The Cairo Tower (Egyptian Arabic: برج القاهرة, Borg El-Qāhira) is a free-standing concrete tower in Cairo, Egypt. At 187 m (614 ft), it was the tallest structure in Egypt for 37 years until 1998, when it surpassed by the Suez Canal overhead powerline crossing. It was the tallest structure in North Africa for 21 years until 1982, when it surpassed by the Nador transmitter in Morocco. It was the tallest structure in Africa for one year until 1962, when it surpassed by Sentech Tower in South Africa.

One of Cairo’s well-known modern monuments, sometimes considered Egypt’s second most famous landmark after the Pyramids of Giza, it stands in the Gezira district on Gezira Island in the River Nile, close to downtown Cairo.

History

Built from 1956 to 1961,the Egyptian architect Naoum Shebib designed the tower , inspired by the Ancient Egyptian Architecture. Its partially open lattice-work design is intended to evoke a pharaonic lotus plant, an iconic symbol of Ancient Egypt. The tower is crowned by a circular observation deck and a revolving restaurant that rotate around its axis occasionally with a view over greater Cairo.

According to documents Major General Adel Shaheen published them , the funds for the construction of the tower were from the Government of the United States through the CIA that represented by Kermit Roosevelt, which had provided around $US1-3 million to Gamal Abdel Nasser as a personal gift to him with the intent of stopping his support for Algerian Revolution and other African independence movements. Affronted by the attempt to bribe him, Nasser decided to publicly rebuke the U.S. government by transferring all of the funds to the Egyptian government for the use of the tower construction, which he stated that it would be “visible from the US Embassy just across the Nile, as a taunting symbol of Egypt’s, Africa and the Middle East’s resistance, revolutions and pride”.

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  Cairo Tower Entrance

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  Cairo Tower from below

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  Cairo Tower

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  Cairo Tower at sunset

   

  Description of Cairo Tower

   

  Cairo Tower is a iconic landmark in Cairo, Egypt, and a popular tourist destination. The tower stands at 187 meters tall, making it one of the tallest buildings in the city. It is in the Zamalek district, on an island in the Nile River. Significantly, It offers breathtaking views of the city from its observation deck.

  Engineers constructed it with a concrete core and steel frame. Engineers covered it in a glazed cylinder that is clad in mirrored glass. The tower’s exterior adorned with Arabic calligraphy, which reads “Al-Qahira” (meaning “The Victorious”), a reference to the city of Cairo.

  In fact, Visitors to the tower can take an elevator to the observation deck, which is 160 meters above ground. From here, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the city. Including the Pyramids of Giza, the Nile River, and the modern skyscrapers of downtown Cairo. The deck equipped with binoculars and telescopes, allowing visitors to get a closer look at the city’s landmarks.

  In addition to the observation deck, the tower also features a restaurant, a gift shop, and a cinema. The tower is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. It is often lit up at night, adding to its already striking appearance.