Restoration, development works of Sabil Ruqayah Dudu on Souk Al-Silah St. Completed, Min. of Tourism & Antiquities

CAIRO – 8 February 2021: Within the framework of the project launched by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to restore and save 100 archaeological buildings in Historic Cairo, the restoration and development works of Sabil Ruqayah Dudu on Souk Al-Silah Street have been completed.

This was done in cooperation with the Inspection of the Antiquities of Al-Darb Al-Ahmar and Sayidda Aisha, and under the supervision of the General Administration of the Historic Cairo Development Project.

Sabil Ruqayah Dudu on Souk Al-Silah St. - Min. of Tourism & Antiquities

Assistant Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for Antiquities and Museums Projects and Supervisor of Historic Cairo Project Hisham Samir explained that the restoration work was carried out in accordance with the artistic and archaeological standards of the old maps and documents of the Sabil, as it included works of architectural documentation, and meticulous restoration of the façade. This façade is considered one of the most beautiful of the Ottoman sable facades in Cairo.

Samir added that the internal restoration work of the Sabil included the restoration of the marble floor of the Basilica; restoration and insulation of the room's wooden ornate ceiling, the wooden windows and the shelves in the book room; and rehabilitation of the posterior area of the pathway.

Director General of Historic Cairo Mahmoud Abdel Basset indicated that during the restoration work, the archaeological level and the stone staircase of the main entrance block were revealed.

Sabil Ruqayah Dudu on Souk Al-Silah St. - Min. of Tourism & Antiquities

The electricity network has also been developed and a new integrated lighting system has been installed from inside and outside.

It is worth noting that the project of saving one hundred archaeological buildings aims to restore and raise the efficiency of archaeological buildings and restore them to be on the path of the archaeological and tourist visits.

According to what was indicated by inscriptions on the Sabil, Sabil Ruqayyah Dudu was established by Badawiya Bint Shaheen in memory of her late daughter Ruqayya Dudu in 1174.

She is the granddaughter of Radwan Katkhda Al-Jelfi. They were not allowed to write his name on this facility due to his defeat by his Mamluk enemies and his death at their hands.

The Sabil follows in its layout the Ottoman sabil with an arched façade, which consists of a rectangular stone on three sides, and the fourth side takes the curved shape with which the windows of the sabil open. Above it the Kuttab is located.