Madinet Masr Launches Buyut Al-Khalifa to Revive Historic Cairo
In partnership with the Built Environment Collective (BEC) and the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the project will restore heritage homes in the heart of Old Cairo.
Apr 18, 2025
On Al-Rukbiyya Street in Historic Cairo, an ambitious new project is setting the stage for a cultural revival. Madinet Masr, one of Egypt's most prominent urban developers, has announced the launch of 'Buyut Al-Khalifa'—a large-scale heritage conservation effort in collaboration with the Built Environment Collective (BEC) and the Supreme Council of Antiquities. Slated to begin in May 2025, the project is a reclaiming of a living history. Spanning 3,000 square meters in a UNESCO World Heritage site, the initiative includes the restoration of two heritage buildings, the renovation of 19 residential facades, and the transformation of public spaces with eco-conscious designs, greenery, and lighting. Madinet Masr's initiative extends beyond preservation. With urban farms irrigated using recycled groundwater from local monument projects and a commitment to promoting heritage crafts, the project fuses culture, sustainability, and community development. 'This isn't just about bricks and mortar—it's about people,' Dr. May Al-Ibrashy, chair of BEC, tells CairoScene. 'We're protecting the past while building futures.' Part of BEC's long-running 'Athar Lina' program, the project also connects with broader state-led urban development schemes, including the Citadel Square plan and the 'Descendants of the Prophet' heritage trail. In a time when cities worldwide are struggling with identity in the face of development, Buyut Al-Khalifa offers a new model: one where history and modernity collaborate rather than co-exist.
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