Cairo, Egypt

Fact 1 - Cairo is often nicknamed 'The City of a Thousand Minarets,' but it actually houses well over 20,000 active mosques, with new ones constantly being built, far exceeding its romantic moniker.

Fact 2 - The Khan el-Khalili, Cairo's famous souk, has been a bustling commercial hub since its establishment in 1382 by the Mamluk emir Djaharkas al-Khalili, making it one of the oldest continuously operating markets in the world.

Fact 3 - The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), located near the Giza Pyramids, is set to be the largest archaeological museum globally dedicated to a single civilization, showcasing over 100,000 artifacts, including the complete Tutankhamun collection.

Fact 4 - Cairo's greater metropolitan area is home to over 22 million people, making it the largest city in Africa and the Middle East, experiencing an incredibly dense population of approximately 10,000 people per square kilometer in central districts.

Fact 5 - During 'El-Mawlid el-Nabawi,' the celebration of Prophet Muhammad's birth, Cairo comes alive with unique sugar-paste figurines called 'Arousat El Mawlid' (Mawlid Brides) and 'Hossan El Mawlid' (Mawlid Horses), a traditional confectionery art form.

Fact 6 - While technically in Giza, the Pyramids of Giza are universally associated with Cairo and remain the only one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World still standing, showcasing an unparalleled architectural feat over 4,500 years old.

Fact 7 - Cairo is widely regarded as the cultural capital of the Arab world and the 'Hollywood of the Middle East,' consistently serving as the primary hub for Arabic cinema, music, and television production, influencing pop culture across the region.

Fact 8 - Cairo has a unique and noticeable 'cat culture'; street cats are often seen lounging casually in shops, cafes, and historical sites, reflecting a long-standing reverence for felines that dates back to ancient Egyptian civilization.