The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

It’s become common belief that when it comes to going out during Ramadan, Cairo’s options boil down to a few Ramadan-friendly cultural performances and tents. But the ever-evolving beast that is Egypt’s capital has had plenty in the way of variety this year – and this weekend shows exactly that.

We begin on Thursday with the second night of this year’s Mawaweel. After launching last week in spectacular fashion at Darb 1718, ‘the alternative Ramadan experience’ will this weekend be welcoming the performers of Mazaher, as well as Alexandrian band, Massar Egbari, while some of the best local brands and craftsman set-up shop at the festival’s special bazaar.

In terms of live music, Hany Must’s gig at Garden City’s ROOM Art Space is one of the night’s highlight events, while lively rockers, Screwdriver, dial things down a little for an acoustic set at the Tap East in New Cairo.Elsewhere, Hossam Hosny kicks off the weekend at Riverside in Zamalek and Met2al does likewise at Giza’s Eat & Barrel.

Hany Al Dakkak is on double duty this weekend, performing with Massar Egbari on Thursday, then HOH on Saturday

At the other end of the musical scale, meanwhile, the National Arab Music Ensemble perform at Cairo Opera House, while the increasingly popular Ali Qandil leads Carnival El Warsha at El Sawy Culturewheel – a veritable hotpot of stand-up comedy.

There’s more Ramadan-themed fun on Friday meanwhile, with Riverside welcoming Hamdy Patchan to the stage, while the never-boring Saad El Sohgayar picks up from where Met2al left off at Eat & Barrel.

ROOM Art Space’s busy weekend continues, meanwhile, with the sounds of the Port Said and Suez regions as El Tanbura perform, while Zamalek’s 3elbt Alwan gets spiritual with Sheikh Zain Mahmoud. Elsewhere, popular rockers, Transistor, take to the stage at El Sawy Culturewheel, while Cairo Opera Orchestra and Cairo Opera Company combine their considerable talents for a special gala concert at Cairo Opera House.

There’s lots of live music to wind down the weekend down on Saturday, with one of the biggest gigs of the day taking place at El Sawy Culturewheel, where Hany Adel, Ousso Lotfy and Hany Al Dakkak, aka HOH, perform. Elsewhere, Sudanese folk singer, Asia Madani,returns to ROOM Art Space, while Eftekasat are the third and last performers in the Mawaweel X El Sat7 series.

Eftekasat, seen here on the set of SNL Bel 3arabi, perform at Darb 1718 on Saturday

There’s art to be found too across the capital this weekend, with Bread II having launched this week as part of Mawaweel, while exhibitions can also be found at Al Massar Gallery, Picasso Gallery and Art Talks.

For more events across the city this weekend, check out the Cairo 360 events calendar for more.