Khedival Cairo Development Project

The Khedival Cairo Development Project is an urban regeneration and heritage restoration project targeting downtown Cairo, namely in the quarters dating to the Khedive Ismail period (1863 – 1879).¹ The project aligns with the more comprehensive “Urban Regeneration Project for Historic Cairo” (URHC), and intervenes within the buffer zone of the UNESCO-classified city, according to the National Organization for Urban Harmony (NOUH) perimeters for Historic and Khedivial Cairo.ⁱ

This Khedival Cairo Development Project aims to revitalize and preserve the area’s architectural heritage while enhancing its cultural, economic, and social value.² In particular, the project seeks to enhance the condition and utility of historic buildings and public spaces between Tahrir and Opera Squares, passing through Talaat Harb and Mustafa Kamel Squares.³ This involves preserving heritage structures, improving the functionality of squares and streets while respecting their historical context, and upgrading the visual and physical aspects of the area.⁴ Efforts include color coordination, better lighting, new seating, clear signage, added greenery, and facilities for cyclists and individuals with disabilities, all designed to make the area more pedestrian-friendly.^{5 6} Landmark rehabilitation sites include restoring the Royal Opera House Theater’s external facades and repurposing the Opera Garage’s internal spaces and the Cairo Governorate Administrative Building.⁷

The restoration was initiated by the Cairo governorate⁸ according to the directions of the Prime Minister. Restoration work was carried out by the Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.)⁹ with Misr Real Estate Assets Management joint stock company.¹⁰ The Ministries of Housing, Tourism and Antiquities, and Cairo Governorate participated in the project.¹¹ The project was completed in 2022.¹²

The project is part of several projects and interventions in Khedival Cairo exceeding 600 million Egyptian Pounds investment as of 2021), which include the Tahrir Square renovation project, the Fustat Gardens project, the regeneration of Ain el-Sira Lake, the redevelopment of the Maspero Triangle, and the regeneration of historical hotels in the area.¹³ The overall approach is “not just painting building facades, but rather a comprehensive development of the area from infrastructure, preservation of the region’s heritage, distinctive crafts, and training young people in them”.¹⁴