Ismailia Governorate


Ismailia Governorate 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. It is located between the other two Canal governorates; Port Said Governorate, in the Northern part of Egypt and Suez Governorate.

Municipal divisions

The governorate is divided into municipal divisions, with a total estimated population as of July 2017 of 1,309,474. In the case of Ismailia governorate, there are 4 kism, 5 markaz and 1 new city.
The divisions are generally seven: Ismailia which is the capital, Tell El Kebir, Abu Suwir, Qassasin, Fayid, Qantara West and Qantara East.
Anglicized nameNative nameArabic transliterationPopulation
Type
Abu Suwirمركز ابو صويرAbū Ṣuwīr206,863Markaz
Ismailiaمركز الاسماعيليةAl-Ismā'īliyah160,462Markaz
Ismailia 1قسم أول الاسماعيليةAl-Ismā'īliyah 143,226Kism
Ismailia 2قسم ثان الاسماعيليةAl-Ismā'īliyah 2229,209Kism
Ismailia 3قسم ثالث الاسماعيليةAl-Ismā'īliyah 3113,937Kism
El Qantaraمركز القنطرةAl-Qanṭarah149,171Markaz
El Qantara El Sharqiyaقسم القنطرة شرقAl-Qanṭarah Sharq56,536Kism
New Kasaseenمركز القصاصين الجديدهAl-Qaṣāṣīn al-Jadīdah100,000New City
Tell El Kebirمركز التل الكبيرAt-Tall al-Kabīr93,000Markaz
Fayidمركز فايدFa'id136,438Markaz

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 1,178,641 people residing in the governorate, 643,778 people lived in rural areas as opposed to only 534,863 in urban areas.

Cities and towns

As of 2017, seven cities in Ismailia had a population of over 15,000 inhabitants.
Anglicized nameNative nameArabic transliterationNov. 1996 CensusNov. 2006 CensusPopulation
Abu Suwir El Mahataأبو صوير المحطة Abū Ṣuwayr al-Maḥaṭṭah 18,331 24,265 29,476
Ismaliaالإسماعيلية Al-Ismā'īliyah 255,134 293,184 386,372
El Qantaraالقنطره Al-Qantarah 15,054 29,505 42,818
El Qantara El Sharqiyaالقنطرة شرق Al-Qanṭarah Sharq 12,116 20,685 28,613
New Kasaseenالقصاصين الجديدة Al-Qaṣāṣīn al-Jadīdah 11,948 15,611 22,000
Tell El Kebirالتل الكبير At-Tall al-Kabīr 31,410 26,891 37,000
Fayidفايد Fa'id 15,652 21,808 31,545

Industrial zones

According to the Egyptian Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones, in affiliation with the Ministry of Investment, the following industrial zones are located in this governorate:
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.

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. The Ismailia Canal was built to provide fresh water to workers during the building of the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal Authority headquarters is located in Ismailia.

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 and the area was able to begin rebuilding after a cease-fire was negotiated between Egypt and Israel in 1973.

Fishing landing sites

There are several official fishing landing sites in Ismailia. One is at Lake Timsah and the other at Bitter Lake.

UN sustainable programme

After a successful SIP from 1992-1997, the United Nations expanded the project to include the entire Governorate of Ismailia calling it SGIP. Its goal is to work with local partners to improve the communities in Ismailia.