Which historic Cairo gateway, built by the Fatimids, is known for its twin minarets?

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Bab Zuweila is the historic Cairo gateway built by the Fatimids and known for its twin minarets. It was completed in 1092 under the vizier Badr al-Jamali as part of Cairo’s fortified southern entrance.

The gate takes its name from the Zuweila tribe, whose members were associated with the area. Its two towers rise above the entrance and were later adapted as minarets for the nearby Mosque of Sultan al-Mu’ayyad Shaykh. Visitors can climb the towers for views across historic Cairo.

Bab Zuweila is one of the last surviving gates of Fatimid Cairo. It is sometimes mixed up with Bab al-Futuh and Bab al-Nasr, the other major Fatimid gates in the northern section of the old city walls. Bab Zuweila is distinguished especially by its paired towers and southern location.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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