Al Qubba Palace

Al Qubba Palace is one of the most important royal palaces of the Muhammad Ali dynasty. It was built during the reign of Khedive Ismail on the ruins of an old house belonging to his father Ibrahim Pasha. Construction lasted six years, beginning in 1867 and completing in late 1872.

The palace was officially opened in January 1873 at the wedding of Prince Muhammad Tawfiq, the Khedive's crown prince — and so became associated thereafter with the legendary weddings and celebrations of the royal family.

It is among the largest royal palaces by area, covering approximately 190 feddans. It takes its name from an ancient Mamluk-era building known as Al Qubba, once surrounded by a lake that was a destination for the sons of large families and the high class of the time. The palace gardens include a rare collection of trees and plants dating to the era of Khedive Ismail.