The Cairo Tower is a free-standing tower in the Egyptian capital that offers a spectacular panoramic view of the city of a thousand minarets, including the Pyramids, Sphinx and the Nile.
Situated at the edge of Zamalek Island, in the middle of the River Nile, and close to downtown Cairo, it is the capital’s most prominent modern landmark today. Many consider Cairo Tower second only to the Pyramids of Giza.
Considered an architectural masterpiece, here are more interesting facts about the tower.
When was Cairo Tower built?
Designed by Egyptian architect Naoum Shebib (also spelled Naoum Chebib), Cairo Tower was built between 1956 and 1961. This was when President Gamal Abdel Nasser was the president of Egypt.
It is reported that 500 Egyptian workers were involved in the construction of the concrete and iron tower. The tower’s base and main staircase were carved from polished pink Aswan granite. This was the material frequently used by Ancient Egyptians to build temples and monuments for the pharaohs – doesn’t history really repeat itself 🙂
The Cairo Tower was built in the shape of the lotus, a flower used to produce papyrus. Ancient Egyptians also used the lotus as a symbol to represent the sun, creation and re-birth.
What is the Tower also known as?
The tower is also known as the “El Gezira Tower” – “Borg El Gezira” in Arabic. Cairo Tower is called “Borg El Qahira” in Arabic. Some locals will also know it as “Nasser’s Pineapple”.
A historical story reveals two more names for the Cairo Tower.
According to the Americans, Cairo Tower can be known as “the fork in the back of Nasser”, because the United States gave President Nasser’s government the 6 million pounds that it cost to build the tower, to dissuade the Egyptians from supporting Algeria in their uprising against the French. The attempt to bribe Nasser offended him, and he used the money to build the tower as a sign of Arab resistance, thus the Egyptian name, “stopping Roosevelt”.
It’s worth mentioning that the tower is just across the Nile river – it can be seen from the US Embassy which is just across the Nile.
How tall is Cairo Tower?
Cairo Tower is 187 metres tall. This makes it almost 50 metres taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza. Cairo Tower was the tallest building in Africa for 10 years when it was completed in 1961. This was until the Hillbrow Tower (269 metres) tall was built in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1971.
Visting Borg El Qahira
There are 16 floors in the building, with a revolving observatory and restaurant at the top. It is recommended to see the city in the later part of the day when the cool air removes the haze, offering a clearer view of the beautiful landscape. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a meal at the revolving restaurant while taking in the stunning scenery. Telescopes are available for a closer look.
The tower was renovated and upgraded between 2006 and 2008 at a cost of 15 million Egyptian pounds. Besides strengthening the tower’s entrance and painting the exterior, the work also included restoring the tower’s iron structure, installing emergency stairs, and putting in a new elevator for visitors.
It is important to mention the circular entrance lobby, which features a mural of mosaics depicting landmarks including The Pyramids of Giza, Cairo’s Salah al-Din Citadel, the Umayyad mosque in Damascus and the water mills of Hama.
To get the most current information on the entrance to Cairo Tower costs and opening hours, you can visit the Egyptian Tourism Authority’s page about the Cairo Tower here.
