Ismailia

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City in Egypt

title: "Ismailia" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["ismailia", "governorate-capitals-in-egypt", "populated-places-in-ismailia-governorate", "metropolitan-areas-of-egypt", "suez-canal", "populated-places-established-in-1863", "cities-in-egypt", "1863-establishments-in-egypt", "transcontinental-cities"] description: "City in Egypt" topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ismailia" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary City in Egypt ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
name	Ismailia
native_name	الإسماعيلية
settlement_type	City
motto
image_skyline	{{Multiple image
perrow	1/3/2/2
total_width	300
caption_align	center
image1	EG-suez-13-bg-ismailia.jpg
caption1	View of the Waterfront
image2	IsmailiaChurchMark.jpg
caption2	Church of St. Mark
image3	IsmailiaOctoberMemorial.jpg
caption3	Battle of Ismailia Memorial
image4	IsmailiaAbuBakrMosque.jpg
caption4	Mosque of Abu Bakr el-Sadiq
image5	EG-Ismailia-Suezkanal.jpg
caption5	View from Suez Canal
image6	EG-suez-12-bg-ismailia.jpg
caption6	City shores
image7	IsmailiaMuseumOutside.jpg
caption7	Ismailia Archaeological museum
image8	IsmailiaHadiqaMallaha.jpg
caption8	Mallaha Park
border	infobox
pushpin_map	Egypt#Africa
pushpin_label_position	bottom
pushpin_mapsize	300
pushpin_map_caption	Location in Egypt
	subdivision_type
subdivision_name	Egypt
subdivision_type1	Governorate
subdivision_name1	Ismailia
leader_title1
established_title
established_date	1863
area_footnotes
area_total_km2	68.8
area_land_km2
population_as_of	2023
population_footnotes
population_total	450,388
population_density_km2	auto
population_density_sq_mi	auto
population_density_metro_km2	auto
population_density_metro_sq_mi	auto
population_blank1_title	Ethnicities
population_density_blank1_km2	auto
population_density_blank1_sq_mi	auto
population_demonym	Ismaili (Male, Arabic: إسماعيلي) Ismailia (Female, Arabic: إسماعيلية)
timezone	EET
utc_offset	+2
timezone_DST	EEST
utc_offset_DST	+3
coordinates
elevation_footnotes
elevation_m	14
elevation_ft
postal_code_type
area_code	(+20) 69 or (+20) 64
::

::callout[type=note]

| name = Ismailia | other_name = | native_name = الإسماعيلية | settlement_type = City | motto = | image_skyline = {{Multiple image | perrow = 1/3/2/2 | total_width = 300 | caption_align = center | image1 = EG-suez-13-bg-ismailia.jpg | caption1 = View of the Waterfront | image2 = IsmailiaChurchMark.jpg | caption2 = Church of St. Mark | image3 = IsmailiaOctoberMemorial.jpg | caption3 = Battle of Ismailia Memorial | image4 = IsmailiaAbuBakrMosque.jpg | caption4 = Mosque of Abu Bakr el-Sadiq | image5 = EG-Ismailia-Suezkanal.jpg | caption5 = View from Suez Canal | image6 = EG-suez-12-bg-ismailia.jpg | caption6 = City shores | image7 = IsmailiaMuseumOutside.jpg | caption7 = Ismailia Archaeological museum | image8 = IsmailiaHadiqaMallaha.jpg | caption8 = Mallaha Park | border = infobox | imagesize = | image_caption = | image_flag = | nickname = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Egypt#Africa | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_mapsize = 300 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Egypt | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Egypt | subdivision_type1 = Governorate | subdivision_name1 = Ismailia | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | established_title = | established_date = 1863 | area_magnitude = | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 68.8 | area_land_km2 = | population_as_of = 2023 | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_total = 450,388 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_density_sq_mi = auto | population_metro = | population_density_metro_km2 = auto | population_density_metro_sq_mi = auto | population_blank1_title = Ethnicities | population_blank1 = | population_density_blank1_km2 = auto | population_density_blank1_sq_mi = auto | population_demonym = Ismaili (Male, Arabic: إسماعيلي) Ismailia (Female, Arabic: إسماعيلية) | timezone = EET | utc_offset = +2 | timezone_DST = EEST | utc_offset_DST = +3 | coordinates = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 14 | elevation_ft = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code = (+20) 69 or (+20) 64 | blank_info = | blank1_name = | blank1_info = | website = | footnotes = Ismailia ( arz, ) is a city in north-eastern Egypt. Situated on the west bank of the Suez Canal, it is the capital of the Ismailia Governorate. The city had an estimated population of 450,388 in 2023. It is located approximately halfway between Port Said to the north and Suez to the south. The Canal widens at that point to include Lake Timsah, one of the Bitter Lakes linked by the Canal.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/COLLECTIE_TROPENMUSEUM_Zoetwaterkanaal_te_Ismailia_met_Hollandse_ophaalbrug._TMnr_60002282.jpg" caption="Ismaïlia, ca. 1870"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Ismailia_Train_Station,_Egypt_1915._Indian_troops_are_lined_up_in_front_of_it.jpg" caption="Indian troops lined up in front of Ismalia Train Station, 1915."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/ISMAILIA_-_Office_of_the_Suez_Canal_Co.png" caption="Postcard of the Suez Canal Company"] ::

Ismailia was founded in 1863, during the construction of the Suez Canal, by Khedive Ismail, after whom the city is named. Following the Battle of Kafr-el-Dawwar in 1882 the British established a base there.

The head office of the Suez Canal Authority is located in Ismailia at the shore of Lake Timsah. It has a large number of buildings dating from British and French involvement with the Canal. Most of these buildings are currently used by Canal employees and officials.

During World War I the British had an air base there and the Battle of Romani took place nearby. Ismailia War Cemetery was designed in 1919 by Sir Robert Lorimer marking the casualties of the battle.

In 1973 the Battle of Ismailia took place in the city.

In October 2023, a massive fire broke out in the security directorate of the city, leaving the building fully burned with 38 injured and 1 dead.

Government and politics

The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in Ismailia by Hassan al-Banna in March 1928. An underground paramilitary wing was established in the 1940s, primarily to contest the British occupation of Egypt. In the early 1950s, Ismailia hosted the British Military HQ and the Civilian Administration Centre of the Canal Zone. An attack on an Egyptian government building and army barracks manned by auxiliary policemen by a British Army force on 25 January 1952 was a key event leading to the overthrow of King Farouk I later that year and the Egyptian Revolution that followed. British forces pulled out of Ismailia in 1954.

Eparchy

On 17 December 1982 an Eparchy (Eastern Catholic Diocese) of Ismayliah was established on territory split off from the Coptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria (Alexandrian Rite in Coptic language), which remains its Metropolitan. Its episcopal see is St. Mark's cathedral.

;Suffragan Eparchs (Bishops of Ismayliah)

Athanasios Abadir (17 December 1982 – 25 December 1992, his death), previously Titular Bishop of Appia and Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria of the Copts (Egypt) (18 May 1976 – 17 December 1982)
Youhannes Ezzat Zakaria Badir (23 November 1992 – 23 June 1994), later Eparch (Bishop) of Luqsor of the Copts (Egypt) (23 June 1994 – 27 December 2015, his death)
Makarios Tewfik (23 June 1994 – 29 June 2019, resigned)
Daniel Lotfy Khella (29 June 2019 – 23 September 2022) (Patriarchal administrator 23 September 2022 – 31 March 2023)
Pola Ayoub Matta Usama Shafik Akhnoukh (31 March 2023 – Present)

Education

Ismailia has several public and private schools. Ismailia is the home of the Suez Canal University, established in 1976 with the help of the Chinese Government to serve the region of Suez Canal and Sinai. Suez Canal University now is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in Egypt with many students studying abroad.

Culture and recreation

Arts and festivals

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Virgin_Mary_Church.jpg" caption="Virgin Mary Church known as "Guardian of the Canal", is one of many examples of French architecture in Ismailia"] ::

Ismailia hosts two important festivals each year. The first is the International Film Festival for Documentaries and Shorts that is held in June. In June 2014, the 17th consecutive festival was organized. The second is the Ismailia International Folklore Arts Festival that is held in September. In this festival folkloric troupes from all around the globe meet in Ismailia, where they perform folkloric dances representing the culture of their countries.

Tourism

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Fernidan_de_Lesseps_house_Ismailia.JPG" caption="[[Ferdinand de Lesseps]]' house and office in Ismailia, near the Suez Canal"] ::

Ismailia does get tourists from within Egypt, but is not a major tourism destination for international tourists. The city is approximately a ninety-minute automobile drive from Cairo. From Ismailia it is approximately a four-hour drive to Sharm el-Sheikh in South Sinai. Driving to the Taba Border Crossing at Taba and the Rafah Border Crossing at Rafah are both approximately four-hour drives. A major attraction is the Ismailia Museum which was built in 1932. Visitors will find a variety of significant archaeological finds especially from sites in the Ismailia governorate such as Tell el-Maskhuta, from North Sinai, and from Upper Egypt.

Sports

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Ismailia_Stadium.jpg" caption="[[Ismailia Stadium"] ::

Ismailia is home to the third most successful club in Egypt (in the field of Football, Ismaily SC. The club's performance is considered a major political issue, and can tend to dictate the city's mood. The team enjoys brief stints of competition for local and international competition, but its financial situation prevents these stints from extending beyond a few years. The team has won the Egyptian League three times (1967, 1991, 2002), the Egyptian Cup twice (1997, 2000), and the African Cup of Champions Clubs once in 1969 as the first Egyptian and Arab Club team to have won this league.

Climate

Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as hot desert (BWh).

The hottest recorded temperature was 47 °C on 14 June 1944 while the coldest recorded temperature was 0.2 °C in January.

|precipitation colour=green |Jan precipitation mm = 7 |Feb precipitation mm = 6 |Mar precipitation mm = 7 |Apr precipitation mm = 2 |May precipitation mm = 2 |Jun precipitation mm = 0 |Jul precipitation mm = 0 |Aug precipitation mm = 0 |Sep precipitation mm = 0 |Oct precipitation mm = 2 |Nov precipitation mm = 6 |Dec precipitation mm = 5 |year precipitation mm = 37 |Jan humidity = 57 |Feb humidity = 54 |Mar humidity = 49 |Apr humidity = 43 |May humidity = 42 |Jun humidity = 46 |Jul humidity = 48 |Aug humidity = 51 |Sep humidity = 54 |Oct humidity = 55 |Nov humidity = 58 |Dec humidity = 60 |year humidity = 51.4 | Jan dew point C = 5.6 | Feb dew point C = 5.9 | Mar dew point C = 6.5 | Apr dew point C = 7.8 | May dew point C = 10.4 | Jun dew point C = 14.0 | Jul dew point C = 16.8 | Aug dew point C = 17.5 | Sep dew point C = 16.9 | Oct dew point C = 14.7 | Nov dew point C = 10.9 | Dec dew point C = 7.7 | year dew point C = 11.2 |unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm |Jan precipitation days = 1.1 |Feb precipitation days = 0.5 |Mar precipitation days = 0.7 |Apr precipitation days = 0.3 |May precipitation days = 0.2 |Jun precipitation days = 0.0 |Jul precipitation days = 0.0 |Aug precipitation days = 0.0 |Sep precipitation days = 0.0 |Oct precipitation days = 0.0 |Nov precipitation days = 0.2 |Dec precipitation days = 0.5 |year precipitation days = 3.5 |source 1 = NOAA{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231004172534/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-I/UB/62440.TXT | archive-date = 4 October 2023 | url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-I/UB/62440.TXT | title = Ismailia (A) Climate Normals 1961–1990 | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | access-date = 4 October 2023}} |date=August 2014}}

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Ismailia_Railway_Station.jpg" caption="Ismailia's railway station"] ::

Notable people

Hassan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, worked as a teacher in Ismailia
Louis Chedid, French singer and songwriter, son of writer Andrée Chedid and father of Matthieu Chedid was born in Ismailia on 1 January 1948
Claude François, French pop singer and songwriter, born in Ismailia on 1 February 1939
Ali Gabr, footballer
Ragaa Al Geddawy (1934–2020), film actress, model and niece of Taheyya Kariokka
Ahmed Hegazy, footballer
Aura Herzog, First Lady of Israel, wife of former Israeli President Chaim Herzog and mother of current Israeli President Isaac Herzog born in Ismailia on 24 December 1924.
Taheyya Kariokka, Egyptian belly dancer and film actress, born in Ismailia on 22 February 1919
Yasmine Khlat, Lebanese actress
Fernand Legros (1931-1983), Art dealer
Osman Ahmed Osman, influential Egyptian engineer, contractor, entrepreneur, and politician, born in Ismailia on 6 April 1917
Mohamed Diab, Egyptian director
Omar Moawad, footballer

References

"Egypt: Governorates, Major Cities & Towns - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information".
Movement, Nasser Youth. (2025-05-19). "The city of Ismailia, also known as".
"Ismailia {{!}} Suez Canal, Nile Delta, Oases {{!}} Britannica". Encyclopedia Britannica.
Dictionary of Scottish Architects: Robert Lorimer
(2023-10-02). "One dead and dozens injured as fire engulfs police complex in Egypt's Ismailia".
(2023-10-03). "Fire engulfs Ismailia Security Directorate, dozens injured – Dailynewsegypt".
"Ismailia Film Festival 21st version (2019)edition to be from 10 April to 16 April 2019".
"Ismailia".
"Ismailia, Egypt". Voodoo Skies.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::