Al-Rifa'i Mosque Mosque

Address: Al-Rifa’i Mosque, Qasr el-Nil, Cairo Governorate, Cairo, Egypt

Al-Rifa’i Mosque is a large mosque and royal sepulchre in Cairo’s historic district. Construction began in 1869 and the complex was completed in 1912.

The complex includes a formal courtyard, an ornate main hall and dedicated mausoleum spaces containing interments of members of Egypt’s royal family and other notable figures of the 19th and 20th centuries. The interior features extensive stone and marble work, carved decoration and a sequence of domes and minarets.

The mosque was conceived and built as a royal mausoleum and place of worship during the late Ottoman and Khedival period of Egyptian history; its construction spanned several decades and patrons. It has since functioned both as an active mosque and as a site of royal burial.

The mosque stands immediately beside the 14th-century Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan on Saliba Street in historic Cairo, within the dense medieval core of the city.

• Neighbouring landmark: Sits directly adjacent to the Sultan Hassan complex in Cairo’s historic district, so visits are commonly combined with that landmark.
• Construction dates: Construction began in 1869 and the building was completed in 1912, giving the mosque its 19th- to early 20th-century character.

What to See#

• Courtyard: A large rectangular courtyard framed by arcades that separates the entrance from the main prayer hall and mausoleum spaces.
• Mausoleum chamber: The main prayer hall also serves as a royal mausoleum chamber containing several modern royal interments dating from the 19th and 20th centuries.
• Minarets and domes: Two tall minarets and a series of domes that define the mosque’s skyline and are visible from the surrounding historic district.

Located on Al-Azhar Street near the Egyptian Museum in central Cairo. Use taxis or Cairo Metro (to Sadat station) then a short taxi ride or walk along the museum axis. Expect busy traffic-allow extra time.

• Dress modestly and be mindful of prayer times when visiting; photography inside may be restricted.
• Combine a visit with the nearby Khan El-Khalili and the Museum of Islamic Art to see the broader Cairene context.
• Expect heavy traffic in central Cairo-plan travel time accordingly and use a trusted driver if unfamiliar with the city.