The minister of local development recently approved a request by Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber to prohibit the issuance of any new licences for restaurants and cafés in the districts of Heliopolis, Maadi, Zamalek, and Garden City.
The districts were once known for their unique tranquility and sophistication.However, in recent years, residents have faced growing concerns as many residential properties have been converted into commercial and entertainment venues.
The decision came in response to numerous complaints from residents, NGOs, and civil society groups seeking to preserve the distinctive identity and unique character of these districts. Complainants also voiced concern over the disruption and noise caused by the unchecked spread of such activities, as well as the conversion of residential properties into administrative and commercial spaces in ways that impinge upon the privacy of such neighbourhoods.
Ahmed Al-Hadidi, an agricultural engineer who was born and has lived in Garden City for more than 50 years, said his neighbourhood is notablefor its special character in terms of green spaces, palaces, and villas with a unique architectural style. Garden City houses several embassies, including that of the US, the UK, Italy, and Indonesia.
Al-Hadidi told Al-Ahram Weekly that several years ago, a growing trend emerged in which apartments in residential buildings were rented out and converted into French-style cafés, undermining the neighbourhood’s distinctive character.
In response, many residents filed collective complaints with the West Cairo District, to which Garden City belongs, calling for these activities to be prohibited and for unlicensed venues to be shut down. Al-Hadidi said the recent decision to halt licences will help preserve the area’s residential nature, noting that since its creation, Garden City had neverhoused commercial shops on the bottom floors of its buildings. “Such a decision regulates the rhythm of the area, otherwise it would turn into a state of chaos,” Al-Hadidi said.
According to Laila Hussein, head of the Sarayat Maadi Residents Association, the move highlights the vital role civil society can play in partnership with state institutions. Hussein praised the governor’s decision to not issue new licences and his responsiveness to residents’ concerns.
Hussein told the Weekly that residents of these neighbourhoods are constantly striving to preserve the character of their heritage, pointing to the growing trend of old villas located away from commercial streets being converted into business premises, a development residents strongly oppose.
Secretary-General of the NGO Maadi Environmental Rangers Walaa Afifi told the Weekly that civil society supports the decision, stressing that “we are not against business, but we want balance and proper planning for residential areas that need protection.”Afifi said the decision reinforces the law, helps preserve Maadi’s unique beauty and ensures the district remains livable.
“Our district was never designed to absorb this kind of commercial expansion, especially cafés, restaurants, and other high-traffic venues. Unfortunately, we have been witnessing a gradual loss of Maadi’s identity due to mounting pressure on infrastructure and increasing noise levels, all of which have negatively affected the residents’ quality of life,”Afifi said, adding that she hopes the decision will be implemented “properly and immediately, without exceptions”.
Maadi has long been known among expatriate communities as a green and quiet neighbourhood, she noted, adding that Maadi residents want to “preserve this unique Egyptian district as a model for quality of life and sustainability in line with Egypt Vision 2030.”
Wael Fathi, Maadi’s field monitoring manager, said the district has an official page and a technology centrededicated to receiving citizen complaints. He explained that the governor’s directives are being implemented in line with periodic regulations banning the licensing of restaurants and cafés in Maadi.
Fathi said that authorities remove encroachments on public roads and take legal action against violators by issuing occupancy violation reports and referring them to the Maadi police station and the GeneralProsecution. He noted that unlicensed shops are also closed.
In eastern Cairo, Yasser Fouad, 58, a resident of Heliopolis, said the spread of cafés and restaurants in residential neighbourhoods has caused growing frustration among residents due to a range of environmental, social, and security concerns. He explained that Heliopolis, unlike more densely populated districts, is particularly affected by the influx of visitors to such venues, leaving residents feeling less secure and constantly exposed to noise, traffic congestion, and other forms of auditory and visual pollution around these establishments.
Asmaa El-Halwagy, head of the Tree Lovers Association, also welcomed the decision, describing it as long overdue. She argued that the unchecked spread of cafés is negatively affecting young people by encouraging them to waste time during their productive years, in addition to draining significant amounts of money. “There is an urgent need to enforce this decision and promote a culture of green spaces instead of the growing café culture,” El-Halwagy said.
The Cairo governor’s decision has left residents of other districts envious. Reaction on social media shows many residents from other busy neighbourhoods and governorates expressing hope that similar measures would be applied in their parts as well.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 7 May, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
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