Miṣr al-Jadīdah

district, Cairo, Egypt

Also known as: Heliopolis

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June 30, 2026

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Miṣr al-Jadīdah, also known as Heliopolis, is a district in Cairo, Egypt. It was developed as a major site of urban expansion in the 1970s and 1980s, characterized by significant population growth and commercial development. This area, along with Nasr City, represents desert-based developments that have expanded into agricultural land.1

Heliopolis has historical roots as one of ancient Egypt's oldest cities, once a center for the worship of the sun god Re. While little remains of the ancient city today, an obelisk erected by Sesostris I is still present. The modern district of Heliopolis, or Miṣr al-Jadīdah, is a testament to Cairo's continuous growth and transformation.213

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Heliopolis, or Miṣr al-Jadīdah (“New Cairo”), became a major site of development in the 1970s and ’80s, witnessing significant population growth and commercial expansion. Since that time, urban developments have increasingly encroached upon agricultural land, extending into the desert periphery; Heliopolis and Naṣr City (a suburb begun…
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Heliopolis, or Miṣr al-Jadīdah (“New Cairo”), became a major site of development in the 1970s and ’80s, witnessing significant population growth and commercial expansion. Since that time, urban developments have increasingly encroached upon agricultural land, extending into the desert periphery; Heliopolis and Naṣr City (a suburb begun…
Read More