Officials discuss efforts to modernize Khedival Cairo

CAIRO – 14 May 2018: The National Committee for Developing and Protecting Historic Cairo has reviewed the accomplishments made in the first quarter of 2018 and future plans during the year.

The committee, headed by the president's adviser on national development projects, Ibrahim Mahlab, aims to modernize the city and renovate its historic buildings, especially in Khedival Cairo extending through Downtown from Qasr Al-Nil Street to Attaba, to attract tourism and investment.

During the meeting, members of the committee considered passing a law for Cairo as a historic city to regulate activities performed in the city’s historic buildings in downtown. The law prevents the inappropriate use of these buildings like using them for trade and storing goods.

The committee members also discussed reviewing previous successful efforts, in addition to creating a plan to revive the city, in cooperation with the National Organization for Urban Harmony and the General Organization for Physical Planning.

The meeting discussed the establishment of an entity tasked with possessing the assets of the historic buildings that are used by the state, including ministries’ headquarters and governmental institutions.

These institutions are set to move their headquarters to the New Administrative Capital that has been constructed east of Cairo.

Mahlab said, during the meeting, that the government owns over 100 historic buildings.

The entity would also be tasked with coordinating with the companies that own historic buildings, including Al-Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment, Misr Real Estate Management, and the Holding Company for Tourism, Hotels and Cinema’s subordinate companies.

The meeting also addressed setting a timeline for the city's modernization plans in the framework of Egypt's sustainable development strategy “Egypt 2030”.

The 2030 development vision was officially launched in the National Youth Conference in February 2016. It was introduced as a roadmap to tackle vital issues like government efficiency, economic development, knowledge, innovation and scientific research, energy, health, education, and capacity building to reach a prosperous future.

In its strategy Egypt has set three stages to achieve sustainable development by 2030; these stages are the return of Egyptian foreign policy to its normal position, recovery, and progress. Since the launch of the strategy, Egypt has been keen to work on all stages simultaneously.

Mahlab affirmed that the current and planned efforts will achieve direct economic profits, saying that the profits targeted by the committee cannot be achieved without modernizing the city. Mahlab affirmed that the government will remove all obstacles to the project.


Mahlab inaugurates in May La Vionnoise building after it was fully renovated by Al-Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment to be the first green building in downtown.

Earlier in May, Mahlab inaugurated La Vionnoise building after it was fully renovated by Al-Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment to be the first green building in downtown.

Buildings are green or environment friendly when the design and materials used in the construction process include some strategies that make these buildings healthier and more energy efficient.

The National Committee for Developing and Protecting Historic Cairo was established in 2016 following a presidential decree. The members of the committee include Cairo Governor, Atef Abdel Hamid; Presidential Adviser for Urban Planning, Amir Sayed Ahmed and Chairman of the New Administrative Capital Company for Urban Development, Ahmed Zaki Abdeen.


Mahlab inaugurates in May La Vionnoise building after it was fully renovated by Al-Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment to be the first green building in downtown.

A major development project was launched in 2012 to revitalize Khedival Cairo. The project aims to preserve Downtown’s historic character, restore its ornamental facades, and rescue the area from degeneration after it had been neglected and damaged due to climate factors.

Influenced by French architecture, Downtown Cairo was first built by Khedive Ismail in 1863, who was determined to turn Cairo, a largely medieval city, into the “Paris of the East”.

Additional reporting by Marina Gamil