Cairo is the capital and largest city of Egypt, serving as the seat of government for the Cairo Governorate. It is a major urban center with a population exceeding 9.8 million people. The Greater Cairo metropolitan area ranks among the largest in the world by population, housing over 22 million residents.
The city is part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world, and the Middle East. It has deep historical roots, with areas inhabited since pre-dynastic and early-dynastic ancient Egypt approximately 6,000 years ago. Notable landmarks within the city limits include the Giza pyramid complex and the ancient cities of Memphis and Heliopolis.