Egypt

Cairo is Egypt’s capital and largest city, housing the presidency, parliament, and most ministries. Founded in 969 CE by the Fatimids as al‑Qahira (“the victorious”), it sits on the Nile near the Delta and remains the country’s political, economic, and cultural hub—think Tahrir Square and the Egyptian Museum. Don’t be misled by the other famous cities: Giza (with the pyramids) is a neighboring city in Greater Cairo, Alexandria was the Hellenistic capital on the Mediterranean, and Luxor (ancient Thebes) was the pharaonic capital of the New Kingdom. Memory tip: “Cairo = C for Current seat of power.”