Egypt prepares for Eid Al-Fitr with 350 prayer areas in Cairo, intensive security and healthcare measures
CAIRO – 30 March 2025: As Eid Al-Fitr is only a few hours away, Cairo is making extensive preparations to welcome the festive occasion. Local authorities have heightened readiness across all service sectors, halting employee vacations to ensure smooth operations during the celebrations.
The local government has conducted thorough inspections of cleanliness in mosques and prayer areas, with 350 designated prayer sites across the city being carefully reviewed.
Additionally, the cleanliness of main thoroughfares, public bus stations, service areas, metro lines, and archaeological sites has been prioritized, with particular attention given to the Nile Corniche.
Preparations include ensuring the readiness of kiosks and mosaic seating areas along the Corniche to accommodate visitors.
In the governorate's parks, officials have confirmed the safety and functionality of recreational facilities, maintained green spaces, and ensured the upkeep of lighting systems, pathways, fences, and restrooms.
To preserve the parks' appearance, plastic bags will be distributed to visitors to encourage proper waste disposal.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Government agencies have also completed their holiday readiness plan, activating crisis management rooms under the leadership of Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health.
The plan includes providing all main roads nationwide with 838 ambulances equipped to function as mobile intensive care units.
Special attention has been given to coastal cities, where domestic tourism is expected to surge as citizens flock to enjoy the holiday.
The plan also encompasses the Cairo Metro system, with 15 fixed ambulance stations and increased coverage at interchange stations.
Ten river ambulances will secure the navigable waters of the Nile in Cairo, Giza, Luxor, and Aswan, linking ambulance points to metro stations for rapid response to medical emergencies.
INTENSIVE SECURITY MEASURES
Moreover, the Ministry of Interior has raised security readiness levels across the nation, implementing comprehensive security measures to ensure the safety of Eid celebrations.
Increased traffic services and patrols are deployed on major roads, supported by an integrated electronic monitoring system to ensure traffic discipline and respond swiftly to any emergencies.
The security plans extend to subway and railway stations, where a visible security presence will monitor conditions, particularly at entrances and exits, ensuring a peaceful environment for all celebrators.
Egypt is preparing for the first day of Eid Al-Fitr on Monday, with children excitedly donning new Eid clothes and families enjoying the traditional festive treat, Kahk.
Public and private sector employees nationwide are enjoying a paid holiday extending from Saturday to Wednesday, as per Cabinet's decrees.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CairoScene
6 days ago
- CairoScene
Saudi Arabia Grants 30-Day Extension for Visit Visa Departures
The measure applies across all visa designations and is aimed at facilitating legal departure procedures. Individuals must submit a departure request via the Tawasul service on the Absher platform. Saudi Arabia has extended the final departure deadline for all categories of visit visa holders by 30 days, with the grace period having begun on July 26th, 2025. The measure applies across all visa designations and is aimed at facilitating legal departure procedures while reinforcing compliance with the Kingdom's residency and immigration regulations. Eligible individuals must submit a departure request via the Tawasul service on the Ministry of Interior's Absher platform. The extension is subject to the payment of all applicable fees and fines as stipulated by Saudi law. Authorities have urged affected visitors to take advantage of the grace period to avoid additional penalties.
CairoScene
6 days ago
- CairoScene
UAE Residents Can Now Drive in 52 Countries Without a Driving Test
And if you're moving to the UAE from one of these countries, you can exchange your licence without taking a new test. Jul 28, 2025 The UAE's Ministry of Interior has expanded its driving licence recognition policy to include tourists from 52 countries, allowing them to drive legally in the Emirates using their home-country licences—no temporary permit required, as long as they're not legal residents. The update falls under the Markhoos initiative, which aims to make driving in the UAE more accessible for international visitors. For foreigners relocating to the UAE, the policy also allows for a direct exchange of foreign licences—no driving test required—as long as six basic conditions are met. These include holding a valid licence from one of the approved countries, being of legal driving age, passing a vision test, and submitting the necessary documents (like an Arabic translation and a copy of the original licence). Where applicable, the original licence must also be surrendered. The approved list includes countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Australia, South Korea, and South Africa, among others with reciprocal recognition agreements. The full list of eligible countries is available on the Ministry of Interior's website or via the Markhoos platform, which also handles all applications. The policy extends to UAE nationals abroad as well, ensuring smoother, mutual recognition for Emiratis driving overseas. Applications are fully digital, processed through the Ministry of Interior's Markhoos platform, available via app and smart services portal. A fee of AED 600 applies for licence exchanges.
Daily News Egypt
10-06-2025
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt's Transport Minister orders measures for post-Eid travel rush during station inspections
Egypt's Minister of Transport, Kamel Al-Wazir, conducted surprise inspections of Cairo's main railway and metro hubs on Monday, ordering measures to ensure smooth operations ahead of an expected surge in passengers returning from the Eid al-Adha holiday. The inspections at Ramses Railway Station and the Al-Shohadaa metro interchange aimed to confirm that all necessary preparations were in place to handle the return journeys of citizens from across the country, which are expected to peak from Monday. At Ramses station, Al-Wazir inspected the external plaza, ticket counters, and platforms, monitoring passenger flow through the electronic ticket gates. He stressed the need for 24/7 maintenance teams to address any gate malfunctions promptly and called for measures to prevent overcrowding. He also directed officials to improve signage, increase the number of rubbish bins, and maintain cleanliness in both stations and trains around the clock. During his tour of the platforms, the minister noted that a train arriving from Aswan had windows that had been shattered by thrown stones. In response, he called for continued public awareness campaigns to combat what he described as a 'dangerous phenomenon.' He urged cooperation with local communities, religious leaders, and education officials to hold seminars highlighting the risks of such acts, which endanger passengers and staff and cause costly damage to railway property. The minister stated that all senior railway officials must be present at stations to supervise operations and ensure schedules are maintained. Interacting with passengers, who reportedly praised the current service levels, El-Wazir reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to a comprehensive five-point plan for developing the railway system. This includes upgrading rolling stock, modernising infrastructure like tracks and stations, improving signalling systems, developing workshops, and training personnel. Later, Al-Wazir conducted a similar surprise inspection at the Al-Shohadaa metro station, a key interchange for the city's first and second lines. He instructed metro officials to be prepared for the immediate deployment of extra trains to any station showing signs of congestion as travellers return. He also ordered all senior metro leaders to be present across the network to monitor passenger traffic and provide the ministry with hourly reports on all three lines. The minister emphasised that these efforts align with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's directives to expand a network of 'sustainable and environmentally friendly green mass transit systems' that offer the highest level of service to the public.
