Nested in the heart of old Cairo, this historic souq, famous for its animated streets, mamluk landmarks, and scores of tourists and locals, is in the midst of an economic drought after almost three months of shutting down due to COVID-19. The 700-year-old market is home to traditional coffee shops and Oriental restaurants that have written their own history, some cemented there since the late 18th century. Restaurants are going hungry At the front entrance of the bazaar lies El Dahan, a restaurant packed next to many others that have seen Khan El Khalili manifest and change over several decades. Operating since 1971, El Dahan is an integral marker of the souq, offering oriental food and Egyptian cuisine, becoming a famed hotspot for those looking for an authentic experience. Now managers stand in front of their eateries with menus glued to their hands, badgering pedestrians to their emptied tables. “Despite the 2011 revolution and the severe threat of terrorism from 2013 to 2015, this has been ultimately the worst situation for our business,” says Ahmed Sherif, manager of El Dahan, to Egyptian Streets. Small, clustered and made out of reused…
COVID-19 Hits Khan El Khalili: Cairo’s Tourist Limelight Sees Early Closures, Vacant Stores
September 25, 2020
