Mosque of Muhammad Ali - A Guide For New Visitors

The Mosque of Muhammad Ali – also called the Alabaster Mosque – is the big Ottoman-style mosque on top of the Saladin Citadel, the one whose domes and pencil-thin minarets you see on Cairo’s skyline. Entry is included in the Citadel ticket (EGP 550 for foreign adults in 2026), the site is open daily from 8:00 AM (9:00 AM in summer) to 4:00 PM, and an hour is enough for the mosque itself. Plan two to three hours with the rest of the Citadel and the view over the city.

Muhammad Ali Pasha (around 1769–1849) was an Albanian-born officer of the Ottoman army who became governor of Egypt in 1805 and ruled until 1848. He built a modern army, factories, schools and irrigation projects, and his family ruled Egypt until 1952. The mosque was his statement of power on the city’s highest point – and his burial place.

The mosque was built between about 1830 and 1848 on the site of older Mamluk palaces inside Saladin’s Citadel. It was designed in the style of the great Ottoman mosques of Istanbul, which is why it looks so different from Cairo’s medieval mosques below.

Muhammad Ali died in 1849 and was buried inside, and decoration continued after his death. In the 1930s the main dome had structural problems and was rebuilt during a major restoration.

• Why “Alabaster Mosque”: the lower walls and the courtyard are faced with alabaster.
• Two minarets rise over 80 metres – among the tallest in Cairo.
• The clock in the courtyard was a gift from King Louis-Philippe of France in the 1840s; Egypt gave France the Luxor obelisk that now stands in the Place de la Concorde in Paris.
• Muhammad Ali’s marble tomb is inside the prayer hall, on the right as you enter.
• Hundreds of hanging lamps light the huge domed prayer hall.

The mosque stands inside the Saladin Citadel on a spur of the Muqattam hills, south-east of Downtown. Directly below are the Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan and the Al-Rifai Mosque, and the Ibn Tulun Mosque is a short taxi ride away.

Yes, for most first-time visitors. The size of the prayer hall and the view from the Citadel terrace – over the minarets of Islamic Cairo and, on a clear day, as far as the Giza Pyramids – are the highlights.

Be aware that it’s a 19th-century building. If medieval Islamic architecture is what you love, the 14th-century Sultan Hassan Mosque below is older and, for many, more impressive. Ideally, see both on the same morning.

• The courtyard with its ablution fountain and the French clock tower.
• The prayer hall – look up at the central dome and the ring of lamps.
• Muhammad Ali’s tomb, behind a gilded screen.
• The terrace beside the mosque for the best view over Cairo.
• The rest of the Citadel: the older Mosque of al-Nasir Muhammad and several small museums.

The easiest way is Uber, Careem or a taxi: about 20–40 minutes from Downtown, depending on traffic. There is no metro station close by. Ask for the Citadel (el-Qal’a) visitor entrance. Many visitors combine it with Sultan Hassan, Al-Rifai and Khan El Khalili on a half or full day.

• Cover shoulders and knees – long trousers or a long skirt and sleeves.
• Women should bring a scarf to cover their hair inside the prayer hall.
• Shoes come off at the door of the prayer hall, so wear socks and shoes that are easy to slip off.

Come at opening time for fewer groups and cooler air on the terrace. Avoid Friday around midday prayers. The air over Cairo is often clearer in winter, which is the best time for the view.

Yes. The Citadel is a major ticketed site with security and tourist police. The usual Cairo advice applies: say no politely to people offering unofficial guiding, and agree any price before you accept a service.

• Bring small Egyptian-pound notes for the shoe-keeper or toilets.
• Photography is allowed; be respectful of people praying.
• Wear comfortable shoes – the Citadel is large and partly uphill.
• Carry water; there is little shade on the terraces in summer.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a separate ticket for the mosque?

No. The mosque is inside the Citadel, and the Citadel ticket covers it.

Why is it called the Alabaster Mosque?

Because the lower walls and pillars are faced with alabaster from Beni Suef.

Can women visit the mosque?

Yes. Cover shoulders, knees and hair. Cover-ups are usually available at the door.

Can you visit during prayer time?

Visitors are asked to wait outside during prayers, especially on Friday at midday.

You can visit on your own, but a guide brings the history of the Citadel and the dynasty to life and handles transport between the sites. Our Christian and Islamic Cairo day tour (from $30, October 2026) visits the Citadel and the Alabaster Mosque, Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifai, and ends in Khan El Khalili.

About 45–60 minutes for the mosque and the terrace. Allow two to three hours for the whole Citadel with its museums.

Entry is included in the Citadel ticket: EGP 550 for foreign adults and EGP 275 for foreign students (2026 prices). Buy it at the Citadel ticket office; there is no separate ticket for the mosque.

Daily from 8:00 AM (9:00 AM in summer) to 4:00 PM (2026). Hours can change on public holidays, so check on the day.

The Alabaster Mosque is one of Cairo’s landmarks and an easy win: big, beautiful inside and with the best city view in town. Pair it with the medieval mosques just below and you have one of the best half-days in Cairo.

Mosque of Muhammad Ali – A Guide For New Visitors

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Pyramids of Giza | Ibn Tulun Mosque | Mosque Madrassa of Sultan Hassan | Prince Mohamed Ali Palace (Al Manial Palace) | The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization | Mosque of Mohamed Ali | Nile River in Egypt |  Sharia Al Muizz Li Din Allah | Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo | The Egyptian Museum in Cairo | Khan Al Khalili | Al Azhar Mosque | Grand Egyptian Museum | Cairo Tower | Al azhar park | Downtown | Zamalek Island