Egypt opened a workshop on community-led management of Islamic heritage and rural tourism in Cairo on Monday, as the city marks its designation as the 2026 tourism capital of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC).
Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy inaugurated the event at Prince Mohamed Ali Palace in the city’s Manial district. It is being organised with the OIC-affiliated Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC).
The workshop aims to encourage the exchange of experience in managing heritage tourism, with visits planned to archaeological and historic sites around Cairo.
Fathy said Egypt was seeking closer co-operation with OIC institutions, adding that he and SESRIC director general Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk had agreed to work on joint projects.
He described Cairo’s historic districts as a reflection of the successive civilisations that have shaped Egypt, and said protecting archaeological sites and their historical value was a state priority.
Tourism services at such sites, he added, were being developed in cooperation with the private sector under safeguards intended to protect the monuments.
At the opening, Selçuk presented Fathy with a symbolic key marking Cairo’s designation. The programme also included promotional films about Egypt’s tourism offerings and a presentation on Cairo’s Museum of Islamic Art.
Fathy and Selçuk toured the palace, including its throne hall and gardens, and heard about its history and architectural features.
The OIC announced Cairo’s selection at a meeting of its tourism ministers in Uzbekistan in June 2024. Egypt’s tourism ministry had submitted the city’s nomination, highlighting routes covering its archaeological, spiritual and cultural heritage, as well as its riverside, recreational and everyday life attractions. The bid also included landmarks in the New Capital.
