1. About Cairo
Cairo is Egypt's capital, its largest city, and the beating heart of the country's economy, culture and real estate market. Home to more than 20 million people across its wider metropolitan area, Cairo blends thousands of years of history with one of the Middle East's most dynamic modern property scenes. From the Nile-side elegance of Zamalek and Garden City to the fast-growing eastern suburbs of New Cairo and the Fifth Settlement, the city offers a depth and variety of housing that no other Egyptian market can match.
For buyers and investors, Cairo means choice: classic apartments in leafy Maadi, contemporary penthouses overlooking the Nile, family villas inside secure gated compounds, and prime office space in established business districts. With around 3,000 active listings on Regypt and an average property price of roughly EGP 3.25 million, Cairo remains the natural starting point for anyone entering the Egyptian real estate market.
2. Cairo City Location
Cairo sits in the north of Egypt, on the banks of the River Nile just south of the Nile Delta. It occupies a strategic position where Upper and Lower Egypt meet, with the river running through its core and the Giza Plateau and Pyramids rising on its western edge. The city spreads across both banks of the Nile and continues eastward into the desert, where master-planned districts such as New Cairo, the Fifth Settlement and the road network toward the New Administrative Capital have expanded the city's footprint dramatically over the past two decades. This central location makes Cairo Egypt's primary transport, governmental and commercial hub, connecting the Mediterranean coast, the Red Sea, Upper Egypt and the Sinai through a web of highways, rail lines and an international airport.
3. Distance Between Cairo and Other Cities & Facilities
Cairo's connectivity is one of its strongest investment arguments. Approximate driving distances from central Cairo:
| Destination | Approx. Distance | Approx. Drive Time |
|---|
| Giza & the Pyramids | 13–20 km | 30–45 min |
| Cairo International Airport | 15–25 km | 25–45 min |
| New Administrative Capital | 45 km | 45–60 min |
| 6th of October City | 30–40 km | 40–60 min |
| Ain Sokhna (Red Sea) | 120 km | 1.5 hrs |
| Alexandria | 220 km | 2.5–3 hrs |
| Suez | 130 km | 1.5–2 hrs |
| Fayoum | 100 km | 1.5 hrs |
Within the city, most major facilities — hospitals, universities, malls and business parks — are within a 15–40 minute drive of the main residential districts, depending on traffic.
4. Cairo Key Roads
Cairo's road network is the backbone of its real estate value. The most important arteries include:
- The Ring Road (Tariq Al-Da'iri) — the city's main circular highway, linking nearly every major district and the airport.
- Cairo–Suez Road — the key eastern corridor connecting central Cairo to New Cairo, the Fifth Settlement and the New Administrative Capital.
- Autostrad Road — a vital north–south route serving Maadi, Nasr City and the eastern suburbs.
- 90th Street (North & South) — the central spine of New Cairo and the Fifth Settlement, lined with compounds, malls and offices.
- Corniche El Nil — the scenic riverside road serving Zamalek, Garden City, Maadi and Downtown.
- Salah Salem Road — linking the airport, Heliopolis, the Citadel and central districts.
- Cairo–Alexandria Desert Road & the 26th of July Corridor (Mehwar) — connecting Cairo to 6th of October City and the western expansion zones.
- Cairo–Ain Sokhna Road — the gateway to the Red Sea and the Administrative Capital.
5. Cairo City Map
Cairo can be read as a series of zones radiating from the Nile:
- The Nile Core — Zamalek, Garden City and Downtown — historic, central and prestigious.
- The Southern Belt — Maadi — green, low-rise, expat-friendly and family-oriented.
- The Northern & Eastern Belt — Heliopolis and Nasr City — established, well-served urban districts.
- The Eastern Expansion — New Cairo and the Fifth Settlement — modern compounds, international schools and the city's premium new-build market.
- The Outer Ring — Ring Road–adjacent developments feeding the New Administrative Capital.
On Regypt, the interactive Cairo map lets you filter live listings by district, price and property type so you can pinpoint exactly where each opportunity sits.
6. Properties in Cairo
Cairo offers the widest property mix in Egypt. Current inventory on Regypt spans:
- Apartments — ~1,698 listings (the largest category, from compact units to large family flats)
- Ground Floors — ~216 listings (often with private gardens)
- Penthouses — ~134 listings
- Villas — ~119 listings (standalone, twin and town houses inside compounds)
- Duplexes — ~77 listings
- Studios — ~71 listings
- Office Space — ~816 listings and Full Floors — ~69 listings for commercial buyers
Both off-plan and ready-to-move options are available, for sale and for rent, across nearly every budget — making Cairo suitable for first-time buyers, families, expats and institutional investors alike. Browse by area: Maadi (2,435 properties), Zamalek (548), New Cairo (220), Ring Road (31) and Nasr City.
7. Top Real Estate Projects (Compounds) in Cairo
Cairo's gated compounds offer security, amenities and resort-style community living. Among the most sought-after:
Cairo Festival City
New Cairo.
Hyde Park New Cairo
New Cairo.
These projects combine landscaped green space, clubhouses, retail and 24/7 security, and consistently rank among the strongest performers for both capital appreciation and rental demand.
8. Commercial Real Estate Projects in Cairo
Cairo's commercial market is booming, especially across New Cairo and the Fifth Settlement. Leading business and retail destinations include:
- Trivium Business Complex — New Cairo.
- Moshir Mall — New Cairo.
- 5A by The Waterway — New Cairo.
- Business Plus — New Cairo.
- Agora Business Hub — New Cairo.
- Plus 90 Mall — New Cairo.
With around 816 office listings and roughly 970 commercial units for rent on Regypt, Cairo is the prime market for headquarters, clinics, retail showrooms and serviced offices.
9. Cairo Facilities
Cairo is fully serviced as a capital city. Residents enjoy access to:
- Major public and private hospitals and specialist medical centres
- A dense network of international and national schools
- Leading universities (public and private)
- Shopping malls, hypermarkets and retail strips
- Banks, government services and business parks
- Parks, sporting clubs and entertainment venues
- An extensive transport network — metro, ring road, buses and Cairo International Airport
10. Schools in Cairo City, Egypt
Cairo is Egypt's education capital, with one of the region's largest concentrations of international schools — a major draw for families. Well-known options include:
- Cairo American College (CAC) — Maadi
- British International School Cairo (BISC)
- New Cairo British International School (NCBIS)
- Deutsche Schule (German School)
- Lycée Français du Caire
- Numerous British, American, IB and national curriculum schools across New Cairo, Maadi and Heliopolis
The Fifth Settlement and New Cairo in particular have become education hubs, which strongly supports family-housing demand and rental yields.
11. Universities in Cairo
Cairo hosts Egypt's most prestigious higher-education institutions, including:
- Cairo University — one of the oldest and largest in the Arab world
- The American University in Cairo (AUC) — New Cairo
- Ain Shams University
- Al-Azhar University
- The German University in Cairo (GUC)
- The British University in Egypt (BUE)
- Future University in Egypt (FUE)
Proximity to these universities is a key value driver, especially in New Cairo, where student and faculty demand keeps rental occupancy high.
12. Shopping Malls in Cairo City
Cairo offers world-class retail. Landmark malls and complexes include:
- Cairo Festival City Mall — New Cairo.
- Mall of Egypt — 6th of October (greater Cairo).
- City Stars — Nasr City.
- Point 90 Mall — New Cairo.
- Trivium Business Complex, Moshir Mall, Plus 90 Mall and 5A by The Waterway — New Cairo.
These destinations combine international fashion brands, cinemas, dining and family entertainment, and significantly lift the value of nearby residential and commercial property.
13. Hotels in Cairo
Cairo's hospitality scene ranges from historic palaces to modern five-star towers:
- Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza
- The Nile Ritz-Carlton
- Marriott Mena House — overlooking the Pyramids
- Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah
- Kempinski Nile Hotel
- Fairmont Nile City
- The St. Regis Cairo
A strong hospitality sector underpins short-term rental demand and supports investors targeting furnished and serviced units.
14. Activities in Cairo
Cairo is one of the world's great destinations, offering residents and visitors:
- The Pyramids of Giza & the Great Sphinx
- The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) and the historic Egyptian Museum
- Khan el-Khalili bazaar and Islamic Cairo
- The Salah El-Din Citadel and Al-Azhar Park
- Coptic (Old) Cairo
- Nile cruises, dinner boats and felucca rides
- Sporting clubs, golf, modern cinemas and a vibrant nightlife
This blend of heritage and lifestyle is a core reason Cairo attracts both long-term residents and international tenants.
15. Cairo Restaurants & Cafés
Cairo's dining scene is among the most varied in the region, from Nile-view fine dining in Zamalek and Garden City to relaxed café culture in Maadi and trend-setting venues in New Cairo. Residents enjoy everything from traditional Egyptian cuisine and street food to international fine dining, specialty coffee and rooftop lounges. The concentration of quality restaurants and cafés in districts like Zamalek, Maadi, the Fifth Settlement and along the Corniche adds significant lifestyle value — and rental appeal — to surrounding properties.
16. Why You Should Invest or Rent in Cairo
- Largest, deepest market — the widest inventory in Egypt, with options for every budget and goal.
- Strong, sustained demand — from end-users, families, expats, students and businesses.
- Infrastructure momentum — the Ring Road, new corridors and the New Administrative Capital are reshaping connectivity and value.
- Premium new-build supply — New Cairo and the Fifth Settlement deliver modern compounds with high rental yields.
- Lifestyle & amenities — top schools, universities, hospitals, malls and dining concentrated in one capital.
- Capital appreciation — Cairo has historically been one of Egypt's most resilient markets for long-term value growth.
Whether you're buying to live, buying to invest, or renting, Cairo offers stability, choice and upside that few markets in the region can match.
