Landmarks & Culture

Landmarks of West District

From the Serapeum and tombs cut into the rock to the Qabbari mosque and the cotton exchange: the district’s landmarks between Karmouz and Mina El Basal.

A journey through time On the map

5 landmarks4 eras

Looking for a hospital, a consulate or a police point? Public services are in the district guide

The Islamic centuries

7th century – 1850

In his garden west of the city lived the ascetic Sheikh Abu al-Qasim al-Qabbari, buried there in 1264; Sultan Baybars visited him, and the El Qabbari area took his name.

Places of worship · Mina El BasalSidi al-Qabbari Mosque1264 (662 AH), enlarged in the 19th centuryA mosque over the tomb of the ascetic Sheikh Abu al-Qasim al-Qabbari, who died in 662 AH (1264), enlarged in the 19th century; the El Qabbari area is named after him.

Mina El Basal and cotton

1850–1952

The Mina El Basal cotton exchange grew up near the mouth of the Mahmoudiya and the harbour gates in the 1870s, and the Kom El Shoqafa catacombs were found by chance in 1900.

Squares & streets · Mina El BasalMina El Basal Cotton ExchangeThe 1870sA cotton exchange founded in the 1870s near the mouth of the Mahmoudiya canal and the harbour gates; its building is on the architectural heritage register as no. 535.

More places in the district

Places the district has published, not yet dated on the timeline.

Gabbari NecropolisAntiquities · Mina El Basal

Emergency and hotline numbers
National government complaints line	16528
Alexandria Governorate operations room (from a landline)	114
Child helpline	16000
Police	122
Ambulance	123
Fire service	180
Gas emergency	129
Electricity faults	121