Cairo University has received $8 million in fees from international students enrolled across its various faculties. The university's president, Mohamed Sami Abdel-Sadek, announced this during a speech at the Faculty of Medicine's annual scientific conference. This significant revenue comes as Egypt aims to attract more international students to its educational institutions. The country views education as a vital source of foreign currency and a means to strengthen academic ties with other nations.
A substantial share of the $8 million came from Kasr Al-Ainy's medical school, which is renowned for its academic excellence. Abdel-Sadek emphasized the faculty's capacity to train doctors, prepare medical staff, share expertise, and provide high-quality healthcare. He stressed that the development of Kasr Al-Ainy must be comprehensive, encompassing not only medical services and teaching but also research, working environment, and infrastructure. This development is part of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's broader efforts to improve university hospitals and healthcare across Egypt.
The Egyptian government has set an ambitious target to increase new international student enrollment by 150 percent over the next five years. Education is seen as a key sector for generating foreign currency and fostering international academic collaborations. In line with this goal, the higher education ministry has allocated significant resources for the development of university hospitals and infrastructure. For instance, EGP 800 million has been allocated for the first year of a four-phase hospital redevelopment plan announced in July.
The Faculty of Medicine's annual conference, themed "Emergency and Disaster Medicine in a Changing World," began on Sunday. The conference, led by Dean Hossam Salah Mourad, focuses on responses to major accidents and incidents involving large crowds. Sessions cover topics such as treatment at the scene, hospital care, medical teams' responsibilities, emergency plans, and maintaining health institutions during crises. Abdel-Sadek highlighted the importance of this theme, given Kasr Al-Ainy's role in preparing for emergencies and its previous experience in handling emergency cases, including receiving patients from Gaza.
Cairo University, founded in 1908, has grown into a large public university offering a wide range of academic programs, including medicine, engineering, law, and more. Kasr Al-Ainy, established in 1827, predates the university and is now part of Cairo University's Faculty of Medicine. The university has recently expanded with the establishment of Cairo National University in 6 October City, which began its academic year in September. This expansion aims to increase access to higher education and enhance the university's academic offerings.
In addition to its academic achievements, Cairo University has made significant strides in international rankings. It ranked 221st worldwide in the 2026 US News Best Global Universities ranking, an improvement from 248th in 2025. The university is also exploring new revenue streams, including proposed university branches abroad, as identified by Abdel-Sadek. This strategic move aims to further enhance the university's global presence and financial sustainability.
The university's commitment to sustainability and internationalization is reflected in its inclusion in the 2026 UI GreenMetric sustainability ranking, alongside 47 other Egyptian universities. Cairo University continues to play a pivotal role in Egypt's educational landscape, balancing academic excellence with internationalization and revenue generation. As the university looks to the future, it remains focused on enhancing its academic programs, infrastructure, and global partnerships.
Key points
- Cairo University received $8 million from international students, with Kasr Al-Ainy's medical school being a significant contributor.
- Egypt aims to increase new international student enrollment by 150 percent over the next five years.
- Cairo University ranked 221st worldwide in the 2026 US News Best Global Universities ranking.
