Egypt's capital city, Cairo, is Africa's largest city and has been renowned for centuries as a center of learning, culture and commerce. The Egyptian Academy of the Arabic Language is responsible for regulating the Arabic Language throughout the world. Egypt has had a thriving media and arts industry since the late 19th century, today with more than 30 satellite channels and over 100 motion pictures produced each year. Cairo in fact has long been known as the "Hollywood of the East." To bolster its media industry further, especially with the keen competition from the Persian Gulf Arab States and Lebanon, a large media city was built. Egypt is also the only Arab country with an opera house.

Some famous Egyptians include:
Saad Zaghlul (leader of first modern Egyptian revolution; founder of Wafd political party)

Gamal Abdel Nasser (former president and mastermind of the present republic)

Anwar Sadat (former president; winner of the Nobel Peace Prize)

Boutros Boutros-Ghali (former Secretary General of the United Nations)

Naguib Mahfouz (Nobel Prize-winning novelist)

Umm Kulthum (singer)

Amr Diab (singer)

Mohamed Al-Fayed (famous Egyptian businessman, father of Dodi Al-Fayed who died with Princess Diana in the car crash)

Omar Sharif (Oscar nominated actor)

Ahmed Zewail (Nobel Prize-winning chemist)

Mohamed ElBaradei (Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency; 2005 Nobel Peace Prize Winner)

Mido (Egyptian soccer star who has played for clubs such as Ajax,Celta Vigo, Roma and Tottenham Hotspurs)

Zahi Hawass (One of the world's foremost Egyptologists and Secretary General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities)

Egypt Information: Inside
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[ Culture ]

( Egyptian pop star Ruby )

( Upper Egyptian folk musicians from Kom Ombo )