Political Importance
Heliopolis gained a special political and military importance in Egypt and the Middle East in recent decades. The Egyptian Military Headquarters and the Egyptian Air Force headquarters are located there. The Almaza Military Airbase is also located very close to the suburb. The regional headquarters of some international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Red Crescent are also located within the suburb. Heliopolis was the residence of the Egyptian ex-president Mohamed Hosni Mubarak. In 1981, the site of Heliopolis Palace Hotel became the Egyptian Republican Palace (Arabic: قصر رئاسة الجمهورية) and the president's office. The suburb was bombed by the Israeli Air Force during the Yom Kippur War, causing damage to some of its historical buildings and houses.
Read more about this topic: Heliopolis (Cairo Suburb)
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