How Community Engagement Approach Enhances Heritage Conservation: Two Case Studies on Sustainable Urban Development in Historic Cairo

Amgad Fahmy () and Mariam Thamarat ()
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Amgad Fahmy: Department of Architecture, Effat University, Jeddah 21478, Saudi Arabia
Mariam Thamarat: Architectural Engineering and Environmental Design Department, College of Engineering and Technology, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Cairo 2033, Egypt

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-32

Abstract: Community engagement is an important approach in the sustainable urban development of heritage sites. During the last two decades, a large number of studies have focused on evolving approaches to heritage protection. These initiatives have tried various approaches or models to strengthen the role of the community in the protection process. Historic Cairo is one of the most important sites on the UNESCO list of world heritage sites. In 2011, UNESCO took a new approach to sustainable urban development in historical areas, given their importance in the history of urban culture. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Community Engagement Tool for the sustainable urban development of heritage sites in two case studies in historic Cairo (Al-Darb Al-Aqaba (URHC) and Souq El-Silah) by examining the instrument of community participation used to transform the landscape of sustainable urban development. It also aims to identify the importance of community involvement in the sustainable development of heritage sites. This method adopts a case study approach and follows a qualitative research approach consisting of two parts: a theoretical part through a literature review and an analytical part through an investigation of two case studies (JSPS procedures in Souq El-Silah and URBAN procedure in Al-Darb Al-Amar). We also explore the data collected and the results of the community consultation process for both projects. The findings show that through capacity building, participatory workshops and mapping tools, local residents became dynamic decision makers in both case studies. More than 70 percent of the community members involved in the Al-Darb Al-Ahmar project reported increased ownership and involvement in heritage protection. In addition, the results of the survey show that the Community Engagement Tool effectively involves and empowers local residents in decision-making and planning processes.

Keywords: community engagement; historical urban landscape; cultural heritage; historic Cairo; sustainable development; decision making (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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