Giza

Giza is the third-largest city in Egypt by area and sixteenth-largest city in Africa by population. It is the capital of Giza Governorate. As of 2023, over four million people live there. The city sits on the west bank of the Nile River, right across from central Cairo. It is part of the larger Greater Cairo area.

Giza is most famous for the Giza Plateau. This area has some of the world’s most amazing ancient monuments. It includes the Great Sphinx, the Great Pyramid of Giza, and several other large pyramids and temples. These are some of the most visited historic sites in the world.

Because of its rich history and amazing landmarks, Giza draws millions of visitors each year. It is Egypt’s top destination. The city’s historic center is a World Heritage Site listed by UNESCO. Besides its ancient wonders, Giza is also an important center for business, science, and culture in Egypt and Africa. It is home to the Giza Zoo, the first zoo ever built in Africa, and the popular football club Zamalek SC.

Districts and population

The city of Giza is the capital of the Giza Governorate. It is near the northeast border of the governorate. Giza has nine districts and five new towns. These new towns are managed by the New Urban Communities Authority.

In 2017, about 4.9 million people lived in the nine districts of Giza. Some new towns, like New 6th of October and October Gardens, were not counted. This is because they were still being built or were not yet part of the city. There are also a few islands in the Nile. These islands include Qorsaya Island, Dahab Island, and Al-Warraq Island.

Geography and climate

Giza is famous for the Giza Plateau, which has important Egyptian history sites like the pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. The pyramids were built to watch over the ancient city of Memphis, which was across the river from today’s Cairo.

Giza has a hot desert with an arid climate. The weather there is much like nearby Cairo. In winter, daytime temperatures are about 16 °C to 20 °C and can get below 7 °C at night. Summer is very hot, with daytime temperatures around 40 °C and nighttime temperatures around 20 °C. Rain is rare, and snow almost never falls.

History

The area now known as Giza has a very long history. In ancient times, it was a burial place for pharaohs of ancient Egypt. The most famous structures from this time are the giant pyramids, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Great Sphinx of Giza, and the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Later, as Egypt was ruled by different groups such as the Persians, Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines, Giza also changed hands. A small village named Phylake existed nearby during the Byzantine period. When Muslim forces began conquering Egypt in the year 639 AD, they founded the city of Giza in 642 AD. The exact meaning of the city's name is still unknown.

Administration

Giza is managed by a City Head and a Governor, both chosen by the Prime Minister of Egypt. The current Governor is Major General Adel El-Ghadban, who started in 2024.

The city has an Executive Council that helps carry out government plans and a Local People's Council that watches over local matters. Giza has nine urban districts, including North Giza (Imbaba), Agouza, Dokki, and El-Warraq, where most daily services happen. Important offices, like the Giza Governorate Headquarters and the Foreign Ministry Legalization Office, are in Giza to help the Greater Cairo area.

Economy

Giza has many jobs and industries. It is a big place for making movies, with famous studios like Studio Misr and El-Ahram Studio based there. Many people visit Giza to see famous old buildings such as the Great Pyramid and the Pyramid of Djoser. This helps the city's economy.

Tourism is very important to Giza. Millions of visitors come to see the Giza Plateau, where you can find the Giza Pyramids complex and see old artifacts from ancient Egypt. The Giza Zoo is also a popular spot. It was founded in 1891 and is one of the oldest zoos in the world. The zoo has many different animals and special buildings and gardens to explore.

Infrastructure

Giza has changed a lot over thousands of years of Egyptian history. Today, it is a busy place with many buildings and spots for people to enjoy. It is famous for its ancient treasures on the Giza Plateau, which attract millions of visitors each year.

The city is a great place for learning, with schools, kindergartens, and universities such as Cairo University and MSA University. Healthcare is available through many hospitals and clinics. Getting around Giza can be busy, but there are many ways to travel, including trains, the Metro, buses, taxis, and even water taxis along the Nile River.

Main article: Sphinx International Airport

Main article: Cairo Metro Line 3

Main article: Cairo Bus Rapid Transit

Culture

Main article: Cultural tourism in Egypt

Giza is a place full of culture and history. It has many museums that tell the story of ancient Egypt and its people. The Grand Egyptian Museum is being built to hold many important items, including things from the Tutankhamun collection. When it opens, it will be the largest museum in the world for one group of people.

Other museums in Giza include the Egyptian Agricultural Museum, which shows the history of farming in Egypt. There is also the Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum, the Taha Hussein Museum, the Mohamed Nagy Museum, and the Imhotep Museum, which honors an ancient Egyptian architect.

Music is also important in Giza. The Pyramids Sound and Light Show tells the history of ancient Egypt with music and lights. Giza has hosted famous musicians from around the world and still has many places to enjoy live music.

Giza celebrates many holidays and festivals all year. These include national days, religious holidays like Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and special events like Sham El-Nessim.

The city is also known for its art. It has ancient sculptures like the Great Sphinx of Giza and modern artworks. The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) shows many treasures, including Tutankhamun's treasures.

Giza is an important place for media, with many studios and newspapers based there. In 2025, it joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for its work in film and the arts.

The city has successful sports clubs, such as the Zamalek Sporting Club, one of the most successful in Africa.

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Main article: Grand Egyptian Museum
Main article: Egyptian Civilization
Main article: largest museum
Main article: Agricultural Museum, Egypt
Main article: Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum
Main article: Taha Hussein Museum
Main article: Mohamed Nagy Museum
Main article: Imhotep Museum
Main article: Pyramids Sound and Light Show
Main article: Eid al-Fitr
Main article: Eid al-Adha
Main article: Sham El-Nessim
Main article: Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
Main article: Tutankhamun's treasures
Main article: UNESCO Creative Cities Network
Main article: Zamalek Sporting Club

International relations

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Egypt

Giza has friendly partnerships with cities in other parts of the world. It is twinned with Istanbul in Turkey and Los Angeles in the United States. These partnerships help the cities share ideas and work together.

Notable people

Giza is home to many famous people. Yehia Chahine was a well-known actor. Ahmed El-Ahmar and Abdel Halim Ali were important sports players. One played handball and the other played football. Nora Armani is an actor and filmmaker from an Armenian family. Khaled El-Enany is an Egyptian expert on ancient history and a politician. He has been the Director-General of UNESCO since November 2025.