Miṣr al-Qadīmah

district, Cairo, Egypt

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July 19, 2026

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Miṣr al-Qadīmah is a quarter of modern Cairo, Egypt, historically known as Old Cairo. It is the site of the ancient Roman settlement of Babylon. The area developed from al-Fusṭāṭ, founded in 641 CE by the Arab general ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ as a military encampment and the earliest Arab settlement in Egypt. Al-Fusṭāṭ became a prosperous city with a lively commerce and industries like glassware and ceramics. It was destroyed by fire in 1168 to prevent its capture by Crusaders and later rebuilt by Saladin, who incorporated it into Cairo. Little remains of these early developments, except for some ancient mosques and the mounds covering the site of al-Fusṭāṭ.12

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Cairo
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…of the medieval city) and Miṣr al-Qadīmah (“Old Cairo”; to the south), served as port suburbs of Cairo before the city expanded to encompass them. Būlāq, an island until 1340 and the city’s main port by 1560, eventually became an industrial district in the early 19th century. In addition to…
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…of the medieval city) and Miṣr al-Qadīmah (“Old Cairo”; to the south), served as port suburbs of Cairo before the city expanded to encompass them. Būlāq, an island until 1340 and the city’s main port by 1560, eventually became an industrial district in the early 19th century. In addition to…
Read More