Cairo launches standardization scheme for street kiosks

Authorities in Cairo have launched a scheme to standardize thousands of licensed street kiosks, known locally as koshks, to improve the city's appearance and clear pavements. Under the new policy, existing operators have been given a three-month grace period to adopt a unified design.

The new standardized kiosks are expected to cost between 50,000 and 60,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,000-$1,200). The updated structures will feature a unified look, including cream-colored exteriors and gold lettering, and will incorporate modern elements such as QR codes and electricity meters. Some options may allow for the cost to be paid in installments over two years.

While Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber described the initiative as an effort to enhance urban aesthetics, the move has raised concerns among small business owners. Critics and shopkeepers fear the high cost of the overhaul may price low-income operators out of business and erode the historic character of the city's streetscape.