Famous People Born In Cairo

Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz had previously worked in the Egyptian civil service. Initially a short story writer, he later wrote novels such as Al-Thulāthiyyah, or The Cairo Trilogy. His novel Children of the Alley was banned for its religious references and led him to be stabbed by Islamists.

Grandson of former Egyptian prime minister Boutros Ghali Bey, politician Boutros Boutros-Ghali is remembered for his tenure as the secretary-general of the UN, which witnessed peacekeeping activities in war-torn areas such as Bosnia and Herzegovina. His illustrious career boasted of various prestigious academic positions and a Fulbright scholarship.

Fuad I of Egypt was the Sultan of Egypt who ruled as the ninth ruler of Sudan and Egypt from the Muhammad Ali dynasty. Fuad played an important role in modern Egyptian historiography. His efforts to depict his ancestors as benevolent monarchs and nationalists would prove to be a long-lasting influence on Egyptian history.

Isma'il Pasha, also called Ismail the Magnificent, was the Khedive of Egypt and Sudan. He remained instrumental in modernizing Egypt and Sudan and invested considerably in economic and industrial development and urbanization. His administrative policies, particularly those that led to accumulation of huge foreign debt, paved way for his toppling from power and eventually the British occupation of Egypt.

Naguib Sawiris is an Egyptian businessman and former CEO of Orascom Telecom Holding. He is credited with building the telecommunications, information technology, and railway sectors of Orascom. Naguib Sawiris contributed immensely to the diversification of Orascom and turned it into the largest private sector employer of the country. In 2021, he was named Africa's eighth-richest person by Forbes magazine.

Ramy Ashour is a retired squash player who represented Egypt at several World Championships. Considered one of the best players in the history of squash, Ashour won three gold medals at World Championships and three gold medals at World Team Championships. Renowned for his unique style, Ramy Ashour is rated highly by several squash pundits and former players. 

Egyptian Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi ruled Egypt as its de facto head of state after the fall of former president Hosni Mubarak. He was also a military attaché in Pakistan and led Egypt in the Gulf War as part of the US-led coalition. He earned an Order of the Nile, too.

Bassem Youssef is an Egyptian comedian, producer, writer, television host, media critic, doctor, and surgeon. Best known for hosting a satirical news program called El-Bernameg, Youssef was named in Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people in the world in 2013. Bassem Youssef is also a YouTuber; his channel PlantBtv currently targets Arabic and English-speaking audiences around the world.

Ahmed Hossam is an Egyptian former football player who scored 20 goals for Egypt in 51 games. He contributed immensely to Egypt's success, winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2006. He also played for popular clubs like Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax before announcing his retirement in 2013. Ahmed Hossam is currently working as a manager.     

Mohamed ElBaradei is an Egyptian diplomat and law scholar. From 14 July 2013 to 14 August 2013, he served as the vice president of Egypt on an interlude basis. In 2005, he was honored with the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize for his work as the director general of an intergovernmental organization called the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The son of king Farouk I of Egypt, Fuad II became a king at age 6 months, following his father’s abdication. He ruled for less than a year and was exiled soon after. He grew up in Switzerland and France and was given back his Egyptian citizenship years later.

The eldest son of Sultan Fuad I, Farouk of Egypt received his education in Egypt and England before taking over the throne. He later gained criticism for his lavish lifestyle and his eccentricities, such as his order that except his entourage, no other cars could be painted red.

Ahmed Hassan Mahgoub is an Egyptian footballer who plays for the Egypt national team. Hassan was part of the national squad that won the runners-up trophy at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Hassan has also played for popular clubs like Braga and Olympiacos, helping the latter win the Super League Greece during the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons.

Aḥmad Shawqī was an Arabic poet laureate who worked at the court of the Khedive. He also wrote plays and prose, including five tragedies. On 17 June 1977, Aḥmad Shawqī's Giza residence was converted into a museum. His work is celebrated even today at a cultural center called the El Sawy Culture Wheel.

A qualified lawyer and judge, Adly Mansour has served the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt as its president and has also worked with the Saudi Ministry of Commerce. Following Mohamed Morsi’s ouster in a coup d'état, Mansour served as the country’s interim president. He has been honored with the Order of the Nile.

Wael Ghonim is an Egyptian computer engineer and Internet activist best known for his work in the field of social entrepreneurship. In 2011, Ghonim achieved international fame when his emotional interview led to the 2011 Egyptian revolution. The same year, Ghonim was named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people list. He also received the JFK Profile in Courage Award.   

Omar Gaber is an Egyptian football player who helped his national team win the runner-up trophy of the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations in 2017. He has also played for popular clubs like Zamalek with which he won the Egypt Cup on three occasions and Egyptian Premier League once.

Alaa Mubarak is an Egyptian businessman best known as the eldest son of the former President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak. Along with his father and brother Gamal, Alaa Mubarak was arrested in 2011 before being convicted for corruption in 2014. In September 2018, Alaa Mubarak was arrested again for manipulating the stock market. He was acquitted in February 2020.

Hossam Hassan is an Egyptian former football player who competed in seven Africa Cup of Nations events out of which he won three. A prolific goalscorer, Hassan scored 83 goals in 176 games for Egypt; he is the current all-time top scorer for his country. Hossam Hassan is counted among the best players in the history of African football.

Born to a minister, Ahmed Shafik received military training and had a successful career as a fighter pilot. He then served as the civil aviation minister and the commander of the Egyptian air force. He was also made the prime minister of Egypt by president Hosni Mubarak, after the 2011 Egyptian Revolution.

Mayar Sherif is an Egyptian professional tennis player who made history in 2020 when she became the first female player from Egypt to feature in a main draw of a Grand Slam by participating in French Open. She made headlines in 2021 when she became the first Egyptian female player to win a Grand Slam main-draw match at Australian Open.

Once the First Lady of Egypt (as the wife of president Anwar Sadat), Jehan Sadat had a multicultural upbringing, being the daughter of an Egyptian father and a British mother. She later became a champion for women’s rights and transformed the civil rights laws, bringing in what were called Jehan's Laws.

The younger son of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, Gamal Mubarak led the National Democratic Party as its deputy secretary-general. While he began his career with the Bank of America, he later set up Medinvest Associates. Convicted of diverting political funds, he was jailed. Much later, he was again accused of stock-market manipulation.