Culture minister Gaber Asfour announced that all major restorations and renovations of the National Theatre are done, and that all that remains are small details to be finalised.

The minister stated that the theatre will be ready to open very soon in an interview with Lamees El-Hadidi on CBC channel on Monday 15 December.

He also clarified that the opening has been postponed only due to bureaucratic issues.

The cost of the renovations reached LE105 million.

Previously Asfour had announced that the theatre would open in October 2014.

The theatre was established in 1921 and has architectural significance in Egypt's cultural scene. The building reflects the Islamic era's artistic architecture. In 2008, the theatre suffered an intense fire and was been closed for renovations.

The theatre is located in Azbakia, near Cairo's downtown adjacent to the old Cairo Opera House, which was burned to the ground in 1971. Later a new Cairo Opera House was built in Zamalek.

The surrounding neighbourhood has, over the years, turned into an informal market, part of it sells books while the rest sells a wide array of other commodities. Asfour told El-Hadidi that Cairo's governor and the Prime Minister were part of the process of overseeing the renovations and that they promised a solution to the informal market.

Asfour also mentioned that he is working closely with the Urban Harmony Sector within the Culture Ministry to renovate the Azbakia Park and turn the area into a cultural and touristic site.