Islamic Cairo (now part of Cairo)
Country: Egypt
Region: Africa
Period: 973-(later ~iro)
Location: 30.016667°N, 31.233333°E
Description
Al-Qata’i was a short-lived but historically significant city founded in the 9th century by the Abbasid governor Ahmad ibn Tulun, who established it as the capital of the Tulunid Emirate in Egypt. Located to the north of modern Cairo, Al-Qata’i was designed as an administrative and military center, featuring wide streets, grand palaces, and religious structures, such as the Mosque of Ibn Tulun.
Modern Remains
Although Al-Qata’i was eventually abandoned in favor of Fustat and later Cairo, remnants of its once grand structures still survive. The Mosque of Ibn Tulun, one of the oldest and most well-preserved mosques in Cairo, stands as a testament to the city’s architectural and cultural significance. Archaeological research continues to uncover elements of Al-Qata’i, helping scholars understand the early Islamic urban planning and governance of the Tulunid period.