To achieve this vision, international consulting firms have been developing strategies for repurposing Khedivial Cairo, as noted by Madbouly following his inspection of the "Arabesque" project in the Magra El-Oyoun Wall area.

Historically, Khedivial Cairo was the city's heart during Khedive Ismail's reign, extending from the Qasr Al-Nil Bridge to the Attaba area, as detailed by the Egyptian construction company, The Arab Contractors.

In 1867, during a visit to Paris, Khedive Ismail requested Emperor Napoleon III to bring in French planner Haussmann, who had designed Paris, to plan Khedivial Cairo.

Haussmann's work transformed the area into a stunning urban masterpiece, rivalling the world's most beautiful cities. Western writers of the time dubbed it “Paris of the East.”

During his speech, Madbouly emphasized President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's strong commitment to revitalizing historic Cairo, which has seen significant urban decline in recent years.

“Without a clear vision and strong political will to restore the Magra El-Oyoun Wall area, we wouldn't have witnessed the remarkable changes today,” Madbouly remarked.

Egypt oversees large-scale redevelopment projects in downtown Cairo, with an investment of about EGP 22.2 billion, as confirmed by Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities Sherif El-Sherbiny.

These initiatives aim to rejuvenate the architectural and urban identity of Khedivial Cairo, restore Azbakeya Garden, and modernize key locations such as Opera Square, the Magra El-Oyoun Wall, the Maspero Triangle, Ain El-Sira Lake, Fustat Gardens, and several historic buildings across the city.

El-Sherbiny noted that the goal of these projects is to preserve Cairo's architectural heritage and establish the city as a top global tourist destination.

The projects are designed to enhance Cairo's role in commerce, culture, tourism, and services and attract more visitors to its historic landmarks.

El-Sherbiny provided details about the comprehensive redevelopment efforts, which are being executed under a master plan that also includes the ministries’ buildings area, covering a total of 1.9 million square metres.

The projects will involve 1,300 buildings, 26,000 residential and administrative units, and 2,600 commercial spaces.

As part of the first phase, the facades of buildings and shops in key areas like Tahrir Square, Talaat Harb Square, Mustafa Kamel Square, and major streets like Kasr El-Nil Street have already been upgraded.

Green spot!
 

Regarding Azbakeya Garden, El-Sherbiny explained that its development is guided by three main principles to restore its historical features.

Additionally, the minister discussed the ongoing efforts in the Maspero district and Ain El-Sira, with the latter being reimagined as a recreational and green space to expand green areas in major cities by 500 acres.

The Fustat Gardens project was also mentioned as part of Egypt's broader efforts to increase access to green and open spaces for urban residents.

Prime Minister Madbouly reiterated that these projects are part of a broader project to revitalize the heart of historic Cairo.

“This area is not only the memory of Egypt but also an essential part of its civilization,” he concluded.