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Cairo summary

Cairo

Q: What is Cairo?

Cairo is the capital of Egypt and one of the largest cities in Africa . Cairo has stood for more than 1,000 years on the same site on the banks of the Nile River , primarily on the eastern shore.

Q: Where is Cairo located?

Cairo is located in northeastern Egypt . It is primarily on the eastern shore of the Nile River , some 500 miles (800 km) downstream from the Aswan High Dam . Cairo is the gateway to the Nile delta, where the lower Nile separates into the Rosetta and Damietta branches.

Q: What does the name Cairo mean?

Cairo is known in Arabic as Al-Qāhirah, meaning “The Victorious.” When the Fatimids invaded Egypt (969 CE), a new city was established to the northeast of existing settlements. This city was called Al-Qāhirah in celebration of the arrival of the Fatimid caliph al-Muʿizz , who made the city the capital of a dynasty that lasted two centuries.

Q: What was Cairo called in ancient Egypt?

Established in the 10th century CE, Cairo did not exist in ancient Egypt . However, Cairo is often associated with Egypt’s ancient capital, Memphis , which was located about 15 miles (24 km) south of modern Cairo. Memphis is famous for its necropolis, where the Pyramids of Giza are located and are now part of Greater Cairo.

Q: What is Cairo known for?

Cairo juxtaposes the old with the new. The Pyramids of Giza in Greater Cairo and the Egyptian Museum demonstrate ancient Egyptian history preservation. In addition, Cairo is often considered the cultural capital of the Arab Middle East . With its massive bazaar , notable mosques , and historically important film industry, the city’s vibrant culture is on full display.

national capital, Egypt

Also known as: Al-Manṣūriyyah, Al-Qāhirah

Written by Nezar AlSayyad, Janet L. Abu-Lughod•All

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Mar 31, 2025 • Article History

Arabic:: Al-Qāhirah (“The Victorious”)

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What is Cairo?

Where is Cairo located?

What does the name Cairo mean?

What was Cairo called in ancient Egypt?

What is Cairo known for?

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Cairo, city, capital of Egypt, and one of the largest cities in Africa. Cairo has stood for more than 1,000 years on the same site on the banks of the Nile, primarily on the eastern shore, some 500 miles (800 km) downstream from the Aswan High Dam. Located in the northeast of the country, Cairo is the gateway to the Nile delta, where the lower Nile separates into the Rosetta and Damietta branches. Metropolitan Cairo is made up of the Cairo muḥāfazah (governorate) as well as other districts, some of which belong to neighbouring governorates such as Al-Jīzah and Qalūbiyyah. ...(100 of 4136 words)

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