Prime Minister Visits Egyptian Geographical Society, Highlights Its Historical Significance

Dr. Mustafa Madbouly, Egypt’s Prime Minister, commenced a tour in Cairo on Sunday, starting with a visit to the historic building of the Egyptian Geographical Society.

Accompanying him were Engineer Raafat Hindi, Minister of Communications and Information Technology; Dr. Jihan Zaki, Minister of Culture; Dr. Osama Talat, Head of the National Library and Archives Authority; representatives from the Military Survey Department and Al-Azhar, along with officials from several relevant entities.

Upon arriving at the society’s headquarters, Prime Minister Madbouly expressed his delight at visiting this esteemed historical institution. He noted that the society is one of the oldest geographical associations globally, established in 1875, housing a diverse collection of rare and valuable items documenting the history of geography and related sciences.

Madbouly emphasized that the society has witnessed numerous significant events in modern Egyptian history, documenting these through its publications and various collections, thus serving as a testament to an important aspect of Egypt’s history.

The prime minister pointed out that the society has occupied its current premises since 1923 and that the building has been registered as an archaeological site with the Ministry of Antiquities since 1992, reflecting its unique historical and architectural value.

He also highlighted the efforts being made by the Egyptian Geographical Society to document its scientific and cultural heritage, including books, manuscripts, documents, and rare maps. He affirmed his full support for this important national project as it contributes to preserving Egypt’s scientific and historical memory for future generations.

Engineer Raafat Hindi reiterated the ministry’s commitment to utilizing information technology to safeguard the society’s collections. This includes books, scientific journals, theses, and historical maps within a cooperation protocol signed between the ministry and the society.

This protocol aims to inventory and select digitized cultural content at the society for availability on the “Digital Heritage of Egypt” platform. It also includes digitizing non-digitized cultural content agreed upon by both parties for accessibility via this platform—an essential project under the Ministry of Communications aimed at preserving and providing access to Egypt’s cultural heritage.

The “Digital Heritage of Egypt” platform seeks to maintain authentic Egyptian intellectual heritage while enhancing intergenerational connections and highlighting Egypt’s knowledge role in shaping consciousness over the past two centuries. It will make this content available to academic institutions, research organizations, government entities, international bodies, and individuals inside and outside Egypt.

Hindi further noted that Egyptian cultural heritage represents a national treasure and is one of Egypt’s soft power resources. Safeguarding this heritage through digital means is crucial in building a digital Egypt as modern technologies offer vast opportunities for preserving cultural content effectively.

Dr. Jihan Zaki emphasized her ministry’s commitment to protecting human heritage and rare historical collections through collaboration with the Egyptian Geographical Society to showcase its significant collections. She acknowledged that this institution has been instrumental in supporting knowledge and scientific research over decades.

The cooperation will include showcasing rare maps and unique artifacts within the society alongside unique dioramas depicting events such as the inauguration ceremony of the Suez Canal during Khedive Ismail’s era—an event with substantial historical significance.

Zaki underlined that this partnership acknowledges the leading role played by the Egyptian Geographical Society as a beacon of knowledge and enlightenment while emphasizing its importance in documenting this scientific and cultural legacy as part of Egypt’s national memory.

The prime minister began his tour by ascending to the first floor where he inspected the historic royal hall—one of the most prominent rooms in this venerable building—and reviewed several historical libraries containing rare documents that reflect its scientific and cultural value.

Afterward, he moved to ground level where he toured an ethnographic museum housing items related to studies on cultures and peoples. This included visiting Cairo’s customs hall featuring essential heritage displays like a special covering for Kaaba along with artifacts documenting various phases in Egyptian society’s development. He also inspected Cairo’s traditional crafts hall and Africa’s hall which contains items related to Nile source exploration missions.

The tour included visiting Suez Canal Hall narrating stories about its excavation process until its inauguration featuring several historical items associated with this project including models of machinery used during excavation along with panoramic depictions showcasing canal opening ceremonies.

The Prime Minister concluded his visit by checking out cartographic libraries specializing in collecting, classifying preserving displaying historical maps which include notable rare maps documenting geographic knowledge evolution through ages.

After finishing his inspection tour at headquarters Dr. Ismail Youssef Secretary-General presented a detailed overview regarding society’s history collections indicating ground level houses specialized halls documenting diverse aspects geographic cultural heritage including ethnographic museums featuring sections dedicated customs traditions along with sections displaying Khedive artifacts map halls catalogs Diorama Suez Canal Halls collections linked Africa sources Nile crafts popular culture storage periodicals books alongside restoration preservation rooms.

The Secretary-General added that upper floors contain royal celebration halls public library reading training workshop administrative offices.”.

The society preserves unique scientific historical treasures led by libraries encompassing approximately 40 thousand volumes geography history science references alongside rare collections Arabic Islamic manuscripts documents dating back various eras including nearly 13 thousand historical contemporary maps plus over 600 rare geographical atlases documenting geographic knowledge evolution across centuries.”.

He pointed out that their possessions also include distinguished photographic collections documenting exploration missions scientific trips organized or participated by them alongside original documents related geographic discoveries relationships countries communities along with various astronomical geographical instruments utilized measurement surveying location determination models three-dimensional maps contributing studying earth shape details geography.”.

The presentation given Secretary-General included mentions original memoirs reports prominent explorers travelers such Samuel Baker Richard Burton others exploratory missions contributing exploring vast areas Africa worldwide.”.

Additionally it holds rare geographical Islamic manuscripts recording contributions several eminent Muslim scholars geography such Al-Idrisi Al-Maqdisi alongside historical maps reflecting advances achieved during golden age Islamic civilization.”.

Furthermore they maintain diverse collection heritage archaeological assets one largest African map collections document different historical phases alongside Diorama Suez Canal being among oldest rarest interactive display types.”.

He indicated association continues publishing its scientific journal since established back 1875 alongside issuing reports explorations scientific missions reflecting ongoing role serving research dissemination geographic knowledge.”.

The Secretary-General affirmed these possessions represent crucial scientific historical records reflecting development sciences geography ages serve vital sources knowledge researchers historians interested geography history contribute enhancing significance Egyptian Geographical Society one foremost specialized scientific institutions regional international levels.”.

Dr. Mohamed Zaki El-Sadimi Chairman reviewed some significant achievements made both scientifically institutionally noting association became founding member International Geographical Union since 1923 hosted first international geographical conference held outside western countries back 1925 under auspices King Fouad I maintained active presence within international geographical organizations unions since then.”.

He mentioned how recently they have enhanced their research academic roles organizing numerous specialized conferences events including rural sustainability workshop collaborating International Geographical Union Menoufia University back 2022 alongside international specialized conference held under auspices President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi April 2025 attended around 600 researchers academicians honorary professors including participants representing 36 nationalities from different countries worldwide featuring holding sessions presenting approximately 300 papers organizing multiple specialized field trips.”.

The chairman added that association succeeded expanding institutional partnerships network signing cooperation protocols agreements ministries national entities including ministries communications information technology culture antiquities endowments labor cooperating “Decent Life” initiative besides partnerships several academic cultural institutions both domestically internationally.”.

He also pointed out how they organized many cultural events exhibitions lectures collaborating embassies international institutions foreign universities signing memorandums understanding agreements cooperation several geographical societies Arab international prestigious universities contributing enhancing regional international presence exchanging experiences scholarly knowledge.”.

Dr.Mohamed Zaki El-Sadimi stressed association places significant emphasis on building human capacities disseminating contemporary geographic knowledge conducting specialized training courses geospatial techniques geographic information systems remote sensing organizing conferences symposia groups specializing geomorphology geographic technologies demographic studies climate changes.”.

Additionally they carried out many field studies expeditions organized competitions researchers graduate students achieved noticeable progress digitizing their scientific heritage digitalizing editions association journal published since year exceeding seventy thousand pages along restoring digitizing nearly eight thousand rare maps.”.

The chairman confirmed recent years have witnessed remarkable expansion activities both scientifically culturally increase membership numbers donations scholarly books thesis submissions continued receiving academic research delegations from local Arab foreign universities maintaining organizing cultural seminars community media activities contributing spreading awareness geography strengthening status association among oldest scientific cultural institutions Egypt region.”.