Khayamiya, Cairo's tentmakers' market, gets an EGP 100 million restoration
The covered market of the tentmakers near Bab Zuweila is being restored over eight months, with work due to finish in May 2027 and shops staying open.
The Khayamiya, the covered market where Cairo's tentmakers sew their appliqué panels, is to be restored at a cost of more than EGP 100 million, Cairo Scene reported. The work is funded by Aga Khan Cultural Services Egypt and the ALIPH Foundation, with Cairo Governorate and the ministries responsible for antiquities and endowments as partners.
The project is planned to take eight months and finish in May 2027. Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber said it will focus on keeping the market's architectural and historical character, and that it should stay a working centre for traditional crafts.
Officials have agreed arrangements with the traders so that the shops can keep working while the restoration goes on.
If you want a khayamiya panel, a cushion cover or a wall hanging, the market is still open to visitors during the works. It sits in Historic Cairo just south of Bab Zuweila, and expect some parts of the street to be under repair until next spring.