The Citadel of Sultan Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi (Saladin) is one of Islamic Cairo's most iconic monuments and among the most impressive defensive fortresses dating back to the Middle Ages. Its strategic location on the Muqattam Hills gave it an excellent defensive position, as it does today, with an unrestricted panoramic view of Cairo.

Sultan Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi was the first to order the construction of the fortress above the Muqattam Hills (1176), but it was not completed during his lifetime. This was achieved during the reign of Sultan al-Kamel ibn al-Adel (1207), who decided to settle there, making it the official residence of the rulers of Egypt. In the mid-nineteenth century, Khedive Ismail moved his official residence to the Abdeen Palace in central Cairo.
The Citadel hosted some of the most significant events in Egyptian history from its construction to the Muhammad Ali dynasty, which ruled from the early 19th century until 1952 year the end of the revolution, when the modern Egyptian republic was born. Over the centuries, many monuments have been added to the Citadel, so visitors today have many places to visit, such as the Muhammad Ali Pasha Mosque, which dominates the citadel. Other attractions include the Mamluk Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun Mosque, the Ottoman-era Sulayman Pasha al-Khadim Mosque, as well as numerous museums such as the Police Museum, Al-Jawhara Palace Museum and the War Museum.