The President's Advisor follows up on the restoration and rehabilitation ...

January 16, 2025

The President's Advisor follows up on the restoration and rehabilitation projects of Zainab Khatoun House and Al Sakakini Palace

Major General Dr. Khaled Fouda - Advisor to the President of the Republic for Local Development, followed up on the implementation status of the restoration and rehabilitation projects of Zainab Khatoun House and Al Sakakini Palace as part of a tour that included a number of projects to renovate the Islamic and Fatimid neighbourhoods of Cairo, which are being implemented by the Central Agency for Reconstruction. He was accompanied by Eng. Mohamed Abu Saada - Head of the National Authority for Urban Coordination, Major Gen. Ibrahim Abdel Hadi - Deputy Governor of Cairo for the Western Region, and Major Gen. Medhat Abdel Rahman - Head of Islamic Cairo and Fatimid Neighbourhoods Renewal Authority, in the presence of Eng. Mohamed Elwi - Executive Board Member of the Arab Contractors Company, and Eng. Walid Abdel Khaleq - Deputy Manager of Palaces and Monuments Restoration Department. During the tour, they inspected the two projects implemented by the Arab Contractors Company. Zeinab Khatoun House is located in the heart of Old Cairo at the intersection of Atfet El Azhary and Al Anaba Alley behind Al Azhar Mosque, amidst a wonderful collection of Islamic monuments. The house dates back to the fourth century AH and the tenth century AD. Zeinab Khatoun House is one of the most prominent examples of Mamluk-era houses. The house contains various architectural and decorative elements such as windows, mashrabiyas, wooden ceilings, decorated and gilded brackets, marble floors, etc. The house is built upon an area of 600 m² and consists of a ground floor, first floor, and second floor. The works include upgrading the house and re-employing the spaces of the ground floor to include a cafeteria, kitchen, service area, and two elevators. The first floor includes a multipurpose hall, a conference hall, and a service area with bathrooms. The second floor includes a panoramic cafeteria, in addition to firefighting works and the construction of a ground tank of 170 m³. The tour also included the restoration and re-employment project of Sakakini Palace, located in Al-Zahir in downtown Cairo and built by Habib Pasha Sakakini in 1897 by Italian architects. It is considered a model of Rococo style, and its area is 2,700 square meters. It includes more than 50 rooms, 300 statues, and 200 doors and windows. The palace's restoration and re-employment works involve transforming the upper floors into conference halls and VIP spaces, while the basement will serve as unique craft workshops.