Old Cairo

Old Cairo Egypt, or Masr al-Qadima in Arabic, is among the most popular neighborhoods in Egypt that has a history and heritage. The area is not just a mere residential district, rather, it is a neighborhood full of life, stories, rituals, and monuments in every corner. 

The area has been listed since 1979 by UNESCO on the World Heritage list for its historical value. Also, this mystical neighborhood is known by UNESCO as “Historical Cairo”, sometimes it is also called “Fatimid Cairo”, and “Old Coptic Cairo”. These names reflect the essence of the area, as the historical name, that’s because one of the oldest historical districts in Cairo. 

Moreover, it has the name of Fatimid Cairo because it was the center of the Fatimid Dynasty in Egypt, and most caliphs created the area’s streets and gave them their names. Lastly, it's Coptic because currently it holds most of the old Coptic monuments and churches in Cairo. 

Old Cairo City, Egypt, is an exceptional gateway for tourists, homeowners, investors, and history lovers. From lavish compounds to premium facilities and unique historical monuments, Old Cairo, Egypt, offers an exceptional destination to live, invest in, and marvel at Egyptian history.    

Old Cairo Location​

Old Cairo, Egypt, is found on the eastern bank of the Nile River in the Southern district of Cairo Governorate. The area is bordered by the Cairo Aqueduct (Sur Megra El-Ayoun) from the north and the Ring Road from the south.

Also, it is bordered by Khalifa Cemetery from the east, and Nile Corniche, Roda Island, and Manial Al-Roda from the west. This location puts Old Cairo, Egypt, to the south of Downtown Cairo, and to the west of Cairo Citadel.

Old Cairo, Egypt, has a central location that is in fact easily accessible from all over Egypt; this location is exactly:

• 16 minutes away from Maadi

• 18 minutes away from Mokattam 

• 19 minutes away from Downtown Cairo 

• 30 minutes away from Cairo International Airport 

• 34 minutes away from New Cairo City

• 44 minutes away from 6 October City

• 54 minutes away from New Administrative Capital City

• 56 minutes away from Mostakbal City

Also, Old Cairo, Egypt, is easily accessible from many roads, such as:

• Ring Road 

• Wahat Road 

• Waslet Dahshour Road 

• Nile Corniche Road

• Salah Salem Road and Autostrad

• Civilization Road

Old Cairo Streets

Old Cairo Egypt, is known for its historical streets, each of which has a story, and most of which keep their original old names. 

The following list is an example of the well-known streets in Old Cairo, Egypt: 

• Khan El-Khalili Street

It is one of the very well-known tourist attraction streets in Old Cairo, Egypt. The street is parallel to another well-known street, El-Mo’ez Ledin Allah Al-Fatimi Street. It is named after its Fatimid founder, Emir Djaharks Al-Khalili from El-Khalil city in Palestine. Khan El-Khalili is famous for its monuments, souvenir bazars, and historical buildings and gates. 

•  Al-Muizz Street

Al Muizz Street is also among the very popular streets in Old Cairo, Egypt. It is named after al-Muizz li-Din Allah, the Fatimid Caliph and the founder of the Fatimid Dynasty in Egypt. The street is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its historical value. 

The following are also important, famous streets forming the Old Cairo, Egypt district: 

• Alfy Street

• El-Qalaa Street

• Al-Faggala or Al-Tabbala Street

• Al-Saliba Street

• Port Said Street (also known as El-Khalig El-Masry)

• Khurunfush Street

• Al-Seyoufia Street

• Darb El-Barabra “El-Barabra Alley”

• Amir El-Geyosh Street

• Magra El-Oyoun Street

• Qasr Al-Ainy Pasha Street

• Ibn Sender Street

• Mohammad Ezz Al- Arab Street

Old Cairo History & Facts

Old Cairo Egypt has a long history and facts.Old Cairo, Egypt, is known for its historical value that it has gained over different historical eras. The history of the area of Old Cairo Egypt started in the Pharaonic era, which was an important area on the Nile called “Memphis”. 

It continued to be an important area during the Ptolemaic era, till the 4th century, when the Romans came to Egypt. When the Romans conquered Egypt, they built the well-known “Babylon Fortress” whose remains are still present in today’s Old Cairo City. 

The area stayed under Roman control until the 7th century, when Arabs entered Egypt and started to create districts in the area. Their creations started with developing “Al Fustat”; one of the oldest and main districts in nowadays’ Old Cairo, Egypt, and which currently hosts one of the most well-known mosques, Amr Ibn Al-As. 

Later, during the Ayyubid state, another neighboring district was created, which is “Al Askar”. Even later, during the Mamluk state, Al Qataa’ (where the Ahmed Ibn Tulun mosque is found) was developed. Those three districts (Fustat, Askar, Qataa) are the main districts that form today’s Old Cairo, Egypt. 

Over time, the historical weight of the city started to decline, and a new capital was chosen for Egypt during the Fatimid Dynasty, which is today’s Cairo.  

Best Old Cairo Gated Communities​ & Compounds 

Old Cairo, Egypt, is home to many upscale, fully-fledged, residential gated communities, amongst which is the very well-known compound El Fustat by Saudi Egyptian Developers (SED). 

This 950-acre compound was created with an aim to revitalize the sense of historical Old Cairo, while offering a modern life luxurious living experience. 

El Fustat Compound features many commercial zones, recreational areas and facilities, a tourist promenade, lush greenery, verdant landscaping, and abundant natural scenery. 

Also, Saudi Egyptian Developers (SED) equipped the compound with many high-end services, such as access control, HVAC, heating, ventilation, and AC, voice evacuation system, CCTV and surveillance cameras, and a smart parking management system.

Lastly, El Fustat is composed of many phases, the first one of which is Arabesque Al Fustat that spans a land area of 71 acres.  

Facilities Of Old Cairo Egypt 

Old Cairo, Egypt, is a well-structured neighborhood with many upscale facilities. The area is well-known for its recreational facilities, including shopping venues, dining options, and sightseeing sites. The neighborhood also exhibits many healthcare facilities and educational facilities.

As for the sightseeing options, the list includes the following places: 

• The Hanging Church (Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church)

• Ben Ezra Jewish Synagogue

• Coptic Museum

• Amr ibn al-As Mosque

• Al-Muizz Street

• National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC)

• Roda Island and its promenade 

• Nilometer

• Fustat Park 

Moreover, Old Cairo Egypt, has many well-known shopping venues, which include the following:

• Khan Al-Khalili Bazar

• Al Muizz Street 

• Souk El Fustat  

• El Sagha Souk (Gold Souk)

• Qasaba of Radwan Bey (Street of the Tentmakers)- textile market

Also, Old Cairo has many nearby healthcare facilities, which include the following: 

• El Sayeda Zeinab Hospital

•  Dar El Shefa Hospital

• Kasr Al Ainy Hospital

Top Nearby Schools & Universities 

Having a central location, there are many schools and universities nearby Old Cairo, Egypt. The schools include the following:

• Cairo Modern International School

• Futures Language School New Fustat City Branch

• Deutsche Schule Der Borromarinnen DSB Kairo

• Summits International Schools

• Mid Cairo International School

Moreover, the top nearby universities include the following:

• Cairo University

• Ain Shams University

• The American University in Cairo (AUC) – Tahrir Campus

Best Places To Eat In Old Cairo​

Old Cairo Egypt, has many dining options offered in different restaurants either in Old Cairo itself or nearby, which include the following: 

• Al Khan Restaurant & Cafe

• O Sole Mio Italian Restaurant

• Fish Boat Abouzeid

• El-Fishawy Café

• Naguib Mahfouz Café

• Taverna Restaurant

Things To Do In Old Cairo​

Old Cairo, Egypt, hosts a wide selection of recreational and cultural activities that you can enjoy. In Old Cairo, Egypt, you can:

• Enjoy a well-structured tour of sightseeing the main historical and cultural sites, such as the museums, churches, mosques, and streets.

• Go shopping in one of the well-known venues, including Khan el-Khalili Bazaar and Souk El Fustat.

• Take a walk or a mini cruise by the nearby Nile Corniche.

• Dine in one of the top-tier restaurants in the area.

• Stroll the beautifully designed streets, such as El Muizz and Khan El Khalili, and enjoy their unique architecture.

Why Get Your Home in Old Cairo Egypt?

Getting a home in one of the premium compounds in Old Cairo, Egypt, entitles you to enjoy the following advantages:

• Residing in a centrally located neighborhood that is close to all the major attractions of Cairo and easily accessible via many roads. 

• Living in a historically themed area, in which you will be surrounded by the remnants of Roman, Islamic, and Coptic Egypt. 

• Being close to all the recreational, educational, and healthcare facilities that are found in the area.  

• The high investment potential your home holds in case you wanted to rent it. 

Why Invest in Old Cairo? 

Old Cairo Egypt is not a mere residential district, rather, it is a hot spot for investment as well. Being a top-rated tourist attraction, Old Cairo Egypt might offer a high investment potential.

The neighborhood easily attracts tourists from all over the world who come to watch and marvel at the religious, cultural, and architectural venues. Tourists look for properties to rent to enjoy their stay, making Old Cairo a sought-after destination with investment opportunities

Get Your Home In Old Cairo Egypt 

Getting your home in Old Cairo, Egypt, is no longer a tiring task. Thanks to Nawy’s property listing platforms (website and mobile application), you will easily find the home of your dreams. 

Thanks to the seamless process, you will be able to browse all the options, pick what best suits your needs, and purchase it. Also, our professional property consultants team will be by your side step by step to ease the process.  

When you contact our team, you will get to have a better understanding of all the options, and thus make the best, well-informed decision. 

Fill in the form now to get your new home!