The governorate of Cairo, capital of Egypt, is the largest city in Africa.

 

The city is located predominantly on the eastern bank of the Nile River, just south of the point at which the lower Nile separates into the Rosetta and Damietta branches.

 

Cairo is the chief cultural centre of the Arab world and also is the largest city of the Middle East.

 

The population of its metropolitan area has grown enormously since the early 20th century.

 

The economy of Cairo is based on government, commerce, trade, and industrial production.

 

The city's large-scale industry includes the manufacture of textiles, iron and steel, and consumer goods (including electronics), as well as food and tobacco processing.

 

Most of Egypt's major banking, financial, and transit firms are headquartered in Cairo.

Cairo is famous for its ancient monuments such as the Mosque of Baybars I and Saladin's Citadel.