The Iconic Dome of Sakakini Palace Has Been Illuminated

The famous dome of Habib Pasha El Sakakini Palace in Cairo’s Al-Daher district has been illuminated on a trial basis, offering a glimpse of the historic landmark as restoration works continue on the building.

Completed in 1897 for contractor Gabriel Habib Sakakini, the palace sits at the meeting point of eight roads on the site of a former lake. Its five-storey design combines European, Ottoman and Islamic influences, with elaborate Rococo ornamentation across its façade.

The palace contains 50 rooms, around 400 windows and doors, and approximately 300 statues.

Following Sakakini’s death in 1923, his heirs transferred the palace to the Egyptian government. It later became the headquarters of the Socialist Union and housed the Health Education Museum until 1983. The building was registered as a monument in 1986 and designated an Islamic and Coptic antiquity the following year.

Restoration work has been underway alongside plans to reuse the palace as a cultural centre. The project is expected to be completed in the coming period, bringing the landmark one step closer to a new chapter in Cairo’s historic landscape.