Cairo () is one of the 27 governorates of Egypt. It consists of the city of Cairo, both the capital city of Egypt and the governorate capital, in addition to six satellite cities: The New Capital, which became the official seat of national government in April 2024, New Cairo, a suburban satellite city built in the 2000s, El Shorouk, Badr, Capital Gardens, and 15th of May. These cities form almost half of the Greater Cairo metropolitan area by population.
Cairo is one of four city governorates in Egypt, and the governor of Cairo is also the head of the city. Nonetheless, the governate of Cairo and the city of Cairo are two semi-distinct levels of local government, and as with other governorates, the governor is appointed by the president.
Overview
Parts of the governorate, the Helwan district and the satellite cities, were spun off in April 2008 to form the Helwan Governorate, only to be reincorporated into the Cairo Governorate in April 2011.
Municipal divisions
The governorate is divided into the city of Cairo, and the unallocated desert hinter land ().
Cairo city is subdivided into four Areas () headed by a deputy governor each, and 38 Districts (, sing. ) with their own governor appointed heads.
The Northern Area divided into 9 Districts:
Shubra, Al-Zawiya al-Hamra, Hadayek al-Kobba, Rod al-Farg, al-Sharabiya, al-Sahel, al-Zaytoun, Al-Amiriya, and al-Waili
The Eastern Area divided into 9 Districts:
Misr al-Gadidah (Heliopolis), Al-Nozha, Nasr City East (Sharq Madinet Nasr), Nasr City West (Gharb Madinet Nasr), al-Salam Awwal, al-Salam Thani, al-Matariya, and al-Marg. In addition to New Cairo, Al-Shorouk, Badr, and The New Capital.
The Western Area divided into 9 Districts:
Manshiyat Nasser, Al-Wayli, Wasat al-Qahira: Al-Darb al-Ahmar, al-Gamaliyya, al-Hussein), Boulaq, Gharb El-Qahira (Zamalek, Garden City, Down Town), Abdeen, Azbakeya, al-Muski, and Bab El-Shaaria.
The Southern Area divided into 12 Districts:
Masr El-Qadima (Old Cairo), al-Khalifa, al-Moqattam, al-Basatin, Dar El-Salam, El-Sayeda Zeinab, al-Tebbin, Helwan, al-Ma'sara, al-Maadi, Tora, and 15th may City.
In addition to Cairo City, there are six satellite cities that are under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities who chairs the New Urban Communities Authority that directly controls them (planning, land sales, zoning), while the governorate departments () control police and select public services (education, health, subsidised food). The more populated ones are subdivided into , while the ones still under construction are yet to have governorate representation. These cities are:
New Cairo El Shorouk Badr 15th of May The New Capital Capital Gardens
As of January 2023, the municipal divisions had a total estimated population as of 10,203,693. + District Subdivisions () Anglicized name Native name Arabic transliteration Population(January 2023 Est.)1st Settlement 96,996 El Shorouk 94,5825th Settlement 145,286 15 May City 15 100,074 Abdeen 40,450 El Darb El Ahmar 62,563 Al Qatamia 75,810 Ain Shams 657,226 Amreya 163,206 Azbakeya 21,148 El Basatin 529,875 El Gamaliya 38,908 El Khalifa 112,568 Maadi 94,777 El Marg 854,284 El Masara 288,880 El Matareya 644,436 El Mokattam 239,750 El Muski 16,715 New Cairo 1 136,271
Population
Governors
As of 4 April 2025, Ibrahim Saber is the governor of Cairo Governorate.
Former
Source: Atef Abdelhamid, 7 September 2016 - 12 August 2018 Galal Mostafa Saeed, 13 August 2013 - 23 March 2016 Osama Kamal, 29 January 2013 - 12 August 2013 Abdel Kawi Khalifa, 14 April 2011 - 12 August 2012 Abdel Azim Wazir, 9 July 2004 - 14 April 2011 Abdel Rehim Shehata, 8 July 1997 - 14 July 2004 Mohammed Omar Abdel Akhar, 2 May 1991 - 7 July 1997 Mahmoud Sherif, 18 April 1989 - 19 May 1991 Yousef Sabri Abu Taleb, 13 March 1983 - 14 April 1989 Mohammed Saad El-Din Maamoun, 15 May 1977 - 12 March 1983
Industrial zones According to the Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), the following industrial zones are located in Cairo: Zone name15 May Industrial ZoneBadr City Industrial ZoneEl Maasara Industrial ZoneEl Marg District Industrial ZonesEl Robeky Industrial ZoneEl Sharabiya District Industrial ZonesKatameya Industrial ZoneNew Cairo Industrial ZoneShaq El Thoban Industrial ZoneSouth Helwan Industrial ZoneTorah Industrial Zone
See also Governorates of Egypt Greater Cairo List of governors of Cairo Governorate Helwan Governorate The New Capital Economic regions of egypt
References
External links Cairo Governorate Official website (in Arabic and English)