Cairo arts centre latest victim of Old City makeover

In Cairo, the Darb 1718 centre was demolished 'without any prior notice', its management said on social media on Jan 6, to make room for a highway expansion. Photo: Darb 1718

Nestled in the heart of historic Cairo, a cultural centre synonymous with the Egyptian capital's art scene has been razed, the latest heritage site torn down for contentious development projects.

Authorities have been aggressively remaking parts of Cairo, a longtime cultural beacon of the Arab world, to expand the capital which is home to more than 20 million residents.