Kafr El Sheikh

{{Short description|City in Egypt}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Kafr El Sheikh | settlement_type = City | imagesize = 300px | image_flag = Flag of Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate - 01.svg | image_seal = Kafr El-Sheikh logo.gif | image_shield = | image_map = Kafr El-Shiekh, Kafr El-Shiekh.svg | map_caption = Kafr El Sheikh in the Kafr El Sheikh Governorate of Egypt | pushpin_map = Egypt | pushpin_mapsize = 300 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Egypt | subdivision_type1 = Governorate | subdivision_name1 = Kafr El Sheikh | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Egypt}} | subdivision_type2 = National day | subdivision_name2 = 4th of November| | established_title =  | established_date =  | area_total_km2 = 19.3 | population_as_of = 2023 | population_total = ~186,857 (Estimate) | population_density_km2 = | population_density_blank1_sq_mi = 24800 | timezone = EET | utc_offset = +2 | timezone_DST = EEST | utc_offset_DST = +3 | coordinates = {{coord|31|06|42|N|30|56|45|E|region:EG|display=inline}} | elevation_footnotes = <ref name="citypopulation">{{cite web |title=Egypt: Governorates, Major Cities & Towns - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |url=https://citypopulation.de/en/egypt/cities/?cityid=595 |website=citypopulation.de |access-date=16 June 2023}}</ref> | elevation_m = 14 | elevation_ft =  | postal_code_type =  | postal_code = 33511 | area_code = (+20) 47 | website = http://www.kafrelsheikh.gov.eg | official_name = | named_for = A Sufi Saint | image_skyline = {{Multiple image | perrow = 1/2/1 | total_width = 290 | caption_align = center | image1 = Main building of Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate.JPG | caption1 = City Hall | image2 = Ubour Hospital-Kafr El-Sheikh City.JPG | caption2 = Obour Hospital | image3 = Faculty of Arts-Kafr El-Sheikh University 01.JPG | caption3 = Kafr El Sheikh University | image4 = Kafr El-Sheikh-4.JPG | caption4 = Technology Development Center | border = infobox }} | native_name = كفر الشيخ<br/>{{translit|arz|Kafr esh-shekh}} | native_name_lang = ar }}

'''Kafr El Sheikh''' ({{langx|arz|كفر الشيخ}} {{IPA|arz|kɑfɾ eʃˈʃeːx|pron}}) ("village of the Sheikh") is an Egyptian city and the capital of Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, Egypt, about 134 km north of Cairo, in the Nile Delta of lower Egypt. As of 2023, the city had a population of around 186,857.<ref>[http://www.capmas.gov.eg/ ''Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics'', Egypten]. Accessed 11 November 2006.</ref>

Kafr El Sheikh was earlier known as '''Duminqun''' ({{Langx|arz|دمينقون}}), but was officially named '''Fuadiyah''' or '''Fouadiyah''' ({{langx|arz|فؤاديه}}) in honour of King Fuad I of Egypt. After the 1952 Revolution and the subsequent abolition of the monarchy, the governorate took the name of its capital city Kafr El Sheikh. This name, adopted in 1955, means "the village of the chief".<ref>{{cite book |last=Room |first=Adrian |title=Placenames of the World: Origins and Meanings of the Names for 6,600 Countries, Cities, Territories, Natural Features, and Historic Sites |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M1JIPAN-eJ4C&pg=PA185 |access-date=2010-08-07 |edition=2nd |year=2006 |publisher=McFarland |location=Jefferson, NC |isbn=978-0-7864-2248-7 |page=185}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=الأسعد بن مماتي|title=قوانين الدواوين}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Carsten Peust|title=Die Toponyme vorarabischen Ursprungs im modernen Ägypten|year=2010|page=56}}</ref> In 2006 the University of Kafr El Sheikh was established.

== Etymology == The modern name of the city means "village of the sheikh", and refers to sheikh Talhha at-Tilmisānī, who died here in 1234.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Die Toponyme vorarabischen Ursprungs im modernen Ägypten |publisher= |year=2010 |isbn= |location= |page=56}}</ref> The older name of the city, '''Dumaynaqun''' ({{Langx|ar|دُمِيْنقُون}}), is reconstructed from Coptic by Engsheden as {{coptic|ⲑⲙⲟⲩⲓ}} ("''island''") + a personal name. This pattern is widely represented in Egyptian toponymy, so the name is expected to be Egyptian, but he proposes Nikon ({{Langx|grc|Νίκων}}), which is unattested in Coptic sources, unable to find a suitable Egyptian name.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Engsheden |first=Âke |title=Ancient Place-Names in the Governorate of Kafr el-Sheikh |publisher=Peeters |isbn=978-90-429-4175-5 |page=147}}</ref> In fact, a personal name ''Akon'' ({{Langx|cop|ⲁⲕⲱⲛ}}) is contained in place names like ''Pmounakon'' ({{Langx|cop|ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲛⲁⲕⲟⲛ|lit=the well of Akon}}) in the Hermopolite nome and ''Tmounakon'' ({{Langx|cop|ⲧⲙⲟⲩⲛⲁⲕⲱⲛ|lit=the island of Akon}}) near Oxyrhynchus, the latter of which could share its etymology with Dumaynaqun.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TM Places |url=https://www.trismegistos.org/place/9619 |access-date=25 May 2023 |website=trismegistos.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Clackson |first=S.J. |title=Coptic documents relating to the monasteries of Apa Apollo at Bawit and Titkooh in the Hermopolite nome |publisher=University of London |page=68}}</ref>

==Climate== Kafr el-Sheikh is classified by Köppen-Geiger climate classification system as hot desert (BWh). <div style="width:75%;"> {{Weather box |location = Kafr el-Sheikh, Egypt |metric first = yes |single line = yes

|source 1 = ''Climate-Data.org''<ref>{{cite web| url= http://en.climate-data.org/location/727/ | title= Climate: Kafr Al-Sheikh - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table | access-date= 13 August 2013 | publisher= Climate-Data.org }}</ref> }} </div>

==Economy== The economy of Kafr El Sheikh is primarily driven by its strategic position in the Nile Delta, making it Egypt's leader in aquaculture and a vital agricultural hub.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Alkhawaga |first=Abdalmonem |last2=Mohamed |first2=Mohamed |last3=Zeidan |first3=Bakenaz |last4=Elshemy |first4=Mohamed |last5=Elshinnawy |first5=Ahmed |date=2025-04-12 |title=Assessment of land use/land cover changes for Kafr El-Sheikh governorate, Egypt, utilizing remote sensing |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-96601-7 |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=15 |issue=1 |page=12600 |doi=10.1038/s41598-025-96601-7 |issn=2045-2322|pmc=11993567 }}</ref>

Kafr El Sheikh is considered the capital of fishing of Egypt, producing nearly one-third of the nation's fish. It hosts major projects like the Baraket Ghalyoun fish farm, the largest of its kind in the Middle East.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Oyinlola |first=Muhammed A. |last2=Shaheen |first2=Hussam |last3=Habashi |first3=Nada |last4=Attia |first4=Sameh |last5=Teh |first5=Lydia C. L. |last6=Nasr-Allah |first6=Ahmed |last7=Cheung |first7=William W. L. |date=2026-03-30 |title=Projecting the future of aquaculture in Egypt under climate and socio-economic scenarios |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0044848626000608 |journal=Aquaculture |volume=615 |article-number=743677 |doi=10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743677 |issn=0044-8486|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Kafr El Sheikh is the home to various factories, including a rice mill, a poultry forage factory and a sugar beet factory.<ref name="gov">''Kafr Elsheikh Governrate'' {{Cite web |url=http://www.kafrtp.gov.eg/kafrinfo.aspx |title=Kafr Elsheikh Governrate |access-date=2007-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023140821/http://www.kafrtp.gov.eg/kafrinfo.aspx |archive-date=2007-10-23 }} sic</ref>

==Culture== === Museum === The city museum showcases artifacts, mostly from Buto. Notable exhibits include artifacts depicting the conflict between Horus and his uncle Set, as well as a remarkable statue of Horus the Falcon. The museum also highlights the period when the city of Sakha hosted the journey of the Holy Family in Egypt. The city of Fuwwah, known for its Islamic heritage, is also featured. The Kafr El Sheikh Museum was inaugurated by President El-Sisi in 2020.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

===Religious landmarks=== ==== Mosques ====

* Talha al-Tlemceni * Abaza * Al Malek * Ibn Taimia * Al Israa * Ebad al Rahman * Al Falaheen * Al Fath (Stadium mosque) * Al Khayat * Abo al Azaem * Sidi Qutb * Al Rahman (Mosque of el 47 square) * Sheikha Zahra Coptan

==== Churches ====

* Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sakha * Evangelical Church * Church of St.Demiana and forty Virgins * Saint George's Church

==Infrastructure== ===Education===

{{scalable image|Faculty of Science-Kafr El-Sheikh University 02.JPG|1200px|The faculty of science, Kafr El Sheikh University}}

The Governorate of Kafr el Sheikh is the holder of prestigious schools. It also has a university that has the following faculties: *Faculty of Medicine * Faculty of Commerce * Faculty of Engineering * Faculty of Agriculture * Veterinary school * Faculty of Arts

=== Sport === Kafr El Sheikh owns Kafr El Sheikh SC which competes in the Egyptian second division league.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

==Notable people== *Hamdeen Sabahi, Egyptian politician, the leader of the Dignity Party and one of the leaders of the Egyptian opposition before the 2011 Egyptian revolution *Trezeguet, Egyptian footballer *Osama Anwar Okasha, Egyptian screenwriter and journalist *Saad Zaghloul, Egyptian nationalist and politician *Mohamed Atta, ringleader of the September 11 attacks and hijacker-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11.

==See also== {{portal|Egypt}} * List of cities and towns in Egypt

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kafr El-Sheikh}} Category:Governorate capitals in Egypt Category:Populated places in Kafr El Sheikh Governorate Category:Cities in Egypt