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Historic Palaces

Abdeen Palace

Abdeen Palace marks the inception of modern Cairo. The city that came to life upon orders of Khedive Ismail to turn into a token of European style embracing spacious squares, wide streets, palaces, buildings and bridges on the Nile, gardens with trees and rare palm trees.


The palace was constructed upon an order by Kedive Ismail after he was enthroned in 1863; the building process lasted for 10 years. The palace is named after Sultan Abidin Bey, a military leader during the reign of Mohamed Ali who owned a mansion in situ of Abdeen Palace. Khedive Ismail bought the palace from the military’s leader widow. Later, he built the Saray on that same land, seizing the large landscape surrounding it.

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Abdeen Palace

Abdeen Palace marks the inception of modern Cairo. The city that came to life upon orders of Khedive Ismail to turn into a token of European style embracing spacious squares, wide streets, palaces, buildings and bridges on the Nile, gardens with trees and rare palm trees.


The palace was constructed upon an order by Kedive Ismail after he was enthroned in 1863; the building process lasted for 10 years. The palace is named after Sultan Abidin Bey, a military leader during the reign of Mohamed Ali who owned a mansion in situ of Abdeen Palace. Khedive Ismail bought the palace from the military’s leader widow. Later, he built the Saray on that same land, seizing the large landscape surrounding it.

  • Historical Events
  • Description
  • Architecture Design
  • Presidential Workplace
  • Archaeological Documentation

The palace is a live witness of a continuum of momentous historic events. In 1881 the Palace attested to the first Orabi-led protest to vocalize demands of the Egyptian army and people to Khedive Mohamed Tawfik. On February 4, 1942, the British Armored Corps barricaded Abdeen Palace in an attempt to forcefully assign Mustafa El-Nahhas as PM.


Abdeen Palace towered over the crisis that erupted between Mohamed Naguib and Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1954 (March 1954 Crisis) in the aftermath of Nasser's meeting with members of the Revolutionary Command Council ostracizing President Mohamed Naguib. 

Abdeen palace was erected on the ruins of an old mansion owned by Sultan Abidin Bey, a military leader during the reign of Mohamed Ali. The building process involved filling several waterholes and levelling the lands prior to construction to make the whole area fit-to-purpose. A number of adjacent buildings in nearby areas were further demolished. In the same vein, Khedive Ismail embarked on purchasing properties at proximity of the palace creating a boundless location stretching to 24 feddans as stated in the Palace deed of conveyance.


The Palace comprises two stories: an upper story and a ground story. The upper story consists of:
a. Selamlik: reception area, ballrooms and official functions
b. Haremlik: women and household residing wings


The ground floor houses khedival guard rooms, ceremonial offices, warehouses, servant dormitories. Kitchens were located in a separate building to minimize the risk of fires and unpleasant odors.
The Palace accommodates several salons designated to receive official missions and delegations during their visits or stays in Egypt. It enfolds a monumental library thriving on thousands of rare Arabic and English volumes capturing a plethora of topics: military, historical, political etc. Records of the Parliament of Egypt are safely cradled in house since the inaugural session held during the reign of Khedive Ismail. The Palace boasts of a theatre with golden-gilded seats to showcase different art performances to special guests and member of official delegations.


Unique wings distinguish the interior of the palace such as the Belgian Pavillion designed to host VIPs and called as such to mark its first resident namely the King of Belgium. The Pavilion houses an artifact, second-to-none bed with exquisite ornamental handmade motifs.
During the era of Fuad I monumental features were added by the Italian architect “Ferrucci” such as a kiosk for tea and another for music in the palace garden. El-Fath mosque was also established at that time. The Palace museums were established around the same time in 1928. They were three altogether namely two arms museums and a museum for medals and decorations enveloping authentic artifacts from around the globe brought from global auctions; given as gifts; or inherited from eras of King Fuad I and King Farouk. The museums were opened for the public on October 17th 1998 after appending a museum for the presidency gifts, another for historical documents, a third for silverware and the Royal Hunting Hall. Paris Gate, the Haremlik entrance was designated as the main gate leading to the museums of Abdeen Palace.

The palace consists of two floors conjoining them a number of courtyards and several entrances. The main entrances are located at the northern facade and the rest are at the southern facade. The entrances of this facade are Paris door, Ragab Agha door and door 22 that faces the parking lot. The entrance of the palace from the main facade is marked by an iron " Ferforgee" gate bearing the first letter of the name of Khedive Ismael and plated with gold.


The palace contained 500 rooms and halls when it was first built. All covered by colored marble floors decorated with Alabaster. The doors and the windows are made of colored glass, on which there are paintings of trees, seas, angels and birds. The ceilings bear delicate geometrical, protruding and gilded ornamental embossments depicting Arab, Islamic and Italian motifs. Grandiose staircases are covered by lush red carpets.


The first floor consists of two salons, one of which leads to the Suez Canal Salon, which celebrates the opening of the Suez Canal, and is attached to a balcony overlooking Abdeen Square.


The Palace houses the throne hall comprising a spacious square engulfing an Arab-style room with parquet floors. A door separates it from the hall of the haremlik, where entry is restricted to holders of special passes. The throne room leads to a long corridor ending at the king's suite that is furnished with the finest of carpets. The suite consists of several rooms; an office, a salon, the bedroom, bathroom and the Queen of Egypt and Queen Nazali suites.


The ground floor encompasses the palace garden, a pharmacy, and the former royal press and relevant administration.

The family of Viceroy Mohamed Ali made Abdeen Palace – as of the epoch of Khedive Ismael - the seat of the government over the period 1872 -1952. This palace remained the main government headquarters during that period of the Egyptian history, and then President Mohamed Anwar Sadat made it the presidency headquarters at his time.

The Ministry of Antiquities inscribed Abdeen Palace the royal record. It includes five museums:


Museum of Weapons and Ammunition.
Museum of silverware.
Museum of decorations and medals.
Museum of Peace (for the possessions of Mubarak and his spouse).
Museum of Historical Documents.