CAIRO: THE PREDICAMENT OF A FRAGMENTED METROPOLIS

Authors

1 Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Urban and Regional Planning, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

2 Faculty of Urban and Regional Planning Cairo University

Abstract

Cairo is a sprawling megacity that has a strikingly fragmented socio-spatial pattern,
manifested in a dichotomy of spatial concentrations of urban poverty in informal areas on
one hand, and high-level income groups in upscale gated Communities on the other. The
paper inspects the diverse facets of this socio-spatial division, in an attempt to outline
general policies that can curtail unconstructive influences of urban fragmentation, by
enhancing positive aspects and diminishing negative impacts of both gated communities and
informal areas. Proposed policy intervention would prohibit further future division, and
foster adjusting measures to amalgamate Cairo on principles of cohesion, integration and
balance of its socio-spatial structure; a goal emphasized by the Egyptian 25 January 2011
revolution which envisions a makeover towards a more equitable society.

Keywords