Al Sharqia Governorate

Al Sharqia governorate is located towards the northeastern part of Egypt. The governorate is bordered with Ismaeliya to its east, El Qalyoubiya governorate to its south, El Manzala Lake in the north and El Daqahila in the west. The governorate consists of several administrative centers, towns, and cities. The Al Sharqia governorate is well connected by rail and road to other governorates, making it easily accessible to most parts of the country.

More About The Governorate

al-sharqia governorate

Al Sharqia governorate is the largest agricultural governorate in Egypt. The total cultivatable land area is about 852.39 thousand hectares. Crops like wheat, rice, cotton, sugar beets, fava beans, and barley are grown here in massive quantites. Sharqia governate also has many large-scale industries in various sectors such as weaving, spinning, construction materials, chemicals, and wood.

In addition to agriculture and manufacturing, Al Sharqia is well-known for the breeding of high-quality Arabian horses, which has helped the governorate to become an important center of Egypt's prestigious equestrian tradition. This has led the governorate to organize a grand horse festival annually. The areas of Sharqia which are especially popular for the breeding of horses include Salheyia, Anshas, Bani Gery, and Saoud Island. Hunting of deer, ducks, and falcons is another activity which Al Sharqia is famous for. The governorate is a true exemplification of the old meeting the new, with many monuments from all ages. Impressive monuments are found throughout the governate and attract many tourists from far and wide. Some of the most notable monuments located at the governorate can be found at places like Belbes, Saft el-Henna, Tal Basta, Qanteer, Tal el-Daba'a, Tal Pharaoh, and al-Sawa.

The historical importance of Al Sharqia

Throughout the history of Egypt, Sharqia governorate has been seen as the eastern gate of Egypt, where invaders could break into the country. To unify defensive capabilities, Sharqia was consolidated into El Dakahila governorate with its capital at Belbays City in the Middle Ages. In 1315, however, Sharqia again became a separate governorate. The capital of Sharqia changed from Belbays City to El Zagazig city during the 19th century.

Some Important Days In Al Sharqia

Al Sharqia governorate's national day of celebration is September 9th. This marks the day on which the leader Ahmed Qrabi confronted and defeated the Khedive Twakif in the year 1881. The emblem of Shaqria governorate is green, which signifies the bountiful agricultural land and a picture of a white horse in the center due to its popularity as a breeding ground for Arabian horses.