Cairo

Question 1

Cairo - associations

Answer 1

Cairo’s urbanization problems, typology of slums in Cairo, proposed solutions related to the growing migratory pressure on the city.

Question 2

Cairo - main information

Answer 2

• Population (2022) – 10 mln
• Metropolitan region: 21,9 mln
• Greater Cairo Metropolitan is currently the world’s 10th largest mega-city and Africa’s largest city (Cairo plus Giza

Question 3

Good to know

Answer 3

*About 1/4 of Egypt’s population lives in Cairo.
* Cairo accounts for 45% of Egypt’s national GDP
* The demographic structure of the population is very young (more than 33% of Cairo’s residents are under the age of 15)
* Natural increase approx. 2% per year

Question 4

Slums in Cairo

Answer 4

• poor families mixed with middle class
• The mixing of families from different classes in the space of Cairo is caused by historical factors, e.g.

4 types of slums in Cairo:
A- Informal settlements on agricultural land
B- Informal areas in state-owned desert lands
C- Dilapidated Historical Center
D- Dilapidated urban areas

Question 5

A- Informal settlements on agricultural land

Answer 5

• Private residential buildings bought back from people engaged in agriculture (no construction or settlement permits).
• Inhabited by half of the inhabitants of Cairo
• The creation of the facility consisted in adding subsequent parts of the building

Question 6

B- Informal areas in state-owned desert lands

Answer 6

• Private residential buildings constructed by residents on vacant land.
• This type is similar to the type found in Latin America
• The core of the estate slowly grew - no reaction from the administration until it became visible
  *Despite the lack of legality for this land, the tenure regulations for this type of slum are quite clear as opposed to type A, as the land belongs to the state
• Living conditions are worse than in type A (more cases when 2 families live in 1 flat or 1 room)

Question 7

C- Dilapidated Historical Center

Answer 7

• Lots of areas dominated by old, crowded and dilapidated buildings made of medieval material.
• Landlords don’t want to admit they have a deed because they don’t want to pay taxes
• The number of inhabitants is decreasing as the space begins to be filled with more and more commercial buildings

Question 8

D- Dilapidated urban areas

Answer 8

• In the various inner parts of Cairo, especially those developed in the early 20th century, there are small, poor and run-down areas, the so-called urban pockets
  *In each of these cases, due to the uncertainty surrounding the settlement of ownership, no major investment is made.
• This makes these areas very attractive for very poor families looking for the cheapest possible accommodation
• Approx. 1% of Cairo’s population lives in D-type slums.
• Most of the inhabitants come from public housing

Question 9

The Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo

Answer 9

• construction took 20 years
• 50 000 items
• half-opened in 2023 and then 2024, it will be fully open in 2025