Cairo Unveils Standardized Kiosk Design

Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber unveiled a prototype for a new standardized kiosk design on Thursday, 17 September, as part of a new system to regulate licensed kiosks across the capital.

Saber inspected the prototype in Bab Al-Louq in Abdeen district, where the new model is set to serve as the standard for existing licensed kiosks across Cairo’s districts.

Under the new system, kiosk owners will have three months to replace their existing units with the approved design. The kiosks will come in two fixed sizes, 2×3 meters or 3×3 meters, with designated spaces for refrigerators, shelves, and other products to keep goods within the kiosk and prevent encroachment onto surrounding sidewalks and streets.

Each kiosk will feature the Cairo Governorate logo, the kiosk’s name and license number, along with a QR code on the front. Scanning the code will provide information including the license holder’s name, location, license validity, and any outstanding fees.

The standardized units will also include a fire extinguisher and a dedicated electricity meter, while the governorate is considering introducing a uniform for kiosk vendors.

Kiosk owners can build the new units themselves or have them produced through workshops affiliated with the Cairo General Authority for Cleaning, Beautification and Lighting. Construction costs can be paid in installments over two years.

Owners who build the kiosks independently and comply with the approved design will receive a 20 percent discount on the usufruct fee for one year. Those who use the governorate’s workshops will pay 25 percent upfront, with the remaining amount paid through interest-free monthly installments over two years.

Kiosks that do not adopt the approved design will not have their licenses renewed, while those that extend beyond their designated footprint or encroach on surrounding public areas could have their licenses revoked.

Cairo currently has 2,739 kiosks and 1,790 display stands across the capital, according to the governorate. The new system aims to regulate existing licensed kiosks and reduce encroachments while maintaining a more consistent appearance across Cairo’s streets and public spaces.