Port Said and Port Fuad

Port Said is one of the lesser known cities of Egypt, where most foreigners who would know of the city are likely seamen or working in the merchant fleets of the world, as they have to pass by it when they transit through the Suez Canal. But Port Said is an important city in Egypt, and for many reasons.

Photo credit above: Suez Canal Authority Building

Uploaded to Adobe by Khaled El-Adawi AdobeStock photo ID: 480672658

Port Said in its current form is relatively new, only being named as such in the 1800s. However, there was always some presence in the region the city inhabits, in ancient times it was a fishing village, and near it was an ancient Pharaonic city that is now submerged under the waters of the Mediterranean by the name of Bramon–-the City of the Egyptian God Amon. Then came the Greek settlers, and after the Arab conquest of Egypt, the village was expanded and had yet another name change, this time called Ferma. Although the foundations were still being laid, built almost 30 kilometers from the Port Said of today, the city existed until it was demolished by the Crusaders in their invasions of Egypt. It was rebuilt in the 1200s under another name by the name of Tennis, which prospered greatly and became a center of trade, however, it was a common raiding target by the Byzantines and the Crusaders, and so it was abandoned. For centuries, no settlement existed in the area until modern times with the construction of the Suez Canal in the 1800s.

And here, the keen-eyed history lovers would notice that the combination of Port and Said were no coincidence. The new city was built to function was a Port – and it was constructed under the rule of Khedive Said. And so, with the architect of the Suez Canal, Ferdinand de Lesseps giving the first symbolic construction of the Canal a swing of his pickaxe, the city was founded.

Quickly it came to be inhabited by workers, Europeans, and other travelers seeking reprieve. It became home to a permanent population, and flourished--Port Said rose in the late 19th and early 20th century as an extremely lucrative and active port. Trade routes to Europe, East Africa, India and the Far East were opened, commerce prospered.

The city was also expanded further, the Asian bank was empty, but in 1920 the Suez Canal Authority – still an independent company but under the influence of the British and the French – constructed a new city, incorporating it into Port Said, along the French model of residential buildings by the name of Port Fuad. This sister city by now was already a hub to one of the few true cultural melting pots of the world, with large communities of Europeans, Asians, and Arabs, residing in Port Fuad city limits.

Port Fuad Suez Canal waterfront

Uploaded to Adobe by Igor Groshev AdobeStock photo ID: 200111240

During World War II following the decisive defeat of the Axis forces under General Erwin Rommel in North Africa, Port Said was an Egyptian lifeline to Europe. However, postwar history proved somewhat brutal to Port Said, it suffered a direct land invasion by British forces in 1956 – but under diplomatic pressure from the Eisenhower Administration of the U.S. as well as the Soviets they withdrew. And so the national holiday of the city and the province was declared to be 23rd December.

Port Said residents were evacuated in the aftermath of the 1967 war with Israel, and it was a battlefront during the 1973 war (Yom Kippur War). However, after the war the city was re-inhabited – the active foreign communities residing in Port Said were also either expelled or left by their own volition. Since then, the affairs of the city has been peaceful – its population exceed half a million residents, and trade, fishing, and industrial activities in the Industrial Zone are ways of life for the inhabitants.

Location of Port Said at the entrance to the Suez Canal

Adobe upload/Map Credit: Dimitrios Adobe ID: 562541370

Port Said is divided into 7 districts, of which, we will give a general overview.

1- Al-Sharq/Eastern District

Built in 1880, it is the oldest district in Port Said, it was the first area inhabited by foreigners and thus became known as the European/Franc district, it is located near the street that was formerly known as Muhammed Ali Street, now known as Martyrs street. Due to its Western heritage it retains a unique and upscale architecture design, it has an overlook over the Mediterranean Sea, it also contains the Port Said railway station, and the ferry station that connects Port Said to Port Fuad. It also contains some certain landmarks, such as the Church of the Virgin Mary and Al-Salam Mosque.

2- Al-Munakh/Climate District

Considered one of the new districts, while it was not formally built, it existed as a bunch of irregular streets and neighborhoods, until it was named in 1952. This area connects between the old and new parts of Port Said, and has some well known streets including 23rd December Street and Nasr Street. This district has a reputation of being the district of the fishermen, there are no unique landmarks in the area – only several faculties of higher education, gardens, a stadium, and some hospitals, although there is a waterpark popular with Egyptian tourists.

3-Al-Dawahey/Suburban district

A Residential district first and foremost, it is generally calm, peaceful, and was constructed in order to facilitate more living area for the residents of the city, thus, its name.

4- Al-Arab District

This district is more known for having a lot of marketplaces in the city and is one of the popular areas, it is home to the Maritime Museum of Port Said, a few gardens, mosques and churches. It does contain one peculiar school – here, the Egyptian-Japanese school is built and headquartered, there are also malls and fish markets.

5-Al-Zohour District/Flowers District

One of the modern districts, it was established at the year 2000. It is one of the most densely populated districts in Port Said, but it does contain a lot of infrastructure and services, and so it is one of the main residential districts of the city, the Grand Sky resort is located within its premises, alongside the Medical Faculty of Port Said university, there are also a few markets, schools, and some churches.

6-Al-Ganoub/Southern District

Yet another modern district, established in 2000, the neighborhood is located at kilometer 19 on the Port Said-Ismailia road and extends from the Al-Raswa outlet to Al-Qantara. It is also located near the Manzala and Ismailia lakes, and overlooks the Suez Canal. There are fewer landmarks here, its notable ones are Mubarak, Al-Fanar, and Al-Saaea Squares, alongside the Industrial Zone.

7- Al-Gharb/Western District

The newest district in Port Said, it was a segment that was taken from Al-Zohour district and renamed as a separate area n in 2015,there is generally nothing new about it, as it shares the same facilities as Al-Zohour district, its existence is simply an administrative requirement and for other logistical purposes.