Cairo Governorate


Cairo is one of the 27 governorates of Egypt. It is formed of the city of Cairo, both the national capital of Egypt and the governorate's, in addition to six satellite cities: The New Capital - which became the official seat of national government in April 2024, New Cairo, 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 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, Al-Nozha, Nasr City East, Nasr City West, 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, Abdeen, Azbakeya, al-Muski, and Bab El-Shaaria.
The Southern Area divided into 12 Districts:
Masr El-Qadima, 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, while the governorate departments control police and select public services. 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.
Anglicized nameNative nameArabic transliterationPopulation
1st Settlementالتجمع الأول ثان القاهرة96,996
El Shoroukالشروق94,582
5th Settlementالتجمع الخامس أول القاهرة145,286
15 May City15 مايو 15 100,074
Abdeenعابدين40,450
El Darb El Ahmarالدرب الأحمر62,563
Al Qatamiaالقطامية ثالث القاهرة الجديدة75,810
Ain Shamsعين شمس657,226
Amreyaالاميريه163,206
Azbakeyaالأزبكية21,148
El Basatinالبساتين529,875
El Gamaliyaالجمالية38,908
El Khalifaالخليفة112,568
Maadiالمعادي94,777
El Margالمرج854,284
El Masaraالمعصره288,880
El Matareyaالمطرية644,436
El Mokattamالمقطم239,750
El Muskiالموسكي16,715
New Cairo 1أول القاهرة الجديدة 136,271

Population

Governors

As of 4 April 2025, Ibrahim Saber is the governor of Cairo Governorate.

Former

Source:
According to the Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones, the following industrial zones are located in Cairo:
Zone name
15 May Industrial Zone
Badr City Industrial Zone
El Maasara Industrial Zone
El Marg District Industrial Zones
El Robeky Industrial Zone
El Sharabiya District Industrial Zones
Katameya Industrial Zone
New Cairo Industrial Zone
Shaq El Thoban Industrial Zone
South Helwan Industrial Zone
Torah Industrial Zone