LEAP III Egypt Tourism Pre-Feasibility Study

This report, which was prepared at the request of USAID/Egypt, details the findings of a pre-feasibility study of three potential heritage projects under consideration by USAID/Egypt. Each proposed potential project involves the adaptive reuse of the following historical assets, all of which are located in Historic Cairo.

1. The Jewel Palace (Palace), a residence built by the sultan Mohamed Ali for his wife in the Cairo Citadel. Currently inaccessible to visitors, it could be restored and opened to Citadel visitors as a museum.
2. Bab al-Azab (Gate), a large gate that allows access between the Citadel and the Darb al-Ahmar neighborhood. The gate and the area it opens to are both currently inaccessible. However, with proper restoration, pedestrians could access or exit the Citadel via the gate, and the area behind it could host shops, food vendors and events.
3. Bab al-Wazir Street (Street), a main route through the Darb al-Ahmar neighborhood, is the site of numerous mosques, monuments, and other antiquities.

All three sites are at different phases of restoration and may require additional work as a prerequisite for adaptive reuse. Once restored, these sites might be operated by private partnerships under a management or incubator contract. As part of the feasibility assessment, this study models the financial performance of the repurposed three sites so as to better understand the conditions under which a public-private partnership would be conducive for the stakeholders involved. Logistical issues associated with the three sites are also briefly treated.