As one of three city-states in Egypt, where the Cairo governor is also the head of the city.[5] This rightfully creates much confusion and synonymity between the Governorate of Cairo, and the city, though officially they are two semi-distinct levels of local government, and as with other governorates, the governor is appointed by the president.
Overview
Parts of the governorate - the Helwan district and the satellite cities, were spun off in April 2008 to form the Helwan Governorate, only to be reincorporated into the Cairo Governorate in April 2011.
Municipal divisions
The governorate is divided into the city of Cairo, and the unallocated desert hinter land (al-zahir al-sahrawi).
Cairo city is subdivided into four Areas (manatiq) headed by a deputy governor each, and 38 Districts (ahya, sing. Hayy) with their own governor appointed heads.[6] Some districts are represented by one police station (qism, plr. aqsam), while others may be subdivided by two or more.
The Northern Area divided into 8 Districts:
Shubra, Al-Zawiya al-Hamra, Hadayek al-Kobba, Rod al-Farg, al-Sharabiya, al-Sahel, al-Zaytoun, and Al-Amiriya
In addition to Cairo City, there are five satellite cities that are under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities who chairs the New Urban Communities Authority that directly controls them (planning, land sales, zoning), while the governorate departments (muduriyat) control police and select public services (education, health, subsidised food).[7] The more populated ones are subdivided into qisms, while the ones still under construction are yet to have governorate representation. These cities are:
Division Maadi Company for Development and Reconstruction
Egypt-Ismailia. Road - Al Nozha District
El Salam City
El Marg District
El Sharabya District
(New urban community industrial zone) Badr City
(New urban community industrial zone) 15 May
(New urban community industrial zone) New Cairo
(New urban community industrial zone) Al Shrouk
Due to its congestion and overcrowded streets, Cairo is not attractive to investors. UN-Habitat is promoting alternative methods of transportation with the aim of relieving these issues.[16]
Projects and programs
In a program that began on 28 August 2012 (through 2018), the European Union invested 40 million Euros on upgrading the infrastructure of informal areas in Cairo Governorate.[17]