Shahd Alhamdan

Saudi Gazette

EGYPT – The Suhaimi House is a traditional Arabic house located in the Al-Muizz Street in Cairo. The house, which was built in the 1648 AD, is named after its last owner Sheikh Mohammed Amin AlSuhaimi.



Known for its outstanding Uthmani architecture, today the Suhaimi House is now under the government’s possession and has been converted into a museum.



The Suhaimi House was built in two parts by different people. The first part was constructed by Sheikh Abdul Wahab Tablaoi in 1648, and the second part by Haj Ismail Shalabi 1699. They were both linked to each other from inside.



A worker on condition of anonymity said that the 150-room ancient house was owned by three people over a long period of time. Currently, all the rooms are closed, or they are under restoration. Most of the furniture inside the house has been ruined due to lack of maintenance.



The worker also said that some rooms in the house were exclusively made for women, and others separately for men. There are also two floors called as Salamlek and Haramlik for men and women respectively. The ground floor of the house was usually reserved for guests who visited the house owners.



Mohammed Bin Alhasan, a visitor, said that the architecture of the house is brilliant. “The best thing I like about the house is the Borda Pottery for Albowaysari that was written in the guest rooms walls.”

Other visitors wished the house could be more taken care off.