Historic Cairo is taking a significant step to strengthen its cultural role with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Urban Development Fund and the Azza Fahmy Foundation for the Development of Handicrafts, in the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly. This comes ahead of the establishment of a fully integrated cultural and training center in Darb al-Labbana, coinciding with the launch of the 2025 Fustat Winter Festival.
A Project to Revive Architectural and Artistic Heritage
The initiative aims to restore the architectural and heritage fabric around the Citadel and Darb al-Labbana, transforming the area into a leading hub for traditional crafts and handmade arts, while boosting cultural tourism and the creative economy.
Center Covering 2,370 Square Meters with Traditional Design
The center will be established in a building owned by the Urban Development Fund, covering approximately 2,370 square meters opposite the Egyptian Architect’s House. It has been designed by a team specializing in historical architecture to preserve the identity of the UNESCO-listed area.
The center will include exhibition and lecture halls, training workshops, facilities for artisans, artist-in-residence studios, and outlets for displaying and selling heritage products.
Azza Fahmy: From Khan El-Khalili to Leading a Cultural Initiative
The project leverages the expertise of international designer Azza Fahmy, who began her career in the Khan El-Khalili workshops as the first woman to master jewelry-making among male artisans, before launching her brand that became one of the Middle East’s leading jewelry houses with a prominent presence in London, Riyadh, and other capitals.
The Azza Fahmy Foundation continues to train a new generation of artisans and develop heritage crafts with approaches that combine authenticity with contemporary design.
State-Cultural Community Partnership
The Prime Minister emphasized that the memorandum represents a successful model of integration between the state and the cultural community to revive traditional crafts and transform historic Cairo into an "open museum" that restores the presence of these arts and ensures their transmission to future generations.
Urban Development Fund Chairman Eng. Khaled Seddik stated that the new center will serve as a launchpad for revitalizing Darb al-Labbana as a key axis of the Historic Cairo development project and restoring its cultural significance.
Comprehensive Development Plan for Darb al-Labbana
The center initiative is part of a wider plan that includes restoring old buildings, upgrading infrastructure, reorganizing traffic in heritage alleys, and improving the urban environment around the Citadel and Fustat Hills Park. The aim is to turn the area into a cultural and tourist destination that supports the creative economy and provides new job opportunities for artisans.
Strengthening the Creative Industries Economy
The project focuses on integrating traditional crafts into the creative economy, enhancing exports, and supporting the "Made in Egypt" brand, leveraging the Azza Fahmy Foundation’s expertise in transforming heritage into globally valued products.
A Model Ready for Expansion
Estimates indicate that this model could be expanded to other historic areas by establishing centers that combine education, production, exhibitions, and artist residencies, forming a key pillar of Cairo’s historic revival strategy through 2030.
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