Egypt’s capital, Cairo (or Al Qahirah in Arabic) is located near the Nile Delta and has the largest metropolitan area in the Middle East, home to well over 20 million people. It’s often referred to as Maṣr by locals, the Egyptian Arabic name for Egypt itself, reflecting the city’s national importance.
The area of modern-day Cairo was the focal point of Ancient Egypt, with the famous Pyramids of Giza located only 10 miles away. Today Cairo is hectic and fast-paced, lively and vibrant. Egypt’s recent political instability may make students somewhat concerned about safety, and while Cairo is generally safe, it is advisable to avoid political demonstrations and large gatherings at this time. However, residents are confident that the future is bright for the city.
Cairo is an education hub, and is home to one of the oldest universities in the world – Al-Azhar University, founded more than a thousand years ago. English is the most commonly used foreign language in the city, and is the main language of instruction at the American University in Cairo.









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