Qalyūb, Egypt

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Qalyūb, Egypt

Region: Qalyubia Governorate


Geographic Coordinates: 30.199700, 31.205300
Climate: Hot and dry summers, mild winters with occasional rainfall.
Population: 106804
Language: Arabic

Qalyūb, Located in the Qalyubiya Governorate of Egypt, Is a city with a population of around 1.5 million people. It has been an important center for agriculture and industry for centuries. The city has a rich history that dates back to ancient times when it was known as Kebut or Kebtu during the Old Kingdom period. Many significant structures were built in Qalyūb during this time, Including temples, Tombs, And other public buildings. Apart from its historical significance, Qalyūb is also renowned for its natural beauty.

The city is surrounded by lush green fields filled with crops such as wheat and cotton which are irrigated by water from the Nile River. Qalyūb boasts modern infrastructure with well-developed transportation systems that include roads, Railways and buses connecting it to other parts of Egypt. Several hospitals and medical facilities are also located within the city limits. The economy of Qalyūb primarily depends on agriculture and industry production such as cotton, Wheat corn fruits vegetables among others . There are several factories within the area that produce textiles , Food products , Cement , Chemicals among others .

Tourism also plays an essential role in Qalyyub’s economy; many historic sites from ancient Egyptian times attract thousands of tourists annually who come to explore these landmarks. Overall, Qalyyub offers visitors both natural beauty combined with rich cultural heritage making it one of the most interesting cities in Egypt.’



Important Landmarks

  • Al-Montazah Palace
  • Banha Museum
  • Talaat Harb Cultural Center
  • Al-Qanater Al-Khayriyah Bridge
  • The Hanging Church in Deir Abu Hinnis
  • The Grand Mosque of Banha
  • Nile Delta Barrage
  • Shubra Palace (Al-Montazah El-Sharqia)
  • The Church of St George in Kafr Abdo

Primary Industries

  1. Agriculture: Qalyūb is renowned for its fertile land and agricultural production, with a focus on rice, wheat, vegetables, and fruits.
  2. Textiles: The governorate has a significant textile industry that produces garments, fabrics, and related products.
  3. Construction: Qalyūb has an expanding construction industry that encompasses residential and commercial buildings as well as infrastructure projects.
  4. Food processing: Many food processing companies are located in Qalyūb due to the abundance of agricultural products in the region.
  5. Chemicals: There are numerous chemical factories in the governorate that produce fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals for agriculture.
  6. Pharmaceuticals: Several pharmaceutical companies have established manufacturing facilities in Qalyūb to produce medicines for domestic consumption and export.
  7. Retail trade: The governorate has many small shops and markets where locals can purchase goods such as clothing, household items, foodstuffs etc.
  8. Transportation: Transportation businesses like taxi services, bus services etc also run here.

Noteable History

  1. The Battle of Heliopolis in 640 CE saw the Arab armies, led by Amr ibn al-As, defeat the Byzantine forces in a decisive battle near Qalyūb.
  2. Qalyūb played an important role during the Mamluk Sultanate (1250-1517), which was a period of great cultural and architectural development in Egypt.
  3. Muhammad Ali Pasha, who ruled Egypt from 1805 to 1848, built several notable buildings in Qalyūb including the Al-Qanater Al-Khayriyah water wheel and palace.
  4. The construction of the Suez Canal between 1859 and 1869 had a significant impact on Qalyūb’s economy as it became an important transportation hub for goods being shipped between Europe and Asia.
  5. Ahmed Shawqi was a renowned Egyptian poet who lived in Qalyūb during his later years and is considered one of Egypt’s greatest poets known as the Prince of Poets.
  6. Sayed Darwish was another famous Egyptian musician and composer who lived in Qalyūb during his early years and is regarded as one of the fathers of modern Egyptian music.
  7. Gamal Abdel Nasser, President of Egypt from 1956 to 1970, had a summer residence in Qalyūb where he would often stay with his family during hot summer months.
  8. During the January 25th Revolution (2011), protests were held across several cities including Qalyubia Governorate where many people demanded political change and social justice leading to Hosni Mubarak’s regime overthrow after almost three decades.

Museums and Things To See

  1. Saladin Citadel of Cairo: A medieval Islamic fortification located on a hill overlooking the city of Cairo.
  2. Al-Azhar Mosque: One of the oldest and most important mosques in Egypt, dating back to the 10th century.
  3. Egyptian Museum: A museum housing an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the famous King Tutankhamun’s treasures.
  4. Giza Pyramids: The most famous ancient monuments in Egypt, consisting of three pyramids and the Great Sphinx.
  5. Khan el-Khalili Bazaar: An old market in Cairo selling traditional goods such as textiles, spices, jewelry and souvenirs.
  6. Qasr El Nil Bridge: A historic bridge spanning across the Nile River connecting downtown Cairo with Giza district.
  7. Baron Empain Palace: A unique Hindu-style palace built by a Belgian millionaire in early 20th century now open for public visits.
  8. Manial Palace Museum: An impressive palace built by Prince Mohamed Ali Tewfik now converted into a museum showcasing rare collections from various civilizations.
  9. Qalyub National Park: A vast park located on Qalyub city outskirts offering hiking trails, picnic areas and wildlife watching opportunities.
  10. Mohamed Ali Pasha Mosque: A grand mosque situated inside Saladin Citadel complex built during Ottoman era known for its exquisite architecture and panoramic views.


Sports Teams

  • Football, or soccer, is the most popular sport in Egypt.
  • The Egyptian Premier League is the country’s top professional football league.
  • Several clubs from Qalyūb have participated in the Egyptian Premier League over the years.
    • Tala’ea El-Gaish SC, founded in 1947 and based in Cairo but with a large following in Qalyūb.
    • El-Olympi, founded in 1974 and having played several seasons of professional football.
    • Kahraba Al-Qalubia, which was founded more recently and has been playing at lower levels of Egyptian football.
  • Basketball, handball, and volleyball are also popular team sports played across Egypt at both amateur and professional levels.


  • Cuisine

    • Koshari El Tahrir: A popular restaurant that serves traditional Egyptian koshari dish made of rice, macaroni, lentils, chickpeas topped with tomato sauce and fried onions.
    • Felfela: A well-known restaurant that offers a variety of Egyptian dishes such as falafel sandwiches, shawarma wraps and grilled meats.
    • El Abd Bakery: Famous for its freshly baked bread and pastries such as feteer meshaltet (Egyptian layered pastry) and balah el sham (Syrian sweets).
    • Al Khal Restaurant: Specializes in serving grilled chicken dishes with different spices and sauces.
    • El Sabaya Restaurant: Offers a range of traditional Egyptian dishes like stuffed pigeon (fatta), molokhia soup with rabbit meat (molokhia bil arnab), roasted lamb chops (kabdet el-lahm) among others.
    • Mandarine Koueider: Known for its delicious oriental sweets like baklava, kunafa and basbousa.
    • Abu Shakra Restaurant: Serves authentic Egyptian food like stuffed vine leaves (mahshi warak enab), liver sandwiches (sandwichat kibda) and mixed grill platters.
    • Zooba Eats: Offers modern twists on traditional Egyptian street food like taameya sliders, hawawshi sandwiches filled with minced meat or cheese among others.
    • El Malky Restaurant & Café : Known for its delicious seafood dishes like grilled fish served with tahini sauce or shrimp cooked in garlic butter sauce along with other Middle Eastern delicacies.
    • El Tabei El Domyati – A popular spot to try out the famous Domyati bread which is a type of Egyptian bread that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

    • Parks and Recreation

      1. Qalyub Botanical Garden: This park features a large collection of plants and trees from all over Egypt, as well as a lake, fountains, and walking paths.
      2. Al-Hussein Park: A large public park with playgrounds, sports fields, picnic areas, and a small zoo.
      3. Al-Shaheed Park: A beautiful park with landscaped gardens, walking paths, and a lake for boating.
      4. El-Ahly Club: A popular sports club that offers tennis courts, swimming pools, soccer fields, and other recreational activities for members.
      5. Nile Corniche: The scenic road along the Nile River is perfect for jogging or cycling while enjoying views of the river and nearby parks.
      6. El-Obour Sporting Club: Another popular sports club with facilities for soccer, basketball, tennis, swimming and more.
      7. Dreamland Aqua Park: An amusement park with water slides and pools that’s perfect for families looking to cool off on hot summer days.
      8. Qalyub Open Air Museum : an open-air museum in which visitors can learn about ancient Egyptian history through interactive exhibits and displays.

      Suitcase

      Let The Journey Begin.


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