo, designed by Antonio Lasciac and completed in 1927

Cairo offers a wide range of financial and governmental services through a mix of established institutions and modern digital platforms. Key services include traditional banking, investment opportunities, and core government functions such as civil registration and real estate services. Cairo hosts a robust financial sector with numerous local and international banks, along with a growing FinTech industry. Major Egyptian banks such as the National Bank of Egypt (NBE) and Banque Misr, Commercial International Bank (CIB), Banque du Caire, along with international players such as HSBC Bank Egypt and Arab Bank Egypt, offer comprehensive services including current/savings accounts, personal and business loans, credit cards, and wealth management. The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) regulates the sector. Digital payment solutions are widely available through companies like Fawry, Paymob, and AMAN, which facilitate various electronic payments including taxes, utility bills, and social insurance. Firms such as EFG Holding and the General Authority for Investments (GAFI) provide investment banking, asset management, brokerage services, and consulting for both local and foreign investors. GAFI's Investor Service Center offers support for company incorporation and other investment-related services.

The Egyptian government is actively digitizing its services, with several physical and e-service centers available across the city. Model centers provide multiple government services in one location, including real estate registration, civil status documentation, and traffic-related services. The government's financial network, eFinance, provides the backbone for digital payment solutions for government collections and transactions, enabling online payment of taxes and customs. The Ministry of Finance handles the state's financial affairs. The General Authority for Governmental Services (GAGS) is Involved in government procurement. General Authority for Investments (GAFI) also is a key point of contact for investors and offers services such as Investor Service Center, company registration and the "Golden License" for certain projects.

Infrastructure and real estate

Cairo's real estate market shows resilient growth due to significant ongoing infrastructure projects and high demand in new urban communities. Areas such as New Cairo are hotspots for both residential and commercial investments, supported by modern infrastructure and government initiatives. Cairo was ranked first among 30 African cities in infrastructure and transport for 2025, reflecting comprehensive development transformations. Cairo Metro Line is a planned metro line will span 34 kilometers with 26 stations, connecting northern and southern Cairo districts, with an international tender process expected by mid-2025. Cairo Monorail, lines connecting the New Capital and 6th of October City are in development, linking major areas like Sheikh Zayed City and New Cairo to Giza governorate and the Cairo Metro Line 3.

The real estate business is booming, with strong local demand driving price increases and new developments. The residential sector market is dominated by local buyers, with a strong demand for housing in integrated, gated communities. Sales prices in areas such as New Cairo saw notable annual increases in Q2 2025. Developers are offering flexible payment plans, to manage affordability challenges. There's rising demand for high-quality Grade A office spaces, with occupancy rates improving and rents increasing. New office parks, particularly in New Cairo, are meeting the needs of multinational corporations and new market entrants.

Infrastructure

Health

File:Kasr Al Ainy New Teaching Hospital.jpg

The Qasr El Eyni Hospital

Cairo, as well as neighbouring Giza, has been established as Egypt's main centre for medical treatment, and despite some exceptions, has the most advanced level of medical care in the country. Cairo's hospitals include the JCI-accredited As-Salaam International Hospital, Ain Shams University Hospital, Dar Al Fouad, Nile Badrawi Hospital, 57357 Hospital, and the International Medical Center.

Cairo has numerous public hospitals, including large university hospitals and general hospitals managed by the Ministry of Health. University and major public hospitals include; Qasr El Eyni Hospital, Ain Shams University Hospital (El Demerdash), Nasser Specialized Hospital, Manshiet el Bakry Hospital, Victoria Hospital, General and Specialized Ministry of Health Hospitals, Shoubra General Hospital (Kitchener), Dar el Salam General Hospital, Abbassiya Psychiatric Hospital, National Cancer Institute, National Heart Institute, and Rod El Farag Eye Hospital. The city was also chosen as the headquarters for the largest hospitals of the Egyptian Armed Forces Medical Services Administration, including the Armed Forces Medical Complex in Qubba, the Armed Forces Medical Complex in Maadi, Ghamra Military Hospital, Almaza Military Hospital, Helmiya Military Hospital for Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Armed Forces Civilian Employees Hospital, and El Galaa Hospital for the families of Armed Forces officers.

Education

Greater Cairo has long been the hub of education and educational services for Egypt and the region.

Today, Greater Cairo is the centre for many government offices governing the Egyptian educational system, has the largest number of schools and higher education institutes among other cities and governorates of Egypt.

Some of the public schools in the city of Cairo include Zamalek National Language School, Zamalek National Co-educational School; Umm Ghafa Secondary School, Ali Ibn Abi Talib School, El-Nibras School for Boys, and the School for Gifted Students in Ain Shams. Cairo public schools also include; Mustafa Kamel Experimental Secondary School, Qasim Amin Secondary School for Girls, Ramses New College, and Ramses College (Girls). Asmaa Fahmy School, Al-Saidiya School, Martyr Ahmed Saeed School; Sayeda Khadija School, Al-Mu'taz Billah School, and Gamal Abdel Nasser School (mentioned in the context of the Dar El-Salam area adjacent to Maadi). Also in the Heliopolis district, public schools are Sina Primary, Al-Tahrir Primary, Al-Khulafa Preparatory School for Boys, and Martyr Amr Salah El-Din Preparatory School for Girls.

Some of the international schools in Cairo

File:Cairo University after sunset.JPG

Cairo University is the largest university in Egypt, and is located in Giza.

Universities in Greater Cairo

University	Date of foundation
Al Azhar University	970–972
Cairo University	1908
American University in Cairo	1919
Ain Shams University	1950
Arab Academy for Science & Technology and Maritime Transport	1972
Helwan University	1975
Sadat Academy for Management Sciences	1981
Higher Technological Institute	1989
Modern Academy In Maadi	1993
Misr International University	1996
Misr University for Science and Technology	1996
Modern Sciences and Arts University	1996
Université Française d'Égypte	2002
German University in Cairo	2003
Arab Open University	2003
Canadian International College	2004
British University in Egypt	2005
Ahram Canadian University	2005
Nile University	2006
Future University in Egypt	2006
Egyptian Russian University	2006
Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development	2009
New Giza University	2016

Transport

Air

File:CairoIntlAirportTerminal3.jpg

Façade of Terminal 3 at Cairo International Airport

The largest airport in Egypt, Cairo International Airport, is located near in the Heliopolis district and is accessible by car, taxi and bus. The third line of the Cairo Metro, opened in 2012, was originally planned to reach the Airport, but those plans were cancelled in mid-2020 in place of a future shuttle bus system that runs directly from Adly Mansour Station to the Airport. However, some current maps still shows the line being connected to it. The Cairo Airport Shuttle Bus also operates all over Cairo for trips to or from the airport.

Cairo International is the second busiest airport in Africa after Johannesburg International Airport in South Africa. Cairo Airport handles about 3,400 daily flights, more than 12,100 weekly flights, and about 125,000 yearly flights.

Cairo Taxi

Cairo is served by its "white taxis" which were introduced in the early 2010s and aren't run by a company, but rather by individuals. These taxis have plummeted in popularity due to factors such as drivers not turning on their meters and instead demanding a fare which is usually considerably inflated, and other problems such as the lack of air-conditioning.

Limousine service

This service uses a luxury sedan or saloon car driven by chauffeur to drive passengers from the airport or other locations to their destination. There are types of limousine services the main one is Airport limousine and the second one to transport people from town to town in Egypt.

Cairo Metro

File:Cairo Rapid Transit map.png

Cairo Metro, LRT, BRT and monorail expansion plans

The Cairo Metro is the first rapid transit system in Greater Cairo, Egypt, and the first of only two full-fledged metro systems in Africa, and only four in the Arab world. It was opened in 1987 with Line 1 from Helwan to Ramsis Square, with a length of 29 kilometres (18.0 mi).

As of 2014, the Cairo Metro has 61 stations (mostly at-grade), of which three are transfer stations, with a total length of 77.9 kilometres (48.4 mi). The system consists of three operational lines numbered from 1 to 3. As of 2013, the metro carried nearly 4 million passengers per day. The cost of the Metro was Template:EGP to go anywhere until 2017, when it rose to Template:EGP (still heavily subsidized).

Tram

File:Map of the Cairo and Helwan tramways.png

Tramway network

Constructed near the beginning of the 20th century, until 2014, the Cairo tramway network was still used in modern-day Cairo, especially in modern areas, like Heliopolis, Nasr City. During the 1970s government policies favoured making space for cars, resulting in the removal of over half of the 120 km network. Trams were removed entirely from central Cairo but continued to run in Heliopolis and Helwan. However, in 2015, the tramway rails were removed and the streets and side walks became wider. The reason according to the city council is that "it has been rarely used by anyone during the past decade as it is a slow mean of transportation and it has a limited geographical coverage".

Train

File:Ramses-Station.jpg

The interior of Ramses Station

Cairo is extensively connected to other Egyptian cities and villages by rail operated by the Egyptian National Railways. Cairo's main railway station - Ramses Station (Mahattat Ramses) is located on Midan Ramses.

In May 2022, the Egyptian National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) and Siemens Mobility have signed a contract to create the sixth largest high-speed rail system - 2,000 km long - in the world. The Cairo Light Rail Transit or LRT, inaugurated in June 2022, links Cairo to the 10th of Ramadan City and the New Administrative Capital, providing a connection to several other communities east of Cairo along the way. The LRT's western terminus is at Adly Mansour station, where transfer to the Cairo Metro Line 3 is possible.

Nile ferry

A maritime ferry boat system crosses the Nile River. The Nile Bus system has been documented in various reports, including an article from 2005 and a Al-Ahram article from 2014 about it's operational status.

Monorail

In 2015, plans to construct two monorail systems were announced, one of which linking 6th of October City to suburban Giza, a distance of 42 km, and the other linking Nasr City to New Cairo, a distance of 54 km. They will be Egypt's first monorail systems. In May 2019, the contract to build 70 four-car trains was awarded to Bombardier Transportation with assembly to take place at its Derby Litchurch Lane Works in England. Delivery of the trains is expected between 2021 and 2024. The network is to be built by Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors.

Road System

File:Tahya Misr Axis Bridge02.jpg

Rod El Farag Axis Bridge in Cairo

Two trans-African automobile routes originate in Cairo: the Cairo-Cape Town Highway and the Cairo-Dakar Highway. An extensive road network connects Cairo with other Egyptian cities and villages. There is a new Ring Road that surrounds the outskirts of the city, with exits that reach outer Cairo districts. There are flyovers and bridges, such as the 6th October Bridge that, when the traffic is not heavy, allow fast means of transportation from one side of the city to the other.

Cairo traffic is known to be overwhelming and overcrowded. Traffic moves at a relatively fluid pace. Drivers tend to be aggressive, but are more courteous at junctions, taking turns alternating, with police aiding in traffic control of some congested areas.

Bus system

File:الاتوبيس الترددي المصري طراز سيتي٢.jpg

An Egyptian-made Cairo BRT bus on Cairo's Ring Road

There are two types of buses in Cairo, those run by the Cairo Transport Authority, and those run by private companies, with the latter using smaller minibuses. Bus lines are spread all over the Greater Cairo area, and are considered the main mean of transport in the city for many Cairenes.

Other forms of transport

• Bolt
• Cairo Nile Ferry
• Cairo Taxi/Yellow Cab
• Careem
• DiDi
• Uber

Culture

Theatre

Cairo Opera House

File:Cairo opera house.jpg

Cairo Opera House, at the National Cultural Center, Zamalek district

President Mubarak inaugurated the new Cairo Opera House of the Egyptian National Cultural Centres on 10 October 1988, 17 years after the Royal Opera House had been destroyed by fire. The National Cultural Centre was built with the help of JICA, the Japan International Co-operation Agency and stands as a prominent feature for the Japanese-Egyptian co-operation and the friendship between the two nations.

Egyptian Royal Opera House

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Egyptian Royal Opera House, 1869

The Egyptian Royal Opera House, or Royal Opera House, was the original opera house in Cairo. It was dedicated on 1 November 1869, and burned down on 28 October 1971. After the original opera house was destroyed, Cairo was without an opera house for nearly two decades until the opening of the Cairo Opera House in 1988.

Cinema

Considered the nexus of the regional entertainment industry, including films, television, and recorded music, Cairo has been the capital of film industry in Africa since the early 20th century to the present day. The city knew film industry since the late 19th century. Films set in Cairo range from classic Egyptian cinema like Cairo Station to Hollywood blockbusters such as Death on the Nile, covering detective stories, historical dramas, modern life, and adventure, often featuring iconic locations like the bustling city streets, exploring themes from cultural identity to international intrigue. Key examples of classical films include The Ten Commandments and newer films such as The Spy Who Loved Me, showcasing diverse perspectives on this vibrant metropolis.

The Egyptian Catholic Center for Cinema Festival is an annual national film festival held in Cairo. Founded in 1952, it is the oldest film festival in Egypt, Africa, and the Middle East. The festival only awards films that are distinguished by their high artistic level and whose ideas and topics revolve around issues that concern and benefit society and have a positive impact on its audience.

Cairo International Film Festival

Cairo held its first international film festival 16 August 1976, when the first Cairo International Film Festival was launched by the Egyptian Association of Film Writers and Critics, headed by Kamal El-Mallakh. The association ran the festival for seven years until 1983.

This achievement led to the president of the festival again contacting the FIAPF with the request that a competition should be included at the 1991 festival. The request was granted.

In 1998, the festival took place under the presidency of one of Egypt's leading actors, Hussein Fahmy, who was appointed by the Minister of Culture, Farouk Hosni, after the death of Saad El-Din Wahba. Four years later, the journalist and writer Cherif El-Shoubashy became president.

Literature

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Naguib Mahfouz

Cairo is a global literary capital, home to Nobel Prize-winning authors and a vibrant scene of historic bookstores and festivals. Its literature reflects a deep-rooted history that spans from ancient papyrus texts to modern masterpieces of the Egyptian novel. The city is home to a vibrant writing scene, from world-renowned Egyptian literary figures such Ibn Yunus (950–1009), Al-Maqrizi (1364–1442), Al-Sha'rani (1492–1565), Abd al-Rahman al-Jabarti (1753–1825), Aisha Taymur (1840–1902), Qasim Amin (1863–1908), Ahmed Taymour (1871–1930). From the 20th century writers, the Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz (1911–2006) tops the list, who captured Cairo's essence and feminist author Nawal El Saadawi (1931–2021), to a vast network of contemporary freelance writers, copywriters, academic writers, and social media content creators found on platforms. Notable contemporary voices from the city of Cairo are; Alaa Al Aswany, Ahmed Khaled Tawfik (1962-2018), Salwa Bakr, Radwa Ashour (1946-2014), Bahaa Taher (1938-2024), Yusuf Idris, Ahdaf Soueif and Omar Taher are also associated to the city of Cairo.

Cairo Literature Festival is an annual event, typically held in April that brings together authors from around the world for panels, poetry readings, and discussions on themes like "Memory and the City". Cairo International Book Fair is usually held in late January/early February, it is the largest and oldest book fair in the Arab world, attracting millions of visitors and publishers from across the globe.

Libraries

Cairo is home to numerous libraries, ranging from large public institutions to specialized academic collections. Founded in 1004 AD, the House of Knowledge, the oldest library in Modern Egypt's history. Some of the most notable include the Greater Cairo Public Library, the Misr Public Library. The city also includes on-line library services such as The Egyptian Cabinet Information and Decision Support Center, The Egyptian Libraries Network, Egyptian University Libraries Consortium, and the American University in Cairo.

Founded in 1870, the Egyptian National Library and Archives houses several million volumes on a wide range of topics. It is one of the largest in the world with thousands of ancient collections. It contains a vast variety of Arabic-language and other Eastern manuscripts, the oldest in the world. The main library is a seven-story building in Ramlet Boulaq, a district of Cairo. The Egyptian National Archives are contained in an annex beside the building. There are also several academic libraries and archives in the city of Cairo. The Ain Shams University Library, is the largest university library in Cairo. Located in heart of the city, in downtown Cairo, the Geographical Association of Egypt was founded in 1875 to promote the exploration and study of the geography of Egypt and Africa.

Holidays and festivals

Cairo celebrates its national day on the 6th of July of each year, which coincides with the day in 969 AD when Commander Jawhar al-Siqilli laid the foundation stone for the new capital of Egypt at the time by order of the country's ruler, the Fatimid Caliph Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah and named it el-Mansuriyya. When the Fatimid Caliph al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah arrived back to Egypt and entered the newly built city, he named it "Cairo", which means the conqueror. The city celebrates every year by organizing events such as marathons and festivals.

Cairo also celebrates a mix of Islamic, Coptic Christian, and national holidays, featuring vibrant festivals like the Eid holidays such as Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, religious observances like Coptic Christmas on January 7th and Mawlid al-Nabi, and national days such as Revolution Day on January 25th and Armed Forces Day on October 6th, alongside cultural events like Sham El-Nessim and unique spectacles offering diverse cultural experiences year-round. Ramadan is the holy month of fasting, observed with special meals and community focus.

Music

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Cairo Symphony Orchestra

Cairo's music history spans almost a thousand years ago, evolving Egyptian Music from ancient traditions to a modern African and Arab music powerhouse, evolving from courtly and religious performances such as Sufi, epic poetry to public cafes in the late 19th century, blooming into a Golden Age in the 1930s-60s with radio, iconic stars such as Umm Kulthum and Mohamed Abdel Wahab, and establishing institutions such the Egyptian Royal Opera House, Cairo Opera House and the Arab Music Institute.

Music existed in ancient Egypt, but Cairo's distinct modern scene emerged later. From Sufi and Folk, Al-Awalem and Ghawazi to the Golden Age and Modernization. The radio and state support fueled Cairo's rise as a music capital. Iconic Stars such blended eastern and western music and others defined this era, creating "Arab Music". Music became a tool for modernization and cultural influence. The Cairo Symphony Orchestra established in 1959, introduced Western classical music, enriching the scene. Cairo remains a center, mixing traditional sounds with contemporary global influences.

El Sawy Culture Wheel is a premier private cultural center in Cairo. Established in 2003 by architect Mohamed El-Sawy, it is located on Gezira Island in the Zamalek district. It serves as a vibrant cultural hub and platform for indie music, alternative arts, and community engagement. The "Culture Wheel" symbol represents continuous movement and growth in thought. The venue is famous for "The White Circle" campaign, maintaining a strict non-smoking policy across all premises. The center has organized hundreds of concerts and musical events, including those for oud, jazz, musical theatre, children chorus and performances for several Egyptian and Arab bands, singers and entertainers. It also hosts several seminars, workshops, art exhibitions, book fairs and movie shows. The Culture Wheel is also committed to promoting open-source culture by teaching Linux and other open-source software. The center's activities are generally funded by donations and annual membership fees from its more than ten thousand members. The center receives over 20,000 visitors monthly.

Painting and sculpture

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Sculpture of Umm Kulthum memorial near the nilometer, Roda island, Cairo. The sculpture was created by the Egyptian artist Adam Henein

Cairo is a major global hub for both ancient and contemporary art, offering a diverse landscape of monumental sculptures and intricate paintings that span over 5,000 years of history.

The city's modern art scene is centered in districts like Zamalek and New Cairo, where established galleries and annual fairs thrive. Museum Of Modern Egyptian Art in the Cairo Opera House grounds in Zamalek, this museum houses the largest collection of paintings, sculptures, and other artworks by Egyptian artists from the 20th century onward. Gayer Anderson Museum housed in a beautifully preserved 17th-century home, showcasing diverse art pieces and architecture, including Islamic, Persian, and Chinese art. The Museum of Islamic Art features an extensive collection of artifacts from the Islamic era, including metallic and porcelain utensils, textiles, and architectural elements. Known for the largest collection of contemporary Egyptian art, hosting the annual Cairo Art Fair, a long-standing hub for modern Egyptian art since 1968, located in Zamalek.

Media

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Founded in 1876, Al-Ahram is still considered a newspaper of record. A photo of the newspaper's first logo.

Egypt is the first country in the Middle East and Africa to provide television broadcasting, with its first signals transmitted in 1960, from the Maspero television building hosting the Egyptian Television Network on the Nile banks in the city of Cairo. Today, the industry is a mix of state-run national channels and a wide array of private satellite networks. Cairo is the media hub of the Arab world, hosting major state and private television networks, influential newspapers, and massive production facilities. Also the Middle East News Agency is based in Cairo. National Media Authority (NMA) is the state-run body that operates domestic networks and international channels. The United Media Services (UMS) is the dominant media conglomerate that manages several major TV channels and digital platforms. Major newspapers and digital platforms are based in Cairo, such as Al-Ahram, the country's most influential national daily and the second-oldest in Modern Egypt's history. Others include Al-Akhbar and Al-Gomhuria. Private arabic dailies and major private outlets include Al-Masry Al-Youm, Youm7, and Al-Shorouk. English Language newspapers based in the city, include Ahram Online, and Egypt Independent, and Mada Masr, a prominent independent news site.

Cairo Geniza

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Solomon Schechter at work in Cambridge University Library, studying the fragments of the Cairo Geniza, c. Template:Trim

The Cairo Geniza is an accumulation of almost 200,000 Jewish manuscripts that were found in the genizah of the Ben Ezra Synagogue (built 882) of Fustat, Egypt (now Old Cairo), the Basatin cemetery east of Old Cairo, and a number of old documents that were bought in Cairo in the later 19th century. These documents were written from about 870 to 1880 AD and have been archived in various American and European libraries. The Taylor-Schechter collection in the University of Cambridge runs to 140,000 manuscripts; a further 40,000 manuscripts are housed at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

Sports

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Cairo International Stadium with 75,100 seats

Football is the most popular sport in Egypt, and Cairo has sporting teams that compete in national and regional leagues, most notably Al Ahly and Zamalek SC, who were the CAF first and second African clubs of the 20th century. The annual match between Al Ahly and El Zamalek is one of the most watched sports events in Egypt. The teams form the major rivalry of Egyptian football. They play their home games at Cairo International Stadium, which is the second largest stadium in Egypt, as well as the largest in Cairo.

The Cairo International Stadium was built in 1960. Its multi-purpose sports complex houses the main football stadium, an indoor stadium, satellite fields that hold regional and continental games, including the African Games, U17 Football World Championship and the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt later won the competition and the next edition in Ghana (2008) making the Egyptian and Ghanaian national teams the only to win the African Nations Cup back to back. Egypt won the title for a record six times in the history of African Continental Competition. This was followed by a third consecutive win in Angola in 2010, making Egypt the only country with a record 3-consecutive and 7-total Continental Football Competition winner. As of 2021, Egypt's national team is ranked #46 in the world by FIFA.

Cairo failed at the applicant stage when bidding for the 2008 Summer Olympics, which was hosted in Beijing. However, Cairo did host the 2007 Pan Arab Games.

There are other sports teams in the city that participate in several sports including Gezira Sporting Club, el Shams Club, Shooting Club, Heliopolis Sporting Club, and several smaller clubs. There are new sports clubs in the area of New Cairo (one hour far from Cairo's downtown), these are Al Zohour sporting club, Wadi Degla sporting club and Platinum Club.

Most of the sports federations of the country are located in the city suburbs, including the Egyptian Football Association. The headquarters of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) was previously located in Cairo, before relocating to its new headquarters in 6 October City, a small city away from Cairo's crowded districts. In 2008, the Egyptian Rugby Federation was officially formed and granted membership into the International Rugby Board.

Egypt is internationally known for the excellence of its squash players who excel in professional and junior divisions. Egypt has seven players in the top ten of the PSA men's world rankings, and three in the women's top ten. Mohamed El Shorbagy held the world number one position for more than a year. Nour El Sherbini has won the Women's World Championship twice and has been the women's world number one. On 30 April 2016, she became the youngest woman to win the Women's World Championship. In 2017 she retained her title.

Cairo is the official endpoint of Cross Egypt Challenge where its route ends yearly in the most sacred place in Egypt, under the Great Pyramids of Giza with a huge trophy-giving ceremony.

Cityscape and landmarks

Downtown

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Shurbagi building in Downtown Cairo, built in 1911

Downtown Cairo is the heart of the city and was established during the reign of Isma'il Pasha of Egypt, coinciding with the occasion of the opening of the Suez Canal. Its core layout, with public squares and grand boulevards, was inspired by the ideas of Baron Haussmann, the French administrator who remodelled Paris in the same era.Template:Sfn The area includes major landmarks such as Tahrir Square, the adjacent Egyptian Museum, and Talaat Harb Street and its public square, where a statue of economist and entrepreneur Talaat Harb stands. The area also encompasses Abdeen Palace, the former royal residence now used as the official presidential palace, which houses several museums. Its districts feature buildings blending a variety of architectural styles, including Egyptian Islamic architecture, contemporary Beaux-Arts architecture, and other styles of international or European architecture that were fashionable during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Template:Sfn The Qasr El Nil Bridge is also located in the heart of downtown Cairo. The current bridge was completed in 1933 in an Art Deco style, replacing an earlier 19th-century bridge whose four colossal bronze lion statues were preserved and reinstalled on the current bridge.Template:Sfn Groppi Ice Cream Shop, located in Talaat Harb Square, was founded in 1909, one of Cairo's oldest ice cream parlors.

Opened in 1908, Café Riche has been a meeting place for intellectuals and revolutionaries, witnessing significant events throughout the 20th century. Among the cafe's frequent visitors were the Egyptian Nobel laureate novelist and nationalist writer Naguib Mahfouz, and the future president Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Tahrir Square

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View of Tahrir Square (in 2020)

Tahrir Square was founded during the mid-19th century with the establishment of modern downtown Cairo. It was first named Ismailia Square, after the 19th-century ruler Khedive Ismail, who commissioned the new downtown district's 'Paris on the Nile' design. After the Egyptian Revolution of 1919 the square became widely known as Tahrir (Liberation) Square, though it was not officially renamed as such until after the 1952 Revolution which eliminated the monarchy. Several notable buildings surround the square including, the American University in Cairo's downtown campus, the Mogamma governmental administrative Building, the headquarters of the Arab League, the Nile Ritz Carlton Hotel, and the Egyptian Museum. Being at the heart of Cairo, the square has witnessed several major protests over the years. In 2020, the government completed the erection of a new monument in the center of the square featuring an ancient obelisk from the reign of Ramses II, originally unearthed at Tanis (San al-Hagar) in 2019, and four ram-headed sphinx statues moved from Karnak.

Egyptian Museum

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Main entrance of the Egyptian Museum, located at Tahrir Square

The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, known commonly as the Egyptian Museum, is home to the most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities in the world. It has 136,000 items on display, with many more hundreds of thousands in its basement storerooms. Among the collections on display are the finds from the tomb of Tutankhamun.

National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is a museum located in Fustat, covering an area of 33.5 acres. It houses 50,000 artifacts that tell the story of the development of Egyptian civilization, showcasing the achievements of the Egyptian people in various fields of life from the dawn of history to the present day. The museum also contains models, photographs, manuscripts, oil paintings, works of art, and artifacts from the Stone Age, Ancient Egyptian, Coptic, and modern periods. The museum site overlooks the Ain El Sira natural lake.

Cairo Tower

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Cairo Tower at night

The Cairo Tower is a free-standing tower with a revolving restaurant at the top. It is one of Cairo's landmarks and provides a bird's eye view of the city to restaurant patrons. It stands in the Zamalek district on Gezira Island on the Nile River, in the city centre. At Template:Cvt, it is Template:Cvt higher than the Great Pyramid of Giza, which stands some Template:Cvt to the southwest.

Old Cairo

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The Hanging Church in Old Cairo

This area of Cairo is so-named as it contains the remains of the ancient Roman fortress of Babylon and also overlaps the original site of Fustat, the first Arab settlement in Egypt (7th century AD) and the predecessor of later Cairo. The area includes Coptic Cairo, which holds a high concentration of old Christian churches such as the Hanging Church, the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, and other Christian or Coptic buildings, most of which are located in an enclave on the site of the ancient Roman fortress. It is also the location of the Coptic Museum, which showcases the history of Coptic art from Greco-Roman to Islamic times, and of the Ben Ezra Synagogue, the oldest and best-known synagogue in Cairo, where the important collection of Geniza documents were discovered in the 19th century.Template:Sfn

To the north of this Coptic enclave is the Amr ibn al-'As Mosque, the first mosque in Egypt and the most important religious centre of what was formerly Fustat, founded in 642 AD right after the Arab conquest but rebuilt many times since.Template:Sfn A part of the former city of Fustat has also been excavated to the east of the mosque and of the Coptic enclave,Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn although the archeological site is threatened by encroaching construction and modern development.Template:Sfn To the northwest of Babylon Fortress and the mosque is the Monastery of Saint Mercurius (or Dayr Abu Sayfayn), an important and historic Coptic religious complex consisting of the Church of Saint Mercurius, the Church of Saint Shenute, and the Church of the Virgin (also known as al-Damshiriya).Template:Sfn Several other historic churches are also situated to the south of Babylon Fortress.Template:Sfn

Islamic Cairo

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Al-Azhar Mosque, view of Fatimid-era courtyard and Mamluk minarets

Cairo holds one of the greatest concentrations of historical monuments of Islamic architecture in the world.Template:Sfn The areas around the old walled city and around the Citadel are characterised by hundreds of mosques, tombs, madrasas, mansions, caravanserais, and fortifications dating from the Islamic era and are often referred to as "Islamic Cairo", especially in English travel literature. It is also the location of several important religious shrines such as the al-Hussein Mosque (whose shrine is believed to hold the head of Husayn ibn Ali), the Mausoleum of Imam al-Shafi'i (founder of the Shafi'i madhhab, one of the primary schools of thought in Sunni Islamic jurisprudence), the Tomb of Sayyida Ruqayya, the Mosque of Sayyida Nafisa, and others.Template:Sfn

The first mosque in Egypt was the Mosque of Amr ibn al-As in what was formerly Fustat, the first Arab-Muslim settlement in the area. However, the Mosque of Ibn Tulun is the oldest mosque that still retains its original form and is a rare example of Abbasid architecture from the classical period of Islamic civilisation. It was built in 876–879 AD in a style inspired by the Abbasid capital of Samarra in Iraq.Template:Sfn It is one of the largest mosques in Cairo and is often cited as one of the most beautiful.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Another Abbasid construction, the Nilometer on Roda Island, is the oldest original structure in Cairo, built in 862 AD. It was designed to measure the level of the Nile, which was important for agricultural and administrative purposes.

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Al-Muizz Street in Islamic Cairo

The settlement that was formally named Cairo (Arabic: al-Qahira) was founded to the northeast of Fustat in 959 AD by the victorious Fatimid army. The Fatimids built it as a separate palatial city which contained their palaces and institutions of government. It was enclosed by a circuit of walls, which were rebuilt in stone in the late 11th century AD by the vizier Badr al-Gamali,Template:Sfn parts of which survive today at Bab Zuwayla in the south and Bab al-Futuh and Bab al-Nasr in the north. Among the extant monuments from the Fatimid era are the large Mosque of al-Hakim, the Aqmar Mosque, Juyushi Mosque, Lulua Mosque, and the Mosque of Al-Salih Tala'i.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

One of the most important and lasting institutions founded in the Fatimid period was the Mosque of al-Azhar, founded in 970 AD, which competes with the al-Qarawiyyin in Fes for the title of oldest university in the world.Template:Sfn Today, al-Azhar University is the foremost Center of Islamic learning in the world and one of Egypt's largest universities with campuses across the country.Template:Sfn The mosque itself retains significant Fatimid elements but has been added to and expanded in subsequent centuries, notably by the Mamluk sultans Qaytbay and al-Ghuri and by Abd al-Rahman Katkhuda in the 18th century.Template:Sfn

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Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan and the al-Rifa'i Mosque, seen from the Citadel

The most prominent architectural heritage of medieval Cairo, however, dates from the Mamluk period, from 1250 to 1517 AD. The Mamluk sultans and elites were eager patrons of religious and scholarly life, commonly building religious or funerary complexes whose functions could include a mosque, madrasa, khanqah (for Sufis), a sabil (water dispensary), and a mausoleum for themselves and their families. Among the best-known examples of Mamluk monuments in Cairo are the huge Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hasan, the Mosque of Amir al-Maridani, the Mosque of Sultan al-Mu'ayyad (whose twin minarets were built above the gate of Bab Zuwayla), the Sultan Al-Ghuri complex, the funerary complex of Sultan Qaytbay in the Northern Cemetery, and the trio of monuments in the Bayn al-Qasrayn area comprising the complex of Sultan al-Mansur Qalawun, the Madrasa of al-Nasir Muhammad, and the Madrasa of Sultan Barquq. Some mosques include spolia (often columns or capitals) from earlier buildings built by the Romans, Byzantines, or Copts.Template:Sfn

The Mamluks, and the later Ottomans, also built wikalas or caravanserais to house merchants and goods due to the important role of trade and commerce in Cairo's economy.Template:Sfn Still intact today is the Wikala al-Ghuri, which today hosts regular performances by the Al-Tannoura Egyptian Heritage Dance Troupe.Template:Sfn The Khan al-Khalili is a commercial hub which also integrated caravanserais (also known as khans).

Citadel of Cairo

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The Citadel of Cairo entrance

The Citadel is a fortified enclosure begun by Salah al-Din in 1176 AD on an outcrop of the Muqattam Hills as part of a large defensive system to protect both Cairo to the north and Fustat to the southwest.Template:Sfn It was the centre of Egyptian government and residence of its rulers until 1874, when Khedive Isma'il moved to 'Abdin Palace.Template:Sfn It is still occupied by the military today, but is now open as a tourist attraction comprising, notably, the National Military Museum, the 14th century Mosque of al-Nasir Muhammad, and the 19th century Mosque of Muhammad Ali which commands a dominant position on Cairo's skyline.Template:Sfn

Khan el-Khalili

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A medieval gateway in Khan al-Khalili

Khan el-Khalili is an ancient bazaar, or marketplace adjacent to the Al-Hussein Mosque. It dates back to 1385, when Amir Jarkas el-Khalili built a large caravanserai, or khan. (A caravanserai is a hotel for traders, and usually the focal point for any surrounding area.) This original caravanserai building was demolished by Sultan al-Ghuri, who rebuilt it as a new commercial complex in the early 16th century, forming the basis for the network of souqs existing today.Template:Sfn Many medieval elements remain today, including the ornate Mamluk-style gateways.Template:Sfn Today, Khan el-Khalili is a major tourist attraction and popular stop for tour groups.Template:Sfn

Al-Azhar Park

Opened in 2005, the park is a spacious elevated public park, offers green spaces, restaurants, and panoramic views of Cairo's historical landmarks such as the Citadel of Cairo and the Ayyubid Walls. The park was once a medieval waste dump, its western side overlooks the Fatimid city and its extension, Al-Darb al-Ahmar, adorned with long rows of minarets. To the south lie the Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hasan and its surrounding area, as well as the Citadel of Cairo.

Society

In the present day, Cairo is a heavily urbanised city. Because of the influx of people into the city, lone standing houses are rare, and apartment buildings accommodate for the limited space and abundance of people. Single detached houses are usually owned by the wealthy. Formal education is also seen as important, with twelve years of standard formal education. Cairenes can take a standardised test similar to the SAT to be accepted to an institution of higher learning, but most children do not finish school and opt to pick up a trade to enter the workforce. Egypt still struggles with poverty, with almost half the population living on $2 or less a day.

Women's rights

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International Women's Day, Cairo in 2011

The civil rights movement for women in Cairo – and by extent, Egypt – has been a struggle for years. Women are reported to face constant discrimination, sexual harassment, and abuse throughout Cairo. A 2013 UN study found that over 99% of Egyptian women reported experiencing sexual harassment at some point in their lives. The problem has persisted in spite of new national laws since 2014 defining and criminalising sexual harassment. The situation is so severe that in 2017, Cairo was named by one poll as the most dangerous megacity for women in the world. In 2020, the social media account "Assault Police" began to name and shame perpetrators of violence against women, in an effort to dissuade potential offenders. The account was founded by student Nadeen Ashraf, who is credited for instigating an iteration of the #MeToo movement in Egypt.

Challenges

Traffic

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Traffic on the 6th October Bridge in Cairo

Traffic in Cairo is known for being congested. As of 2026, the city remains a global outlier for high-density vehicle traffic on limited road space. Most of Cairo operates in a near-permanent rush-hour state. Major corridors often see average speeds drop to 15–40 km/h, which is roughly half of their design speed. While traffic is heavy throughout the day, the primary peak hours are between 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM. One of the most critical arterial routes, frequently prone to severe bottlenecks.

A major road running along the river that serves as one of the city's busiest and most vital thoroughfares. Areas around Tahrir Square, Ramsses, and Ataba are congested due to dense pedestrian activity. The Cairo Metro is a faster alternative to bypass street-level traffic, though it is often extremely crowded. The persistent congestion is estimated to cost Egypt approximately 4% of its annual GDP due to wasted time, excessive fuel consumption, and vehicle wear-and-tear.

Pollution

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Smog in Cairo

The air pollution in Cairo is a matter of serious concern. Greater Cairo's volatile aromatic hydrocarbon levels are higher than many other similar cities. Air quality measurements in Cairo have also been recording dangerous levels of lead, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and suspended particulate matter concentrations due to decades of unregulated vehicle emissions, urban industrial operations, and chaff and trash burning. There are over 4,500,000 cars on the streets of Cairo, 60% of which are over 10 years old, and therefore lack modern emission cutting features. Cairo has a very poor dispersion factor because of its lack of rain and its layout of tall buildings and narrow streets, which create a bowl effect.

In recent years, a black cloud (as Egyptians refer to it) of smog has appeared over Cairo every autumn due to temperature inversion. Smog causes serious respiratory diseases and eye irritations for the city's citizens. Tourists who are not familiar with such high levels of pollution must take extra care.

Cairo also has many unregistered lead and copper smelters which heavily pollute the city. The results of this has been a permanent haze over the city with particulate matter in the air reaching over three times normal levels. It is estimated that 10,000 to 25,000 people a year in Cairo die due to air pollution-related diseases. Lead has been shown to cause harm to the central nervous system and neurotoxicity particularly in children. In 1995, the first environmental acts were introduced and the situation has seen some improvement with 36 air monitoring stations and emissions tests on cars. Twenty thousand buses have also been commissioned to the city to improve congestion levels, which are very high.

The city also suffers from a high level of land pollution. Cairo produces 10,000 tons of waste material each day, 4,000 tons of which are not collected or managed. This is a huge health hazard, and the Egyptian Government is looking for ways to combat this. The Cairo Cleaning and Beautification Agency was founded to collect and recycle the waste; they work with the Zabbaleen community that has been collecting and recycling Cairo's waste since the turn of the 20th century and live in an area known locally as Manshiyat Naser. Both are working together to pick up as much waste as possible within the city limits, though it remains a pressing problem.

International relations

The Headquarters of the Arab League is located at Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo.

Twin towns – sister cities

Cairo is twinned with:

• Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
• Amman, Jordan
• Baghdad, Iraq
• Beijing, China
• Damascus, Syria
• East Jerusalem, Palestine
• Istanbul, Turkey
• Kairouan, Tunisia
• Khartoum, Sudan
• Muscat, Oman
• Palermo Province, Italy
• Rabat, Morocco
• Sanaa, Yemen
• Seoul, South Korea
• Stuttgart, Germany
• Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• Tbilisi, Georgia
• Tokyo, Japan
• Tripoli, Libya

Notable people

• Abu Sa'id al-Afif, 15th-century Samaritan
• Rabab Al-Kadhimi (1918–1998), dentist and poet
• Wael Alaa (born 1987), musician known as Neobyrd
• Amr Aly (born 1962), American soccer player and Olympian
• Yasser Arafat (1929–2004), born Mohammed Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf al-Qudwa al-Husseini, was the 3rd Chairman of The PLO and first president of the Palestinian Authority
• Gamal Aziz, also known as Gamal Mohammed Abdelaziz, former president and chief operating officer of Wynn Resorts, and former CEO of MGM Resorts International, indicted as part of the 2019 college admissions bribery scandal
• Avi Cohen (1956–2010), Israeli international footballer
• Dalida (1933–1987), Italian-Egyptian singer who lived most of her life in France, received 55 golden records and was the first singer to receive a diamond disc
• Farouk El-Baz (born 1938), Egyptian American space scientist who worked with NASA to assist in the planning of scientific exploration of the Moon, including the selection of landing sites for the Apollo missions and the training of astronauts in lunar observations and photography
• Freddy Elbaiady (born 1971), Egyptian politician
• Mohamed ElBaradei (born 1942), former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, 2005 Nobel Peace Prize laureate
• C. S. Forester (1899–1966), English novelist known for writing tales of naval warfare, born in Cairo
• Nourane Foster (born 1987), Cameroonian entrepreneur, politician and member of the National Assembly
• Boutros Ghali (1922–2016), former Secretary-General of the United Nations
• William Donald Hamilton (1936–2000), British evolutionary biologist, was born in Cairo
• Mauro Hamza (born 1965/1966), fencing coach
• Ahmed Hassanein, NFL player for the Detroit Lions, spent most of his childhood in Cairo
• Taco Hemingway (born 1990), Polish hip-hop artist
• Dorothy Hodgkin (1910–1994), British chemist, credited with the development of protein crystallography, Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964
• Sonallah Ibrahim (1937–2025), novelist and short story writer
• Yakub Kadri Karaosmanoğlu (1889–1974), Turkish novelist
• Naguib Mahfouz (1911–2006), novelist, Nobel Prize in Literature laureate in 1988
• Roland Moreno (1945–2012), French inventor, engineer, humorist and author who invented the smart card
• Ismail Pacha (1830–1895), Egyptian politician who served as Khedive of Egypt from 1863 to 1879
• Maghlatay ibn Qalij (1291–1361), Islamic scholar and author of the Mamluk era
• Ahmed Sabri (1889–1955), painter
• Byron C. Sakiadis, chemical engineer
• Naguib Sawiris (born 1954), businessman, 62nd richest person on Earth in 2007 list of billionaires, reaching US$10.0 billion with his company Orascom Telecom Holding
• Mohamed Sobhi (born 1948), film, television and stage actor, and director
• Blessed Maria Caterina Troiani (1813–1887), charitable activist
• Magdi Yacoub (born 1935), Egyptian-British cardiothoracic surgeon
• Hesham Youssef, Egyptian diplomat
• Ezz El-Dine Zulficar (1919–1963), Egyptian film director, screenwriter, actor and producer, known for his distinctive style, which blends romance and action; one of the most influential filmmakers in Egyptian cinema's golden age
• Mona Zulficar (born 1950), lawyer and human rights activist; included in the Forbes 2021 list of the "100 most powerful businesswomen in the Arab region"
• Ahmed Mourad Bey Zulfikar (1888–1945), Egyptian chief of police
• Ahmed Zulfikar (1952–2010), mechanical engineer and entrepreneur
• Dina Zulfikar (born 1962), film distributor and animal welfare activist

See also

• Charles Ayrout
• Cultural tourism in Egypt
• List of buildings in Cairo
• List of cities and towns in Egypt
• Outline of Cairo
• Outline of Egypt
• Architecture of Egypt

References

Works cited

• English translation:

Further reading

• Artemis Cooper, Cairo in the War, 1939–1945, Hamish Hamilton, 1989 / Penguin Book, 1995. Template:ISBN (Pbk)
• Max Rodenbeck, Cairo– the City Victorious, Picador, 1998. Template:ISBN (Hbk) Template:ISBN (Pbk)
• Wahba, Magdi (1990). Cairo Memories" in Studies in Arab History: The Antonius Lectures, 1978–87. Edited by Derek Hopwood. London: Macmillan Press.
• Peter Theroux, Cairo: Clamorous heart of Egypt National Geographic Magazine April 1993
• Cynthia Myntti, Paris Along the Nile: Architecture in Cairo from the Belle Epoque, American University in Cairo Press, 2003.
• Cairo's belle époque architects 1900–1950, by Samir Raafat.
• Antonine Selim Nahas, one of city's major belle époque (1900–1950) architects.
• Nagib Mahfooz novels, all tell great stories about Cairo's deep conflicts.
• Jörg Armbruster, Suleman Taufiq (Eds.) مدينتي القاهرة (MYCAI – My Cairo Mein Kairo), text by different authors, photos by Barbara Armbruster and Hala Elkoussy, edition esefeld & traub, Stuttgart 2014, Template:ISBN.

External links

• Cairo City Government
• Coptic Churches of Cairo
• Template:Osmrelation-inline
• Map of Cairo, 1914. Template:Webarchive Eran Laor Cartographic Collection, The National Library of Israel.
• Maps of Cairo. Template:Webarchive Historic Cities Research Project. Template:Webarchive

Lat. and Long. Template:Districts of Cairo Template:Egyptian Cities Template:Capitals of Arab countries Template:All-Africa Games Host Cities Template:Megacities Template:Authority control