Qena Governorate

Lore & Background

Qena Governorate is divided into municipal divisions including one kism, a number of marakiz, and one new city. Sometimes a markaz and a kism share a name. As of 2018, nine cities or towns in Qena had a population of over 15,000 inhabitants. The governorate has several industrial zones as recognized by the Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI).

Reader's Guide

Qena Governorate is significant as a region in Upper Egypt facing substantial economic challenges, with a poverty rate over 60% and a predominantly rural population—only 18.7% urbanization as of 2024. Its development has been supported by the Haya Karima initiative, endorsed by Abdel Fatah El-Sisi, which implemented 690 projects in sectors including sanitation, drinking water, electricity, health, youth and sports, agriculture, service complexes, and roads. International cooperation has also played a role: Switzerland funded a solid waste management program from 2016 to 2021 and the Our District (Hayenna) project launched in 2018. In 2023, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development announced a Citizen's Investment Plan for the governorate, with 277 development projects and investments of EGP 4.7 billion aimed at addressing development gaps and achieving regional convergence in living standards and incomes. The governorate's legacy includes notable figures such as footballer Amr Gamal, actor and singer Mohamed Ramadan, poets Abdel Rahman el-Abnudi and Amal Dunqul, and politicians Ahmad Fathi Sorour, Makram Ebeid, Mansour el-Essawy, and Omar Suleiman.

Did You Know?

• The rate of poverty in Qena Governorate is more than 60%.
• Haya Karima, an Egyptian initiative endorsed by Abdel Fatah El-Sisi, has implemented 690 projects in Qena Governorate.
• As of 2024, the urbanization rate in Qena Governorate is only 18.7%.
• In 2023, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development announced investments of EGP 4.7 billion for 277 development projects in Qena Governorate.