Ismailia Governorate

Ismailia (Template:Langx) is one of the Canal Zone governorates of Egypt. Located in the northeastern part of the country, its capital is the city of Ismailia. It was named after Ismail Pasha, who as Ottoman Viceroy of Egypt, oversaw the country during the building of the Suez Canal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is located between the other two Canal governorates; Port Said Governorate, in the Northern part of Egypt and Suez Governorate.<ref name="Al-Ismailiyyah" />

File:Fayed War Cemetery Pows.jpg

Fayed War Cemetery

File:قوارب في البحيرات المرة (من فايد).jpg

Boats in Great Bitter Lake (Fayed)

Municipal divisions

The governorate is divided into municipal divisions, with a total estimated population as of January 2023 of 1,479,511.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the case of Ismailia governorate, there are 4 kism, 5 markaz and 1 new city.<ref name="CAPMAS2023" />

The divisions are generally seven: Ismailia which is the capital, Tell El Kebir, Abu Suwir, Qassasin, Fayid, Qantara West and Qantara East.<ref name="Egypt Governorate Site">Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref><ref name="Egypt Gov Map of Ismailia">Template:Cite web</ref>

Municipal Divisions

Anglicized name	Native name	Arabic transliteration	Population (July 2017 Est.)	Type
Abu Suwir	Template:Lang	Template:Transliteration	221,994	Markaz
Ismailia	Template:Lang	Template:Transliteration	170,065	Markaz
Ismailia 1	Template:Lang	Template:Transliteration	49,859	Kism (fully urban)
Ismailia 2	Template:Lang	Template:Transliteration	264,376	Kism (fully urban)
Ismailia 3	Template:Lang	Template:Transliteration	131,422	Kism (fully urban)
El Qantara West	Template:Lang	Template:Transliteration	162,101	Markaz
El Qantara El Sharqiya	Template:Lang	Template:Transliteration	62,600	Markaz
New Kasaseen	Template:Lang	Template:Transliteration	120,788	New City
Tell El Kebir	Template:Lang	Template:Transliteration	111,635	Markaz
Fayid	Template:Lang	Template:Transliteration	147,562	Markaz

Population

According to population estimates, in 2015 the majority of residents in the governorate lived in rural areas, with an urbanization rate of only 45.4%. Out of an estimated 1,479,511 people residing in the governorate, 807,813 people lived in rural areas as opposed to only 671,678 in urban areas.<ref name="pop">Template:Cite web</ref>

Cities and towns

As of 2017, seven cities (or towns) in Ismailia had a population of over 15,000 inhabitants.<ref name="Egypt cities">Template:Cite web</ref>

Cities and towns with over 15,000 inhabitants

Anglicized name	Native name	Arabic transliteration	Nov. 1996 Census	Nov. 2006 Census	Population (July 2017 Est.)
Abu Suwir El Mahata	Template:Lang	Template:Transliteration	18,331	24,265	29,476
Ismalia	Template:Lang	Template:Transliteration	255,134	293,184	386,372
New Kasaseen	Template:Lang	Template:Transliteration	11,948	15,611	22,000
Tell El Kebir	Template:Lang	Template:Transliteration	31,410	26,891	37,000
Fayid	Template:Lang	Template:Transliteration	15,652	21,808	31,545

Industrial zones

According to the Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), the following industrial zones are located in Isamilia:<ref name="IndustrialZones">Template:Cite web</ref>

Zone name
Abo Khalifa Industrial Zone
East Qantra Industrial Zone
First and Second Industrial Zone
Technology Valley Industrial Zone

Annual film festival

Hashim El Nahas founded the Ismailia International Film Festival for Documentaries and Shorts and originally considered establishing it in Luxor. Instead this festival has been celebrating its annual events in Ismailia Governorate. It is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Ismailia Governorate, The National Cinema Center and other sponsors.<ref name="FilmFestival">Template:Cite web</ref>

Ismailia Canal

The Ismailia Governorate is on the banks of the Suez Canal and its Ismailia Canal extends from the Nile River near Cairo to the Suez Canal at the city of Ismailia, on Lake Timsah.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Ismailia Canal was built to provide fresh water to workers during the building of the Suez Canal.<ref name="Al-Ismailiyyah">Template:Cite web</ref> The Suez Canal Authority headquarters is located in Ismailia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Conflicts and wars

From 1967 to 1970, Ismailia became a war zone and was damaged in the conflict with Israel. Many battles were fought, in and around Ismailia, including at the end of the conflict in the Battle of Ismailia<ref name="Yom Kippur">Template:Cite book</ref> and the area was able to begin rebuilding after a cease-fire was negotiated between Egypt and Israel in 1973.<ref name="Conflicts">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Fishing landing sites

There are several official fishing landing sites in Ismailia. One is at Lake Timsah and the other at Bitter Lake.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

UN sustainable programme

After a successful SIP (Sustainable Ismailia Programme) from 1992 to 1997, the United Nations expanded the project to include the entire Governorate of Ismailia calling it SGIP (Sustainable Ismailia Governorate Programme). Its goal is to work with local partners to improve the communities in Ismailia.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Further reading

• "Ismailia – Egypt's Garden City", Community Times Magazine
• Water Polo Legends: 1930's in Ismailia, Egypt

External links

• Official Ismailia Governorate
• Ismailia Governorate - Tourism
• Tour Egypt, Ismailia Governorate Sites
• Supreme Council of Antiquities, Ismailia Museum
• El Watan News of Ismailia Governorate