What is the capital of Egypt?
Cairo is the capital of Egypt and its largest city. The wider Cairo area is home to more than 20 million people, making it one of the biggest cities in Africa and the Middle East.
Cairo lies on the Nile River, close to where it fans out into the delta. The city was founded in 969 by the Fatimid dynasty, though the area had been settled much earlier. Its historic center, Islamic Cairo, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with medieval mosques, markets and gates.
The pyramids of Giza stand at the edge of the Greater Cairo area. The Grand Egyptian Museum near the pyramids, fully opened in November 2025, displays the treasures of Tutankhamun and many other artifacts.
A new capital
Since the 2010s, Egypt has been building a New Administrative Capital about 45 kilometers east of Cairo, and many government ministries have moved there. Cairo, however, remains the official capital and the country's heart.
Did You Know?
Ancient Egypt had several capitals, including Memphis, near modern Cairo, and Thebes, today's Luxor.