Information for Cairo Cairo Governorate (Arabic: محافظة القاهرة Muḥāfaẓat al Qāhira) is the most populated of the governorates of Egypt. Its capital is the national capital of Cairo. Because it is completely urbanized, the governorate is considered a city proper, and functions as a municipality. Parts of the governorate were separated in April 2008 to form Helwan Governorate.