Thousands of Visitors Flock to Cairo’s Historic ‘Al-Muizz Street’ in Ramadan

A bazaar on Al-Mu'izz al-Din Illah Street, one of the most
important historical streets in the Islamic quarter of Cairo. — Photo
by AFP
A bazaar on Al-Mu'izz al-Din Illah Street, one of the most important historical streets in the Islamic quarter of Cairo. — Photo by AFP
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Thousands of Visitors Flock to Cairo’s Historic ‘Al-Muizz Street’ in Ramadan

A bazaar on Al-Mu'izz al-Din Illah Street, one of the most
important historical streets in the Islamic quarter of Cairo. — Photo
by AFP
A bazaar on Al-Mu'izz al-Din Illah Street, one of the most important historical streets in the Islamic quarter of Cairo. — Photo by AFP

The ‘Al-Muizz li-Din Allah al-Fatimi Street’ in the heart of Cairo was like many other streets with closed and neglected antiquities. However, in the past few years, the street has become a favorite destination for the fans of Islamic antiquities, especially during Ramadan, after the restoration and development works that turned it into an open Islamic museum.

During a tour in the historic street this Ramadan, Asharq Al-Awsat observed thousands of visitors flocking every night to enjoy its warm ambiances and take pictures of its huge historic buildings with the help of photographers who offer their services for little money.

In the absence of professional musicians and groups, the ‘Al-Muizz li-Din Allah al-Fatimi Street’ has been hosting amateurs who try to create joyful ambiances.

‘Al-Muizz’ street includes 38 rare sites that highlight the aesthetics of the Islamic architecture over nine centuries, from the Fatimid Caliphate to the end of the Ottoman Empire.

Dr. Raafat al-Nabrawi, professor of Islamic antiquities, said ‘Al-Muizz’ street is the richest Islamic antiquities street in the world, “featuring two rare historic complexes: The Sultan Qansuh Al-Ghuri and the Sultan Qalawun, in addition to historic mosques that are still being used for prayers.”

Nabrawi attributes the crowds in the historic street to the awareness that has grown over the past few years for the importance of heritage among Egyptians, especially the younger ones. He has also called the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to rapidly restore the antiquities that need an urgent intervention, prevent all kinds of violations, and ban the auto rickshaws that distort the visual and historic identity of the area.

In 2021, the ministry concluded a project that installed and upgraded the lightning systems in the historic street, equipping the facades and squares of historic buildings with high-end lamps.

‘Al-Muizz’ street is known with its unique archaeological buildings, some of which have turned into centers for artistic and cultural creativity, including the “House of Suhaymi”, the Sultan Qalawun complex featuring a mosque, a school and a dome inspired by the Mamluki architecture, and “Bab al-Futuh”, one of several famous gates in historic Cairo, as well as many ancient mosques including Al-Hakim Mosque, Al Muayyed Mosque, and the Aqmar Mosque.

While the northern part of the street (Al-Azhar Street: Bab al-Futuh) lures the largest number of visitors with its cafes, bazaars, and shops, the southern part, which stretches from Al-Azhar Street to “Bab Zuweila”, seems less popular. Despite featuring many antiquities, such as the Al- Muayyad Mosque and the lane of Muhammad Ali, its shops mostly sell clothes, fabrics and mattresses, and it is always crowded with people and rickshaws. Some of its ancient buildings also need restoration and external lighting, like those deployed in the northern part.

It’s worth noting that “Bab Zuweila” saw major historic events such as the hanging of the heads of messengers sent by Hulagu, leader of the Tatars, and the execution of the last Mamluk sultan, Tuman Bay. “Bab al-Futuh” was built by Jawhar al-Siqilli in 1087, and renewed by Prince Badr al-Jamali.



Livestream of Moose Migrating to Their Summer Pastures Fascinates Millions Across the Globe 

This undated photo, issued by SVT, shows Moose in Junsele, Sweden during preparations for the livestream "The Great Moose Migration" to document the annual Moose migration near Kullberg in northern Sweden. (SVT via AP)
This undated photo, issued by SVT, shows Moose in Junsele, Sweden during preparations for the livestream "The Great Moose Migration" to document the annual Moose migration near Kullberg in northern Sweden. (SVT via AP)
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Livestream of Moose Migrating to Their Summer Pastures Fascinates Millions Across the Globe 

This undated photo, issued by SVT, shows Moose in Junsele, Sweden during preparations for the livestream "The Great Moose Migration" to document the annual Moose migration near Kullberg in northern Sweden. (SVT via AP)
This undated photo, issued by SVT, shows Moose in Junsele, Sweden during preparations for the livestream "The Great Moose Migration" to document the annual Moose migration near Kullberg in northern Sweden. (SVT via AP)

Before Swedish slow TV hit “The Great Moose Migration” began airing Tuesday, Ulla Malmgren stocked up on coffee and prepared meals so she doesn't miss a moment of the 20-day, 24-hour event.

“Sleep? Forget it. I don’t sleep,” she said.

Malmgren, 62, isn't alone. The show, called “Den stora älgvandringen” in Swedish, and sometimes translated as “The Great Elk Trek” in English, began in 2019 with nearly a million people watching. In 2024, the production hit 9 million viewers on SVT Play, the streaming platform for national broadcaster SVT.

The livestream kicked off a week ahead of schedule due to warm weather and early moose movement. Malmgren was ready.

From now until May 4, the livestream's remote cameras will capture dozens of moose as they swim across the Ångerman River, some 300 kilometers (187 miles) northwest of Stockholm, in the annual spring migration toward summer grazing pastures.

Not much happens for hours at a time, and fans say that's the beauty of it.

“I feel relaxed, but at the same time I’m like, ‘Oh, there’s a moose. Oh, what if there’s a moose? I can’t go to the toilet!’” said William Garp Liljefors, 20, who has collected more than 150 moose plush toys since 2020.

Slow TV success “The Great Moose Migration” is part of a trend that began in 2009 with Norwegian public broadcaster NRK's minute-by-minute airing of a seven-hour train trip across the southern part of the country.

The slow TV style of programming has spread, with productions in the United Kingdom, China and elsewhere. The central Dutch city of Utrecht, for example, installed a “fish doorbell” on a river lock that lets livestream viewers alert authorities to fish being held up as they migrate to spawning grounds.

Annette Hill, a professor of media and communications at Jönköping University in Sweden, said slow TV has roots in reality television but lacks the staging and therefore feels more authentic for viewers. The productions allow the audience to relax and watch the journey unfold.

“It became, in a strange way, gripping because nothing catastrophic is happening, nothing spectacular is happening,” she said. “But something very beautiful is happening in that minute-by-minute moment.”

As an expert and a fan of “The Great Moose Migration,” Hill said the livestream helps her slow down her day by following the natural rhythms of spring.

“This is definitely a moment to have a calm, atmospheric setting in my own home, and I really appreciate it,” she said.

The calming effect extends to the crew, according to Johan Erhag, SVT's project manager for “The Great Moose Migration.”

“Everyone who works with it goes down in their normal stress,” he said.

The moose have walked the route for thousands of years, making it easy for the crew to know where to lay some 20,000 meters (almost 12 miles) of cable and position 26 remote cameras and seven night cameras. A drone is also used.

The crew of up to 15 people works out of SVT’s control room in Umeå, producing the show at a distance to avoid interfering with the migration.

SVT won't say how much the production costs, but Erhag said it's cheap when accounting for the 506 hours of footage aired last year.

Erhag said Swedes have always been fascinated by the roughly 300,000 moose roaming in their woods. The Scandinavian country's largest animal is known as “King of the Forest.” A bull moose can reach 210 centimeters (6 feet 10 inches) at shoulder height and weigh 450 kilograms (992 pounds).

Despite their size, the herbivores are typically shy and solitary.

“We actually don’t see it very often. You often see it when you’re out driving maybe once or twice in your life,” Erhag said. “I think that’s one thing why it has been so, so popular. And then you bring in the nature to everyone’s living room.”

Hanna Sandberg, 36, first began watching the show in 2019, though she didn't spot any moose. She tuned in the following year, finally saw some and got hooked.

“You can watch them and be a part of their natural habitat in a way that you could never be otherwise,” she said.

After hours of showing an empty forest, a camera captures footage of a moose approaching the riverbank. Suddenly, slow TV turns urgent.

The push alert hits SVT's app — “Första älgarna i bild!” which translates to “First moose on camera!” — as viewers worldwide tune in. The livestream's chat explodes as commenters type encouragement for the animal, now making its way into the water.

“I would actually like to be a little fly on the wall in every household that watches the moose migration. Because I think there are about a million people saying about the same thing: ‘Go on! Yes, you can do it!’” Malmgren said.

Mega-fans like Malmgren, who is in a Facebook group of 76,000-plus viewers, are committed to watching as many hours as possible.

“I was late to school because I saw moose and my teacher was like, ‘What, you saw moose in the city?’ And I was like, ‘No, it’s on the TV,’” Garp Liljefors said.

Malmgren said friends and family have learned not to bother her when the moose are on the move.

“When someone asks me, ‘What are you doing? Oh, never mind, it’s the great migration,’” she said. “They know.”