The mosque-mausoleum of Sultan al-Ashraf Qaytbay, a landmark of Mamluk architecture in Cairo, has reopened after a multi-year restoration project.

Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy, US Embassy Charge d’affaires Robert Silverman, and Archinos Architecture founder Agnieszka Dobrowolska attended the official opening ceremony on Monday, according to africanews.com.

Restoration work took place between October 2022 and November 2024. It included repairs to external stonemasonry and the dome, as well as extensive cleaning of both the exterior and interior. The cleaning revealed much of the original color and detail.

The project was funded by a grant from the US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, awarded in August 2022 to Cairo-based Archinos Architecture.

The mausoleum is attached to the mosque of Qaytbay, a complex dating back to 1474. Sultan Qaytbay ruled the Mamluk Sultanate in the 15th century and was a prolific builder.

The reopening adds to Cairo’s rich Islamic heritage, drawing visitors to the historic district.