
and the largest city in the Arab world
and Africa
, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minaret
s" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture
, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life. Cairo was founded by the Fatimid dynasty in the 10th century AD.; but the land composing the present-day city was the site of national capitals whose remnants remain visible in parts of Old Cairo
.
1945 The Arab League is founded when a charter is adopted in Cairo, Egypt.
1952 Black Saturday in Egypt: rioters burn Cairo's central business district, targeting British and upper-class Egyptian businesses.
1969 In Cairo, Yasser Arafat is appointed Palestine Liberation Organization leader at the Palestinian National Congress.
1985 Gunmen hijack EgyptAir Flight 648 while en route from Athens to Cairo. When the plane lands in Malta, Egyptian commandos storm the hijacked jetliner, but 60 people die in the raid.
1997 Hussein Aidid relinquishes the disputed title of President of Somalia by signing the Cairo Declaration, in Cairo, Egypt. It is the first major step towards reconciliation in Somalia since 1991.
1999 EgyptAir Flight 990 traveling from New York City to Cairo crashes off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, killing all 217 on-board.
and the largest city in the Arab world
and Africa
, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minaret
s" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture
, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life. Cairo was founded by the Fatimid dynasty in the 10th century AD.; but the land composing the present-day city was the site of national capitals whose remnants remain visible in parts of Old Cairo
. Cairo is also associated with Ancient Egypt
due to its proximity to the ancient cities of Memphis
, Giza and Fustat which are nearby to the Great Sphinx
and the pyramids of Giza.
Egyptians today often refer to Cairo as Maṣr , the Arabic pronunciation of the name for Egypt itself, emphasizing the city's continued role in Egyptian influence. Cairo has the oldest and largest film and music industries in the Arab World, as well as the world's second-oldest institution of higher learning, al-Azhar University
. Many international media, businesses, and organizations have regional headquarters in the city, and the Arab League
has had its headquarters in Cairo for most of its existence.
With a population of 6.76 million spread over 453 square kilometres (174.9 sq mi), Cairo is by far the largest city in Egypt. With an additional ten million inhabitants just outside the city, Cairo resides at the centre of the largest metropolitan area in Africa and the eleventh-largest urban area in the world. Cairo, like many other mega-cities, suffers from high levels of pollution and traffic, but its metro
– the only one on the African continent until the Algiers Metro
began service on November 1, 2011 – also ranks among the fifteen busiest in the world, with over 700 million passenger rides annually. The economy of Cairo was ranked first in the Middle East
, and 43rd globally by Foreign Policy
s 2010 Global Cities Index
.
Initial settlements

, had long been a focal point of Ancient Egypt
due to its strategic location just upstream from the Nile Delta
. However, the origins of the modern city are generally traced back to a series of settlements in the first millennium. Around the turn of the 4th century, as Memphis was continuing to decline in importance, the Romans
established a fortress town along the east bank of the Nile
. This fortress, known as Babylon
, remains the oldest structure in the city. It is also situated at the nucleus of Egypt's Coptic Christian community, which separated from the Roman and Byzantine church in the late 4th century. Many of Cairo's oldest Coptic churches, including The Hanging Church
, are located along the fortress walls in a section of the city known as Coptic Cairo
.
After the arab conquest of Egypt in 641, Rashidun
commander 'Amr ibn al-'As
established Fustat just north of Cairo and Babylon. At Caliph Umar's
request, the Egyptian capital was moved from Alexandria
to the new city. Fustat also became a regional centre of Islam
and home to the Mosque of Amr ibn al-As
, the first mosque
in Egypt. When the Abbasids usurped the Umayyads in 750, they moved the capital to al-Askar
, which they had built just north of Fustat. In 868, under the Tulunids
, Egypt's capital was moved further north to their own settlement, al-Qatta'i
. However, neither al-Askar nor al-Qatta'i achieved the prominence of Fustat; al-Askar had become indistinguishable from Fustat by the end of the 9th century, and al-Qatta'i was destroyed by the Abbasids when they recaptured Egypt in 905. With the Abbasids' second conquest, Fustat once again became the capital of Egypt. According to Encyclopædia Americana, the city was founded by the second caliph, Omar ibn al-Khattāb.
Foundation and expansion
In 969, led by General Gawhar al-Siqilli, the Fatimid Caliphate conquered Egyptfrom Tunisia
and established a new fortified city northeast of Fustat. It took four years for Gawhar to build the city, initially known as al-Manṣūriyyah, which later took its Modern name, Al-Qahira (Cairo) which was to serve as the new capital of the caliphate. During that time, Jawhar also commissioned the construction of al-Azhar Mosque
, 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. When Caliph al-Mu'izz li Din Allah finally arrived from the old Fatimid capital of Mahdia
in Tunisia
in 973, the city was given its present name, al-Qahira ("The Victorious"), in reference to the caliph.

Shawar
, set fire to Fustat to prevent Cairo's capture by the Crusaders
. Egypt's capital was permanently moved to Cairo, which eventually expanded to include the ruins of Fustat and the previous capitals of al-Askar
and al-Qatta'i
. While the Fustat fire successfully protected the city of Cairo, a continuing power struggle between Shawar, King Amalric I of Jerusalem
, and Syrian
general Shirkuh
led to the downfall of the Fatimid establishment.
In 1169 Saladin
was appointed as the new vizier of Egypt and two years later he would seize power from the family of the last Fatimid caliph, Al-'Āḍid. As the first Sultan of Egypt
, Saladin established the Ayyubid dynasty
, based in Cairo, and aligned Egypt with the Abbasids, who were based in Baghdad
. During his reign, Saladin also constructed the Citadel
, which served as the seat of Egyptian government until the mid-19th century.
In 1250 slave soldiers, known as the Mamluk
s, seized Egypt and like many of their predecessors established Cairo as the capital of their new dynasty
. Continuing a practice started by the Ayyubids
, much of the land occupied by former Fatimid palaces was sold and replaced by newer buildings. Construction projects initiated by the Mamluks pushed the city outward while also bringing new infrastructure to the centre of the city. Meanwhile, Cairo flourished as a centre of Islamic scholarship
and a crossroads on the spice trade
route between Europe and Asia. By 1340, Cairo had a population of close to half a million, making it the largest city west of China
.
Stagnation and Ottoman rule
Although it avoided Europe'sstagnation during the Late Middle Ages
, Cairo could not escape the Black Death
, which struck the city more than fifty times between 1348 and 1517. During its initial, and most deadly waves, approximately 200,000 people were killed by the plague, and, by the 15th century, Cairo's population had been reduced to between 150,000 and 300,000. The city's status was further diminished after Vasco da Gama
discovered a sea route around the Cape of Good Hope
, thereby allowing spice traders to avoid Cairo.
Cairo's political influence diminished significantly after the Ottomans
supplanted Mamluk
power over Egypt
in 1517. Ruling from Istanbul
, Sultan Selim I
relegated Egypt to a mere province
, with Cairo as its capital. For this reason, the history of Cairo during Ottoman times is often described as inconsequential, especially in comparison to other time periods. However, during the 16th and 17th centuries, Cairo remained an important economic and cultural centre. Although no longer on the spice route, the city facilitated the transportation of Yemen
i coffee
and India
n textile
s, 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
. It was during this same period that al-Azhar University reached the predominance among Islamic schools that it continues to hold today; 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
. By the 16th century, Cairo also had high-rise
apartment building
s where the two lower floors were for commercial and storage purposes and the multiple stories above them were rented
out to tenants
.
Under the Ottomans, Cairo expanded south and west from its nucleus around the Citadel
. The city was the second-largest in the empire, behind only Istanbul, 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
. 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.
The French occupation was short-lived as British
and Ottoman forces, including a sizable Albanian
contingent, recaptured the country in 1801. The British vacated Egypt two years later, leaving the Ottomans, the Albanians, and the long-weakened Mamluk
s jostling for control of the country. 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.
Modern era
Until his death in 1848, Muhammad Ali Pashainstituted a number of social and economic reforms that earned him the title of founder of modern Egypt. However, while Muhammad Ali initiated the construction of public buildings in the city, those reforms had minimal effect on Cairo's landscape. Bigger changes came to Cairo under Isma'il Pasha
(r. 1863–1879), who continued the modernization processes started by his grandfather. Drawing inspiration from Paris
, Isma'il environs 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. Isma'il also sought to modernize the city, which was merging with neighboring settlements, by establishing a public works
ministry, bringing gas
and lighting to the city, and opening a theater and opera house.
The immense debt resulting from Isma'il's projects provided a pretext for increasing European control, which culminated with the British invasion in 1882. 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. 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.
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, five years after Egypt had been declared a British protectorate
. Nevertheless, while this led to Egypt's independence in 1922
, British troops remained in the country until 1956. During this time, urban Cairo, spurred by new bridges and transport links, continued to in expand to include the upscale neighborhoods of Garden City
, Zamalek
, and Heliopolis
. Between 1882 and 1937, the population of Cairo more than tripled – from 347,000 to 1.3 million – and its area increased from 10 square kilometres (4 sq mi) to 163 square kilometres (63 sq mi).
The city was devastated during the 1952 Cairo Fire
, also known as 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 Midan Tahrir
and the Nile Corniche
, and improved the city's network of bridges and highways. Meanwhile, additional controls of the Nile fostered development within the island of Gezira
and along the city's waterfront. The metropolis began to encroach on the fertile Nile Delta
, prompting the government to build desert satellite town
s and devise incentives for city-dwellers to move to them.
Despite these efforts, Cairo's population has doubled since the 1960s, reaching close to seven million (with an additional ten million in its urban area
). Concurrently, Cairo has established itself as a political and economic hub for North Africa
and the Arab World
, with many multinational businesses and organizations, including the Arab League
, operating out of the city.
In 1992, Cairo was hit by a damaging earthquake
, that caused 545 deaths, 6512 injuries and left 50,000 people homeless.
Satellite cities
6th of October City, west of Cairo, and New Cairo, east of Cairo, are major urban developments which have been built to accommodate additional growth and development of the Cairo area. New development includes several high-end residential developments.
Geography

, known as Lower Egypt
, 165 kilometres (102.5 mi) south of the Mediterranean Sea
and 120 kilometres (74.6 mi) west of the Gulf of Suez
and Suez Canal
. The city is 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 453 square kilometres (174.9 sq mi).
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.
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 Mamluk
s and Ottomans
further contributed to expansion on the east bank of the river.
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 centrer. 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 town
s, 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 has also undergone significant expansion over recent years, and today the city, although still a suburb
of Cairo, has a population of 2.7 million. The Cairo Governorate is just north of the Helwan Governorate
, which was created in 2008 when some of Cairo's southern districts, including Maadi
and New Cairo
, were split off and annexed into the new governorate
.
Climate
In Cairo, and along the Nile River Valley, the climate is a desert climate(BWh according to the Köppen climate classification
system), but often with high humidity due to the river valley's effects. Wind storms can be frequent, bringing Saharan dust
into the city during the months of March and April. High temperatures in winter range from 19 °C (66 °F) to 29 °C (84 °F), while night-time lows drop to below 11 °C (52 °F), often to 5 °C (41 °F). In summer, the highs rarely surpass 40 °C (104 °F), and lows drop to about 50 °C (122 °F). Rainfall is sparse, but sudden showers do cause harsh flooding. In New Cairo
, a place of higher elevation than down town Cairo, the temperatures often drop below zero during winter causing morning frost.
Infrastructure

Health
Cairo, as well as neighbouring, has been established as Egypt's main centre for medical treatment, and despite some exceptions, has the most advanced level of medical carein the country. Cairo's hospitals include the JCI-accredited As-Salam International Hospital - Corniche El Nile; Maadi (Egypt's largest private hospital
with 350 beds), Ain Shams University
Hospital, Dar El Fouad Hospital, as well as Qasr El Ainy General Hospital
.
Education
Cairo has long been the hub of education and educational services for Egypt and the region.Today, Cairo is the centre for many government offices governing the Egyptian educational system
, has the largest number of educational schools, and higher learning institutes
among other cities and governorates of Egypt.
Some of the International Schools found in Cairo include:
Universities in Cairo:

University | Date of Foundation |
---|---|
Al Azhar University Al-Azhar University Al-Azhar University is an educational institute in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 970~972 as a madrasa, it is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world. It is the oldest degree-granting university in Egypt. In 1961 non-religious subjects were added to its curriculum.It is... |
975 |
Cairo University Cairo University Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought... |
1908 |
American University in Cairo American University in Cairo The American University in Cairo is an independent, non-profit, apolitical, secular institution of higher learning located in Cairo, Egypt... |
1919 |
Ain Shams University Ain Shams University Ain Shams University is an institute of higher education located in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 1950, the university provides education at the undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels.-History:... |
1950 |
Arab Academy for Science & Technology and Maritime Transport Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport The Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport is an organization specialized in Science and Technology and Maritime Transport.... |
1972 |
Helwan University Helwan University Helwan University is a public university based in Helwan in Egypt. It comprises 18 faculties as well as 50 research centers.Generally, it is known for engineering and business studies... |
1975 |
Sadat Academy for Management Sciences | 1981 |
Higher Technological Institute Higher Technological Institute - Identification :Higher Technological Institute was established by a ministerial decision issued on 27/10/1988, according to the law of private higher institutes No... |
1989 |
Modern Academy In Maadi Modern Academy In Maadi The Modern Academy In Maadi , Egypt, was founded in 1993 by a group of professional educationalists, Initially, The Modern Academy is located in Maadi, a southern suburb of Cairo known by its greenery and quietness. MAM currently occupies permanent buildings on road # 304, New Maadi... |
1993 |
Misr International University Misr International University is an undergraduate and comprehensive private university located in the suburbs of Cairo. Established in 1996, in Maadi, The University changed its location to Cairo-Ismailia Road... |
1996 |
Misr University for Science and Technology Misr University for Science and Technology -History:Misr University for Science and Technology is a leading independent university in Egypt, it was established by the presidential decree No. 245/1996 in accordance with law No.101/1992 governing private universities in Egypt. MUST enjoys full legal recognition by all educational authorities... |
1996 |
Modern Sciences and Arts University Modern Sciences and Arts University Modern Sciences and Arts University ' is an Egyptian university, a natural extension of an extensive network of Dar El Tarbiah Languages Schools founded by Dr Nawal El Degwi since 1958 which has always been acknowledged by the British Council for its contribution of establishing models of best... |
1996 |
Université Française d'Égypte | 2002 |
German University in Cairo German University in Cairo The German University in Cairo , is a private, nonsectarian Egyptian university established in cooperation with some German state universities of as well as some of the German and Egyptian educational institutions.... |
2003 |
Canadian International College Canadian International College The Canadian International College , is an Egyptian Private college established as the Cairo campus of Cape Breton University in Canada. It is the first Canadian college in Egypt.- History :... |
2004 |
British University in Egypt British University in Egypt The British University in Egypt is a private university in El Sherouk, Greater Cairo, Egypt. Founded in September 2005, the university campus covers approximately 40 acres of land. The available space within the buildings is 27000 m².-Faculties:... |
2005 |
Ahram Canadian University Ahram Canadian University The Ahram Canadian University is an Egyptian private university established in cooperation with The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada which represents the Canadian universities and it is the only Canadian university in Egypt.... |
2005 |
Nile University Nile University Nile University is a not-for-profit institution of higher learning. The University was established in Egypt in July 2006 by the Egyptian Foundation for Technological Education Development .... |
2006 |
Future University in Egypt Future University in Egypt Future University in Egypt is a private university located in New Cairo, Egypt founded in 2006 by education pioneer, the late Dr. Hassan Azazy. FUE is a leading private university strategically located in the heart of New Cairo.The University provides a comprehensive, high quality education that... |
2006 |
Transportation


, and maritime services. Road transport is facilitated by personal vehicles, taxi cabs, privately owned public buses, and Cairo microbuses. Cairo, specifically Ramses Square, is the centre of almost the entire Egyptian transportation network
.
The subway system, officially called "Metro (مترو)", is a fast and efficient way of getting around Cairo. It can get very crowded during rush hour
. Two train cars (the fourth and fifth ones) are reserved for women only, although women may ride in any car they want.
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 Sixth of 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 intersections, taking turns going, with police aiding in traffic control of some congested areas.
On 25 October 2009 a passenger train ran into another one near Giza, just outside Cairo. Local news agencies reported at least 25 people dead. A local resident, Samhi Saleh Abdel Al, told reporters that "the first train stopped after hitting a cow
and 10 minutes later the second train arrived at full speed." One of the two trains was travelling from Cairo to Assiut, while the other was said to have been en-route to Fayoum from Giza. Around 55 people were injured.
- Cairo International AirportCairo International AirportCairo International Airport is the busiest airport in Egypt and the primary hub for Star Alliance member EgyptAir. The airport is located to the north-east of the city around from the business area of the city.The airport is administered by the Egyptian Holding Co...
- Ramses Railway StationRamses StationRamses Railway Station is the main railway station of Cairo, Egypt. The name is derived from the Ancient Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II whose statue was erected by Nasser on the square in 1955. The station was formerly known as Misr Station....
- Cairo Tram
- Cairo Transportation Authority CTACairo Transportation AuthorityCairo Transportation Authority is the operator of mass transit within Cairo, and the largest operator in Egypt.CTA operates buses , a surface metro, ferries and river buses...
- Cairo Taxi/Yellow Cab
- Cairo MetroCairo MetroThe Cairo Metro in Egypt is the first of only two full-fledged metro system in Africa, and the Arab World. The system consists of two operational lines, with construction having begun on a third line in 2006....
- Cairo Nile Ferry
Sports

and El Zamalek, whose annual football tournament is perhaps the most watched sports event in Egypt as well as the African and Arabian World. Both teams are known as the "rivals" of Egyptian football, and are the first and the second champions in the African continent and the Arab World. Both teams play their home games at Cairo International Stadium
or Naser Stadium, which is Egypt's 2nd largest stadium, Cairo's largest one and one of the largest stadiums in the world.
The Cairo International Stadium
was built in 1960 and its multi-purpose sports complex that houses the main football stadium, an indoor stadium, several satellite fields that held several regional, continental and global games, including the African Games
, U17 Football World Championship and was one of the stadiums scheduled that hosted the 2006 African Nations Cup which was played in January, 2006 Egypt later won the competition and went on to win the next edition In Ghana (2008) making the Egyptian and Ghanaian national teams the only teams to win the African cup of nations Back to back which resulted in Egypt winning the title for a record number of six times in African Continental Competition's history. This was followed by a third consecutive win in Angola 2010, making Egypt the only country with a record 3-consecutive and 7-total Continental Football Competition winner. This achievement had also placed the Egyptian football team as the #12 best team in the world's FIFA rankings.
Cairo failed at the applicant stage when bidding for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games
, which was hosted in Beijing, China. However, Cairo did host the 2007 Pan-Arab Games
.
There are several other sports teams in the city that participate in several sports including el Gezira Sporting Club
, el Shams Club, el Seid Club, Heliopolis Club and several smaller clubs, but the biggest clubs in Egypt (not in area but in sports) are Al Ahly
& Al Zamalek
. They have the two biggest football teams in Egypt.
Most of the sports federations of the country are also 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.
On October 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 both professional and junior divisions. Gizira Club in Zamalek is where former world #1 Amr Shabana and former world #1 Karim Darwish practice. The Heliopolis Club in Heliopolis is the home of current world #1 Ramy Ashour and his brother, world #24, Hisham Ashour. Other major squash-playing venues are The Shooting Club (Nadi el Seid) in Dokki, The Maadi Club in Maadi and Wadi Degla in Degla.
Culture
Over the ages, and as far back as four thousand years, Egypt stood as the land where civilizations have always met. The Pharaoh
s together with the Greeks
, Babylonians and the Romans
have left their imprints here. Muslim
s from the Arabian Peninsula, led by Amr ibn al-A'as
, introduced Islam
into Egypt. Khedive
Mohammad Ali
, with his Albanian family roots, put Egypt on the road to modernity. The cultural mixture in this city only is natural, considering its heritage. Egypt can be likened to an open museum with monuments of the different historical periods on display everywhere.
Cairo Opera House
President Mubarak inaugurated the new Cairo Opera House of the Egyptian National Cultural Centres on October 10, 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 these two nations.Egypt is proud to be the only state in the region which built two opera house
s within a century.
Khedivial Opera House
The Khedivial Opera Houseor Royal Opera House was the original opera house in Cairo, Egypt. It was dedicated on November 1, 1869 and burned down on October 28, 1971. After the original opera house was destroyed, Cairo was without an opera house for nearly two decades until the opening of the new Cairo Opera House in 1988.
Cairo International Film Festival
Egypt's love of the arts in general can be traced back to the rich heritage bequeathed by the Pharaohs. In modern times, Egypt has enjoyed a strong cinematic tradition since the art of filmmaking was first developed, early in the 20th century. A natural progression from the active theatre scene of the time, cinema rapidly evolved into a vast motion picture industry. This together with the much older music tradition, raised Egypt to become Hollywood Middle East and the cultural capitalof the Arab world.
For more than 500 years of recorded history
, Egypt has fascinated the West and inspired its creative talents from play writer William Shakespeare
, poet and dramatist John Dryden
, and novelist and poet Lawrence Durrell
to film producer Cecil B. de Mille
. Since the silent movies
Hollywood has been capitalising on the box-office
returns that come from combining Egyptian stories with visual effects.
Egypt has also been a fount of Arabic literature
, producing some of the 20th century's greatest Arab writers such as Taha Hussein and Tawfiq al-Hakim to Nobel Laureate, novelist Naguib Mahfouz
. Each of them has written for the cinema.
With these credentials, it was clear that Cairo should aim to hold an international film festival
. This dream came true on Monday August 16, 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 lead 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.
For 33 years The International Festival has awarded dozens of international superstars, including John Malkovich
, Nicolas Cage
, Morgan Freeman
, Bud Spencer
, Gina Lollobrigida
, Ornella Muti
, Sophia Loren
, Claudia Cardinale
, Victoria Abril
, Elizabeth Taylor
, Shashi Kapoor
, Alain Delon
, Goldy Hawn
, Kurt Russell
, Susan Sarandon
, Greta Scacchi
, Catherine Deneuve
, Peter O'Toole
, Charlize Theron
, Julia Ormond
, Mira Sorvino
, Stuart Townsend
, Alicia Silverstone
, Priscilla Presley
, Christopher Lee
, Irene Papas
, Marcello Mastroianni
, Salma Hayek
, Lucy liu
, Samuel Jackson
, Tom Berenger
and Omar Sharif
, as well as directors like Robert Wise
, Elia Kazan
, Vanessa Redgrave
, Oliver Stone
, Roland Joffe
, Carlos Saura
, Ismail Merchant
and Michelangelo Antonioni
, in an annual celebration and examination of the state of cinema in the world today. The presidents of the Festival since it was founded in 1976 are Saad El-Din Wahba, Hussein Fahmy
and Sherif El Shoubashy. This year the festival a milestone of 30 years in an annual celebration and examination of the state of cinema in the world today.
Cairo Geniza
The Cairo Genizais an accumulation of almost 200,000 Jewish manuscripts that were found in the genizah of the Ben Ezra
synagogue (built 882) of Fostat, 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 as late as 1880 AD and have now been archived in various American and European libraries. The Taylor-Schechter collection in the University of Cambridge
runs to 140,000 manuscripts; there are a further 40,000 manuscripts at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
.
Economy

and media outlets and nearly all film studio
s are there, as are half of the nation's hospital beds and universities. This has fueled rapid construction in the city—one building in five is less than 15 years old.
This astonishing growth until recently surged well ahead of city services
. Homes, roads, electricity, telephone and sewer services were all suddenly in short supply. Analysts trying to grasp the magnitude of the change coined terms like "hyper-urbanization".
Cairos Automobile assembler & manufacturer
- Arab American Vehicles CompanyArab American VehiclesArab American Vehicles is an Egyptian automobile manufacturer based in Cairo, Egypt.The company manufactures various vehicles under license from Daimler AG, Kia, Chrysler LLC, and Peugeot — having begun as a joint venture between the Arab Organization for Industrialization and 49% of the...
- Egyptian Light Transport Manufacturing Company (Egyptian NSU pedant)
- Ghabbour GroupGhabbour GroupThe Ghabbour Group is an Egyptian manufacturer of automobiles, buses, trucks and motorcycles located in Cairo.The company was founded by the brothers Kamal and Sadek Ghabbour because they realized that the automotive sector is a growing up market...
(Fuso, Hyundai and Volvo) - MCV Corporate GroupManufacturing Commercial VehiclesManufacturing Commercial Vehicles is an Egyptian manufacturer for buses and trucks located in El Salam City, Cairo. The manufacturer owns the trademark rights of the brands ECHOLINE, eVolution and MCV...
(a part of the Daimler AG) - Mod Car
- Seoudi GroupSeoudi GroupThe Seoudi Group is an Egyptian automobile manufacturer which was founded in 1975 with its current head office in Cairo.The company began its work with the Modern Motors S.A.E. which is specialized for manufacturing Nissan vehicles...
(Modern Motors: Nissan, BMW (formerly); El-Mashreq: Alfa Romeo and Fiat) - Speranza (former Daewoo Motors Egypt; CheryChery AutomobileChery Automobile Co Ltd is a state-owned automobile manufacturer in the People's Republic of China.Chery became the 7th most-productive Chinese vehicle manufacturer in 2010, selling nearly 700,000 units.-History:...
, Daewoo)
Main sights
- For a complete list, see Visitor attractions in Cairo, list of mosques
Tahrir Square
Tahrir Square was founded during the mid 19th century with the establishment of modern down-town 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 1919the square became widely known as Tahrir (Liberation) Square. Several notable buildings surround the square including, The American University in Cairo's down-town campus, the Mogamma governmental administrative Building, the headquarters of the Arab League
, the Nile Ritz Carlton Hotel, the headquarters of the National Democratic Party
, and the Egyptian Museum
. Being at the heart of Cairo, the square witnessed several major protests over the years. However, the most notable event in the square was being the focal point of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution
against former president Hosni Mubarak
.
Tahrir Square was not renamed after the 1919 Egyptian Revolution but was renamed after the 1952 Revolution by Nasser.
The Egyptian Museum

, known commonly as the Egyptian Museum, is home to the most extensive collection of ancient Egypt
ian antiquities in the world. It has 136,000 items on display, with many more hundreds of thousands in its basement storerooms.
Khan El-Khalili
Khan el-Khalili is an ancient bazaar, or marketplace. It dates back to 1382, when Emir Djaharks el-Khalili built a large caravanserai
, or khan. A caravanserai is a hotel for traders, and usually the focal point for any surrounding area. The caravanserai remains today.
Old Cairo
The part of Cairo that contains Coptic Cairoand Fostat, which contains the Coptic Museum
, Babylon Fortress
, Hanging Church
, the Greek Church
of St. George, many other Coptic churches, the Ben Ezra Synagogue
and Amr ibn al-'As
Mosque
.
Cairo Tower
The Cairo Tower is a free-standing concrete TV tower in Cairo. It stands in the Zamalek district on Gezira Island in the Nile River, in the city centre. At 187 meters, it is 43 metres higher than the Great Pyramid of Giza, which stands some 15 km to the southwest.Al Qahira Fatimia Mosques
- Al-Azhar Mosque
Established in 972, Al-Azhar mosque was historically the site of the renowned Al-Azhar University
, until the university's move in the late 20th century to a new campus in Nasr City
.
- Al-Hakim MosqueAl-Hakim MosqueThe al-Hakim Mosque is a major Islamic religious site in Cairo, Egypt. It is located in "Islamic Cairo", on the east side of Muizz Street, just south of Bab Al-Futuh...
Jame-al-Anwar, 928 - Aqmar MosqueAqmar MosqueThe Aqmar Mosque is one of the few remaining mosques in Cairo, Egypt that have been built in the Fatimid era under vizier al-Ma'mun al-Bata'ihi during the caliphate of Imam al-Amir, son of Mustansir. The mosque is located along north Muizz Street, with several significant monuments located next to...
, 1125 - Juyushi MosqueJuyushi MosqueThe Juyushi Mosque was built in Imam Mustansir era under Badr al-Jamali in 1085 AD. This is one of historical mosque of Egypt of Fatimid Caliphate era....
, 1085 - Lulua MosqueLulua MosqueThe Lulua Mosque is a mosque in Cairo, Egypt, that was built in 1015-16 AD. It is thought that it was constructed during the reign of al-Hakim. The mosque partially collapsed in 1919, but was later rebuilt by the Dawoodi Bohra....
, 1015
Islamic sites in the old city
- Imam Husayn Mosque
- Mosque-Mausoleum Zaynab
- Sayyidah Ruqayya Mashhad
- Sayyeda Nafisa Mosque
- Mohammed Ali Basha Mosque
Pollution
Cairo is an expanding city, which has led to many environmental problems. The air pollutionin 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 like catalytic converter
s. Cairo has a very poor dispersion factor because of lack of rain and its layout of tall buildings and narrow streets, which create a bowl effect.
In recent years, a mysterious black cloud
(as Egyptians refer to it) appeared over Cairo every fall
and 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. 20,000 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 is not collected
or managed
. This once again 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; however, they also work with the Zabbaleen
(or Zabaleen
), a 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.
The city also suffers from water pollution
as the sewer system tends to fail and overflow. On occasion, sewage
has escaped onto the streets to create a health hazard. This problem is hoped to be solved by a new sewer system funded by the European Union
, which could cope with the demand of the city. The dangerously high levels of mercury
in the city's water system has global health
officials concerned over related health risks. There is also more concern about environmental issues among Egyptians than before. There is now general awareness and some projects are laid down to help make the public aware of the importance of a clean environment.
North America
Houston, United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... (1998) New York City New York City New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... (1982) Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... , Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... (1989) |
Asia
Beijing Beijing Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's... , China People's Republic of China China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres... (1990) Seoul Seoul Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world... , South Korea South Korea The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south... (1997) |
Tokyo Tokyo , ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family... , Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... (1990) Xi'an Xi'an Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty... , China People's Republic of China China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres... (1997) |
Europe
Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... , Spain Spain Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula... (1992) Frankfurt Frankfurt Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... (1979) Istanbul Istanbul Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and... , Turkey Turkey Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe... (1988) |
Minsk Minsk - Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened... , Belarus Belarus Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,... (1998) Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... (1985) Stuttgart Stuttgart Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million .... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... (1979) |
Famous people born in Cairo (Cairenes)
- Ahmed ZewailAhmed ZewailAhmed Hassan Zewail is an Egyptian-American scientist who won the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on femtochemistry. He is the Linus Pauling Chair Professor Chemistry and Professor of Physics at the California Institute of Technology.- Birth and education :Ahmed Zewail was born on...
- (born February 26, 1946) is an Egyptian American scientist who won the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on femtochemistry. He is the Linus Pauling Chair Professor Chemistry and Professor of Physics at the California Institute of Technology."actually he was born in Desuq" - Abu Sa'id al-AfifAbu Sa'id al-AfifAbu Sa'id al-Afif was a renowned Samaritan physician in fifteenth century Cairo....
- 15th century Samaritian - Boutros Boutros-GhaliBoutros Boutros-GhaliBoutros Boutros-Ghali is an Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1992 to December 1996...
, former Secretary-General of the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace... - Naguib MahfouzNaguib MahfouzNaguib Mahfouz was an Egyptian writer who won the 1988 Nobel Prize for Literature. He is regarded as one of the first contemporary writers of Arabic literature, along with Tawfiq el-Hakim, to explore themes of existentialism. He published over 50 novels, over 350 short stories, dozens of movie...
, novelNovelA novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist, Nobel Prize in LiteratureNobel Prize in LiteratureSince 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded annually to an author from any country who has, in the words from the will of Alfred Nobel, produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction"...
in 1988. - Mohamed ElBaradei, former Director GeneralDirector-generalThe term director-general is a title given the highest executive officer within a governmental, statutory, NGO, third sector or not-for-profit institution.-European Union:...
of the International Atomic Energy AgencyInternational Atomic Energy AgencyThe International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957...
, 2005 Nobel Peace Prize laureateNobel Peace PrizeThe Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
. - DalidaDalidaDalida , born with Italian name of Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti, was a world-famous singer and actress born in Egypt with Italian origins but naturalised French with the name Yolanda Gigliotti. She spent her early years in Egypt amongst the Italian Egyptian community, but she lived most of her adult...
Italian-Egyptian singer who lived most of her life in FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
She received 55 golden records and was the first singer to receive a diamond discMusic recording sales certificationMusic recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
. - Yasser ArafatYasser ArafatMohammed Yasser Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini , popularly known as Yasser Arafat or by his kunya Abu Ammar , was a Palestinian leader and a Laureate of the Nobel Prize. He was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization , President of the Palestinian National Authority...
(1929–2004), Founder and first president of the Palestine Liberation OrganizationPalestine Liberation OrganizationThe Palestine Liberation Organization is a political and paramilitary organization which was created in 1964. It is recognized as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people" by the United Nations and over 100 states with which it holds diplomatic relations, and has enjoyed... - Sir Magdi Yacoub (1935), world-famous cardiothoracic surgeon
- Dorothy Hodgkin, British chemist, credited with the development of protein crystallography, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1969
- Naguib SawirisNaguib SawirisNaguib Onsi Sawiris is an Egyptian businessman and politician. He was executive chairman of the telecommunications companies Wind Telecom and Orascom Telecom Holding before turning to politics in May 2011...
, 62nd richest person on earth in 2007 list of billionairesBillionaireA billionaire, in countries that use the short scale number naming system, is a person who has a net worth of at least one billion units of a given currency, usually the United States dollar, Euro, or Pound sterling. Forbes magazine updates a complete list of U.S. dollar billionaires around the...
, reaching US$10.0 billion with his company Orascom Telecom HoldingOrascom Telecom HoldingOrascom Telecom Holding S.A.E. is a leading international telecommunications company operating GSM networks in the Middle East, Africa, Canada and Asia. It started its operations in Egypt by launching the first egyptian mobile operator in 1998, .... - Sam Mounir, writerWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, and director - Sherif SonbolSherif SonbolSherif Sonbol is a photographer specializing in architecture, scenic fine arts and photojournalism.- Early life :...
(1956), chief photographer of the Cairo Opera HouseCairo Opera HouseThe Cairo Opera House , part of Cairo's National Cultural Center, is the main performing arts venue in the Egyptian capital. Home to most of Egypt's finest musical groups, it is located on the southern portion of Gezira Island in the Nile River, in the Zamalek district west of and near downtown...
and Al AhramAl-AhramAl-Ahram , founded in 1875, is the most widely circulating Egyptian daily newspaper, and the second oldest after al-Waqa'i`al-Masriya . It is majority owned by the Egyptian government....
Weekly, book author, first Egyptian photographer whose work has been subject of an exhibit at New York´s Lincoln CenterLincoln Center for the Performing ArtsLincoln Center for the Performing Arts is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of New York City's Upper West Side. Reynold Levy has been its president since 2002.-History and facilities:... - Constantin XenakisConstantin XenakisConstantin Xenakis is a European artist based in France. His work often includes written script, in particular the Hebrew alphabet.-Life:...
(1931) GreekGreeksThe Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
artist - Ekmeleddin İhsanoğluEkmeleddin IhsanogluEkmeleddin İhsanoğlu is a Turkish academic, diplomat and currently the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation , the second largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations...
TurkishTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
professor and the secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation - Voula ZouboulakiVoula ZouboulakiVoula Zouboulaki was a Greek actress . She attended the Dramatic School of the National Theatre, the School of the National Odeon and the Law School of the University of Athens.Zouboulaki began at the National Lyric Stage in 1952 and two years later appeared in prose...
(1931) Greek actress - Raffi CavoukianRaffi (musician)Raffi Cavoukian, CM, OBC , better known by his stage name Raffi, is a Canadian-Armenian singer-songwriter, author, essayist and lecturer...
, CanadianCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
children's singer, born 1948 - Mido, Professional football player with AFC Ajax
- Umar al-TilmisaniUmar al-TilmisaniUmar al-Tilmisani was the third General Guide of the Egyptian Muslim Brothers. He headed the Egyptian Islamist organization from 1972 until 1986...
, The third General Guide (Murshid al-'Am) of the Egyptian Muslim BrothersMuslim BrotherhoodThe Society of the Muslim Brothers is the world's oldest and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an... - Alaa AbdelnabyAlaa AbdelnabyAlaa Abdelnaby is a retired Egyptian-American professional basketball player. He played for Duke University in college and then played in the NBA and CBA, among other leagues.-Early life:Abdelnaby was born in Cairo, Egypt...
- NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
player for the Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail BlazersThe Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
, Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee BucksThe Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
, Boston CelticsBoston CelticsThe Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, Philadelphia 76ersPhiladelphia 76ersThe Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
, and the Sacramento KingsSacramento KingsThe Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association... - Nora ValsamiNora Valsami-Life and career:Nora Valsami was born in Cairo, Egypt. Her first stage appearance was in a 1965 production of Aristophanes' tragedy Ecclesiazusae while still a student at the Athens Drama School. Her film acting debut was in Tzeni Tzeni, a 1966 film. Even though she played a minor role in the film...
, GreekGreeksThe Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
actress, in 1945 - Maryem TollarMaryem TollarMaryem Tollar , is a Toronto based singer who primarily sings Arabic songs. She played with her own band called Mernie!.Born in Cairo, Maryem went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada with her parents when she was 1 in 1969...
, EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian singer who primarily sings Arabic songs. - Yakup Kadri KaraosmanoğluYakup Kadri KaraosmanogluYakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu was a Turkish novelist, journalist, diplomat, and senator.-Early life:...
, TurkishTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
novelist - Sonja Zuckerman, socialite and philanthropist known for her charitable contribution to women's shelterWomen's shelterA women's shelter is a place of temporary refuge and support for women escaping violent or abusive situations, such as rape, and domestic violence....
and homeless organization, net worth of $1 billion. - Kosta Argeres, who emigrated to AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1956 and became a well-regarded soccer player before becoming a successful property developer and owner.
See also
- Charles AyroutCharles AyroutCharles Habib Ayrout was an architect practicing in Cairo and is considered as one of that city's Belle Epoque/Art Déco architects for his landmark buildings and villas.-Family:...
- Large Cities Climate Leadership GroupLarge Cities Climate Leadership GroupThe Large Cities Climate Leadership Group, now officially known as the C40 is a group of cities working to reduce urban carbon emissions and to adapt to climate change. It believes it has an important role to play as cities contain around 50% of the world population, consume 75% of the world's...
- Meir'enaim SynagogueMeir'enaim SynagogueMeir'enaim Synagogue is a synagogue in Cairo, Egypt....
- List of cities in Egypt
- The Townhouse GalleryThe Townhouse GalleryThe Townhouse Gallery was established in 1998 as an independent, non-profit art space in Egypt with a goal of making contemporary arts accessible to all without compromising creative practice. The Townhouse supports artistic work in a wide range of media through exhibitions, residencies for artists...
Further reading
- Nezar AlSayyad. Cairo: Histories of a City (Harvard University Press; 2011) 260 pages; Explores 12 defining moments in the city's architectural history
- Artemis Cooper, Cairo in the War, 1939–1945, Hamish HamiltonHamish HamiltonHamish Hamilton Limited was a British book publishing house, founded in 1931 eponymously by the half-Scot half-American Jamie Hamilton . Confusingly, Jamie Hamilton was often referred to as Hamish Hamilton...
, 1989 / Penguin Book, 1995. ISBN 0-14-024781-5 (Pbk) - André Raymond, Cairo, trans. Willard Wood. Harvard University PressHarvard University PressHarvard University Press is a publishing house established on January 13, 1913, as a division of Harvard University, and focused on academic publishing. In 2005, it published 220 new titles. It is a member of the Association of American University Presses. Its current director is William P...
, 2000. - Max RodenbeckMax RodenbeckMax Rodenbeck is an American journalist and author, based in Cairo. He grew up in Cairo, having moved there when his father John Rodenbeck took up an academic position at the American University in Cairo in the 1960s. He has been writing for the Economist magazine on Middle Eastern affairs for more...
, Cairo– the City Victorious, Picador, 1998. ISBN 0-330-33709-2 (Hbk) ISBN 0-330-33710-6 (Pbk) - Wahba, Magdi (1990). Cairo Memories" in Studies in Arab History: The Antonius Lectures, 1978–87. Edited by Derek Hopwood. London: Macmillan Press.
- Peter TherouxPeter TherouxPeter Theroux is an American writer and translator. He studied English literature at Harvard University, and spent a year at the American University in Cairo...
, 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.
- Paulina B. Lewicka, Food and Foodways of Medieval Cairenes: Aspects of Life in an Islamic Metropolis of the Eastern Mediterranean (Leiden, Brill, 2011).
External links
- New Projects in Cairo From Worldarab
- Cairo City Government
- Demographia - Cairo: Central City & Suburban Population & Density
- Coptic Churches of Cairo
- Mosques in Cairo
Photos and videos
- Cairo in Pictures
- Maqrizi's Cairo
- Cairo in 100 pictures page in French.
- Cairo 360-degree full-screen images
- Impressions of Cairo's Streetlife
- Cairo Travel Photos Pictures of Cairo published under Creative CommonsCreative CommonsCreative Commons is a non-profit organization headquartered in Mountain View, California, United States devoted to expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share. The organization has released several copyright-licenses known as Creative Commons...
License - Call to Cairo Time-lapseTime-lapseTime-lapse photography is a cinematography technique whereby the frequency at which film frames are captured is much lower than that which will be used to play the sequence back. When replayed at normal speed, time appears to be moving faster and thus lapsing...
film of Cairo cityscapes - 200+ high-quality photos of Cairo
- Photos of Cairo's nights
- Photos of hammams in Cairo
- Cairo, Egypt - video by Global Post