Author: Hassan Abd Elnaeem

Since the Ottoman era, Assiut has been an important commercial hub in Upper Egypt, with caravans passing through on their way to Sudan via the Darb al-Arba’in route, and a destination for merchants from around the world. The city has retained its commercial status over time, with the caravanserais of Lutfi, Shalabi, and Thabit standing in the narrow alleys of Al-Qaisariya as living witnesses to a history spanning more than three centuries. With their Islamic architecture and antique decorative features, these caravanserais tell the story of a city that was once a thriving center of trade and urban development in…

Green stalks stand tall and dense in the fields under the hot Upper Egyptian sun, heralding the sesame harvest season. Sesame, whose history dates back to ancient Egypt, remains a symbol of agricultural identity and is still present on the tables of Upper Egyptians today. Sesame stalks Amidst the dense sesame stalks, with green leaves decorating the fields at this time of year. Inside them are capsules filled with seeds. In the village of Rifaa al-Tahtawi—known as the “village of young graduates”—in the Abnub district of Assiut governorate, Mustafa Abu Omar, a sesame farmer, stands joyfully with his harvest. He…

Assiut pomegranates are renowned for their distinctive taste and world-famous quality. With the start of the pomegranate harvest season in Assiut, the villages of Sahel Selim, El-Badari, and Sadfa are transformed into a hive of activity. The abundant harvest is collected in plastic containers and carried by workers to trucks and packing stations in preparation for the long journey to local and international markets. The scene is not limited to the collection of pomegranates, but is a season with economic impact and social significance.