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9 Wednesday , October, 2024
Official Portal of Cairo Governorate
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Fustat Development Project… Reviving Africa’s first Islamic Capital
 
Egypt’s Leadership and government spare no effort to restore heritage sites across the country to regain their historical value and position. The Fustat Development Project is one of the national projects that would change the face of Egypt because of its proximity to several significant landmarks like the Religions complex, Amr ibn Al-As Mosque, and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.
 

Over the past few years, Cairo had the largest share of the state’s development projects aiming to revitalize and promote Cairo as a tourist attraction. One of these major projects is the restoration of Historic Cairo and removing all informal settlements from this area to preserve its unique architectural style and regain its cultural and historical role.

 

 

 

The Fustat Development Project aims to revive the Egyptian heritage and preserve the Islamic architecture in the area to make the old city of Fustat an open museum that attracts tourists from all around the world.

 

The Fustat project began in 2019 after Egypt’s political leadership stressed the necessity of comprehensive development of Historic Cairo to turn it into a tourist destination to restore the area’s former glory. It also aims to reconnect the old and modern historical, cultural and cultural features of the Fustat city.

 

The project includes developing areas surrounding Amr ibn Al-Aas Mosque, the Civilization Museum, Abu Al-Saud El-Garhi Mosque, and the Religions Complex and connecting them with the Fustat market, which houses traditional handicrafts shops and workshops.

 

 

 

The development plan also includes upgrading the main entrance to Amr ibn Al-As Mosque, establishing new wooden terraces, a pedestrian sidewalk and parking areas, and a fountain as well as the development of the existing Fustat Market.

 

The courtyard area of the Amr ibn Al-Aas Mosque is planned to be the main entrance to the new park and other religious sites in the area, including the Coptic churches and the ancient Jewish synagogue.

 

 

 
The Religions Complex area in Fustat

The Religions Complex, located near the remains of the Babylon Fortress, houses Amr ibn Al-As Mosque; the first mosque built in Egypt and whole Africa, Ben Ezra Synagogue; the Oldest Synagogue in Egypt, and the Hanging Church; the first Christian monument in Egypt.

 

     

 

Fustat Development Plan   

 

Fustat Hills Park

The Fustat Hills Park is the largest of its kind in the Middle East. It was built on 500 acres in a central location in the heart of Historic Cairo to embrace the Civilization Museum, Ain El-Serra Lake, the Religions Complex, and Amr ibn Al-Aas Mosque to create more green space.
 
   
 

The park will also become a regional and international tourist destination offering several cultural, commercial, and traditional crafts activities as well as excavation and antiquities areas. There will also be a hill in the middle of the park with a spectacular view of the pyramids, Giza Plateau, Salah El-Din Citadel, and Cairo’s minarets.  

 

The Fustat Hills Park project also includes establishing a heritage parks section, cultural section, historical section, adventure section, Egyptian flower garden section, and recreation centre.    

 
Magra El-Oyoun Fence
The Magra El-Oyoun Fence is 3500 meters, and it is known for its unique Islamic architecture style. It extends from Fom El-Khalig area to El-Sayeda Aisha Square.
 

In 2019, the Cairo governorate began the Magra El-Oyoun Fence’s development project by removing encroachments and unsafe informal settlements surrounding the fence. The demolition work included Ezbet El-Madabegh, Abu Al-Saud, Istabl Anter, Batan Al-Baqarra, and Ezbet Abu Qarn informal areas.

 

  

 

The residents of those areas relocated to alternative houses built by the state, which are more decent and safer.

 

Moreover, the Cairo governorate cooperated with the Ministries of Tourism, Housing, and Antiquities to renovate the fence and restore its historical position. 

 

The Magra El-Oyoun Fence’s development plan will include establishing cultural and heritage events halls, bazaars, restaurants, parking areas, a residential area built in the Islamic architecture style to integrate with the area’s unique architecture. It will also include a shopping mall on an area of 16 acres. 

 

  

 

Ain El-Sira Lake “Ain Al-Hayah”

Ain Al-Hayah Lake is one of the significant landmarks in the Fustat area. It is a sulfur lake, and it was famous for its ability to treat skin diseases in the past. It was a popular destination for tourists and locals before it became neglected and turned into an informal settlement.
 
 
 

The development project of Ain El-Sira Lake includes a restaurant serving hot beverages and light meals, a walkway, fountains, aquarium, landscaping, water treatment station, four power stations, fast food restaurants, open theatre, and parking areas.   

 

Ain El-Sira Lake project aims to turn the area into a tourist destination reflecting ancient Egyptian history and restore the area’s glory.

 

It is also to connect the Fustat area with surrounding historical areas through sustainable and clean transport systems like electric buses linking the Fatimid Cairo and the Fustat area, and the Teleferik between the Fustat park and the Azhar Park, as well as pedestrian and bike pathways, to reduce the use of private cars.

 

The project will also link Giza to the new Administrative Capital through a subway line that runs from the Giza Pyramids area and passes through Misr Al-Qadima district (Historic Cairo) to New Cairo.

 

 

 

Moreover, a new road axis was established that connects the Fustat Road with the Autostrad Road in addition to developing Ain Al-Haya Road to link it with Al-Khayala Road and the Ring Road. It also includes building six bridges in the Fustat area to connect the Ring Road with Salah Salem Road, the Autostrad Road, and the 10th of Ramadan Road. 

 

Ain Al-Hayah Road Axis

The Ain Al-Hayah Road Axis Project aims to ease traffic congestion and reduce the time of travelling across Cairo as part of the Historic Cairo Development Project.
 

The project consists of two bridges: The Ain El-Sira Bridge, and it connects Salah Salem Road with the Ring Road. While the second bridge will start from the Corniche Road and passes through El-Imam El-Lithy and El-Imam El-Shafei area, then El-Kordy Street and El-Tunisi Bridge to the Autostrad Road and then East Cairo to ease traffic from and to Cairo’s new cities. 

 

Last Update: 2024

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