El-Gesr Street in Shubra, Cairo. This street, like many others throughout Shubra's neighborhoods, is almost entirely covered with Trees.

Shubra (Arabic: شبرا‎; Coptic: ϭⲱⲡⲣⲟ Schobro; also written Shoubra or Shobra) is one of the largest districts of Cairo, Egypt and it is administratively divided into three areas: Shubra, Road El Farag, and Elsahel.

[edit] Etymology

Ironically, although Shubra has been immensely large for the last few decades, the name originally derives from the Coptic word "Schobro", which means a small village or field, as the area is well known for its rich fields that neighbour the Nile River. In Egypt, there are many neighborhoods, towns and villages that bear the name of Shubra, for example, the administrative region of Shubra that is within the large district of Shubra, both of which are not to be confused with one of Cairo's industrial suburbs, Shubra el Kheima. Of the less well-known areas—villages specifically—there are also several places that bear the name of Shubra, such as the Shubra Bekhoum village that is about 75 minutes away from Cairo.^[1] However, these areas are quite distinguishable as the word "Shubra" has come to include only a general meaning and does not fully describe all of these regions in a literal sense.

[edit] Early history

During the rule of Muhammad Ali of Egypt, Shubra was developed into a residential area after he built himself a Palace in the area and extended Shubra street in 1808.^[2]

[edit] Modern Shubra

The present-day area is now heavily populated, with an estimated 3 million people living in it, with a large Coptic population. Shubra has the highest concentration of Copts in Cairo.^[3] There are several churches throughout the district's neighborhoods, such as the decades-old Church of St. Mary in Massarra and St. George, El-Geushi. Shubra is currently served by the Cairo Metro.

[edit] Administrative regions

Due to the large population of the area of Shubra it is divided into three administrative regions:

1. Shubra (administrative region)
2. Elsahel
3. Road El Farag or Rhodhe روض : literally means garden which is in the arabic translation of Rhodhe el farag

[edit] Famous residents

• In the 1940s and 1950s, Nazir Gayyed (before becoming Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria in 1971) was notable in serving the Coptic Orthodox communities in the district of Shubra, particularly Saint Antonious Church in Shubra.^[4]
• The famous French-Italian singer Dalida was born in Shubra in 1933.^[5]
• Ash Nasralah born in Shobra in 1971, emigrated to Australia in 1972. Direct descendent of the Ptolemaic Dynasty. Still referred to as "His Royal Highness" by the Egyptian Government, even after his attempted coup in 1999, which failed due to the Muslim brotherhood being opposed to his Christian beliefs.

[edit] References

Coordinates: 30°04′21″N 31°14′27″E / 30.0725°N 31.24083°E / 30.0725; 31.24083

[edit] External links

• Faculty of Engineering at Shoubra Community Website
• Official site of St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church at Massarra