The Aga Khan and Al-Azhar Park

In 1984, His Highness the Aga Khan announced his decision to create a park for the residents of Cairo.   Not only did the Aga Khan want to improve the living conditions of the people by creating more green spaces, but he also wanted to commemorate the foundations of Cairo by his ancestors, the Fatimids, in 969.

Green Space in Cairo

The selected location was the derelict Darassa site, a 30 hectare mound of rubble between the 12th century City Walls and the “City of the Dead”. Al-Azhar Park opened to the public in 2005 after 20 years of toil.  At the time, Cairo had a very low percentage of green space, estimated at around 0.74 m² per capita.  This means that the city had very little green space compared to its population. In fact, a significant portion of Cairo’s population lived in areas with some districts having less than 0.5 m² per capita.

The Largest Park in Cairo

Al-Azhar Park is the largest park in Cairo and offers a 72-acre space of greenery in the midst of Old Cairo.   Its architectural design was inspired by historic Islamic gardens.  The spine of the park is an axis with water fountains leading to a small lake, along with alleyways pointing towards the Citadel of Cairo.   Among several honours, Azhar Park is listed as one of the world’s 60 great public spaces.

Archaeological Discoveries

Archaeological research during the parks creation revealed the remains of the first City Wall built from mud bricks in 969. A century later, a new city wall had been built in addition to three monumental gates built in stone.  All in all, a park being constructed for the residents of Cairo also uncovered structures of great historical significant to the city.

The parks position over a hill gives visitors a magnificent view of Cairo. The park has several fountains and restaurants where visitors can enjoy the natural beauty and the breath-taking views. On weekends you see many families on daytrip with picnics.  In addition to small cafes and restaurants and an open air theatre, the northern part of the park capitalises on the views of the medieval city.  The Lakeside Café, on the other side of the park, has a tranquil lake setting.  Al Azhar Park attracts over 1.5 million visitors annually and provides a much needed green space in one of the densest cities in the world.