Order of the Nile


The Order of the Nile was established in 1915 and was one of the Kingdom of Egypt's principal orders until the monarchy was abolished in 1953. It was then reconstituted as the Republic of Egypt's highest state honor.

Sultanate and Kingdom of Egypt

The Order was established in 1915 by Sultan Hussein Kamel of Egypt for award to persons who had rendered useful service to the country. It ranked beneath the Order of Ismail and was frequently awarded to British officers and officials serving in Egypt, as well as distinguished Egyptian citizens.
The order comprised five classes:
  1. Grand Cordon: Badge worn from a sash over the right shoulder, with a star on the left chest.
  2. Grand Officer: Badge worn around the neck, with a smaller star on the left chest.
  3. Commander: Badge worn around the neck.
  4. Officer: Badge worn on the left chest from a ribbon bearing a rosette.
  5. Knight: Badge worn on the left chest from a plain ribbon.

Republic of Egypt

After Egypt became a republic in 1953 the Order of the Nile was reconstituted to serve as Egypt's highest state honor. It now consists of:
  1. Collar: worn by the president of the Republic and may be granted to other Heads of State.
  2. Grand Cordon: awarded for exceptional services to the nation. Regarding this class, the badge of the order is worn from a sash and the star of the order worn on the left chest.
Although the five class structure of the original 1915 order was mentioned when the order was restructured in 1953, the four more junior grades are no longer awarded.

Some appointees to the order

Sultanate and Kingdom of Egypt (1915–1953)

Republic of Egypt (from 1953)