Al-Mu’izz Street is named after the Fatimid Caliph, al-Mu’izz li-Din Allah (341–365 AH / 953–975 AD), who first founded this street. Today, it is the largest open-air museum for Islamic monuments in the world, and a unique heritage site that was added to The UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. The street has borne many names over the centuries, and came to be known as al-Mu’izz only in 1937.

The historical street stretches between two of the gates of Cairo’s old city walls, from Bab al-Futuh in the north to Bab Zuwayla in the south, passing along many of the significant and uniquely preserved ancient alleys and streets, such as Amir al-Juyush Street, Darb al-Asfar and Bergowan Alley, Khan al-Khalili and al-Ghuriyya.

Twenty-nine monuments dotting the length of al-Mu’izz  allow visitors to experience Islamic Egypt from the 10th to 19th centuries, starting from the Fatimid Period (297–567 AH / 969–1171AD) to the Muhammad Ali Dynasty (1220–1372 AH / 1805–1953 AD). These monuments include buildings of various types, such as those that had a religious, commercial, or defensive function. Today, markets, vendors, and local crafts stores line the length of al-Mu’izz, adding to the charm of this historic street.