Cairo (Arabic: محافظة القاهرة) is one of the 27 governorates of Egypt. It is formed of the city of Cairo, both the national capital of Egypt and the governorate's, in addition to six satellite cities: The New Capital - which became the official seat of national government in April 2024, New Cairo, El Shorouk, Badr, Capital Gardens, and 15th of May.^{[citation needed]} These cities form almost half of the Greater Cairo metropolitan area by population.

Cairo is one of four city governorates in Egypt, and the governor of Cairo is also the head of the city. Nonetheless, the governate of Cairo and the city of Cairo are two semi-distinct levels of local government, and as with other governorates, the governor is appointed by the president.

Parts of the governorate, the Helwan district and the satellite cities, were spun off in April 2008 to form the Helwan Governorate, only to be reincorporated into the Cairo Governorate in April 2011.

The governorate is divided into the city of Cairo, and the unallocated desert hinter land (al-zahir al-sahrawi).

Cairo city is subdivided into four Areas (manatiq) headed by a deputy governor each, and 38 Districts (ahya, sing. Hayy) with their own governor appointed heads.

The Northern Area divided into 9 Districts:

Shubra, Al-Zawiya al-Hamra, Hadayek al-Kobba, Rod al-Farg, al-Sharabiya, al-Sahel, al-Zaytoun, Al-Amiriya, and al-Waili

The Eastern Area divided into 9 Districts: