Once upon a time back in 2005, a man called Brad Neuberg invented the concept of coworking. You can actually check out his blog where he talks about how his idea came to be.
In Egypt’s Cairo, the idea arrived in 2007, when the first coworking space opened, Rasheed 22. It closed, only lasting a few years. The trend was re-ignited in 2011, with the arrival of The District, officially considered Egypt’s first coworking space.
I would tell them “take this idea, steal it, and make it your own”; basically I was giving people permission to take coworking and remix it
Brad Neuberg Via Coding Paradise
Today, according to Coworker, a website to book and review coworking spaces in Cairo, there are more than 18,500 coworking spaces in the city. Since the dollar went up, many things including rental office prices skyrocketed and because many companies are still working from home, coworking spaces are considered a great alternative solution.
In such spaces, employees, freelancers and even students can come, take a desk and start working. There are also meeting and conference rooms if a team of employees have a big project to work on. Other facilities are offered like game rooms, depending on the overall aesthetic of the coworking space.
To know which coworking spaces are worth checking out, the Scoop team did some research and curated a diverse list of coworking spaces based on locations all over Cairo and their appeal to different tastes. To help you pick out the perfect space, we included the membership packages and types of spaces offered as well the perks, downsides and overall ambiance of each location.
MQR
Locations: Heliopolis, Downtown, Maadi, 6 October, Sheikh Zayed, New Cairo, Al Rehab
MQR has its place all over Cairo, with multiple branches opened in the city. Each branch is unique. For example, for the Heliopolis branch, you can sit in the balcony atop colorful bean bags and enjoy the overlooking view of the distinct surrounding buildings, while with the New Cairo branch, you will be surrounded with bright green spaces and can even grab a bite to eat at the famous Caizo, offering a spin on the typical shawarma sandwich.
Each branch brings its own flavor. You can check out their website to explore which works best for you.
Membership and Day Packages:
- Monthly fee: 1500 to 2000 EGP
- Daily fee for Coworking Desk: 80 EGP
Spaces:
- Meeting Rooms (requires pre-booking)
- Private Office Spaces (A private office all to yourself – requires pre-booking)
- Training Rooms (requires pre-booking)
- Coworking Desks (A desk in the shared area – does not require pre-booking)
Perks:
- A community care team (available to help you if you have questions)
- Food and drinks (e.g. Caizo)
- High speed internet
- Easy parking
- Free hot beverages
- A mini kitchen
Downsides:
- Shared coworking space can be loud, it can be hard to concentrate
- Meeting rooms and private office spaces need to be pre-booked weeks beforehand
StartUp Haus
Location: Downtown
Opening its doors in 2017, this 1000 meter squared space within the Ouzounian building, a 1950s modernist structure in Talaat Harb Street, exudes a minimalistic style, with very few pieces of furniture, large spaces between the desks and a scant few plants nestled along a few corners of the space. Not only is it a space for employees to work, you can also hold events at their coworking area and arena.
Membership and Day Packages:
- Day Pass (Any desk in the open space): 100 EGP
- A Dedicated Desk for 20 Days: 1620 EGP per month
- Private Office (6 people): 9,000 EGP per month
Spaces:
- Meeting Room (5 and 10 person capacity)
- Workshop Room (A space for brainstorming sessions and interactive workshops)
- The Coworking Area (An open common area accommodating more than 50 people)
- The Arena (Its basically a backyard that can hold up to 75 people)
Unique Perks:
- Its cat-friendly
- Houses a recording and photo studio
- There’s a nap room for a quick snooze
- Includes mentorship and accelerator programs
Downsides:
- Downtown parking can be difficult
Urban Station
Location: Mohandeseen
A coworking space that is part of a global network with other branches around the globe in places like Mexico, Argentina and Chile. Egypt’s branch is considered the first to open outside of Latin America. The space gives off a fresh vibrant feel due to its pops of yellow and vibrant colors. Its a great place to work if you are seeking a lively, upbeat environment.
Membership and Day Packages:
- Day Pass for Open Space (Includes Internet, snacks and coffee): 230 EGP
- Month Pass for Open Space (Unlimited hours): 2350 EGP
- Meeting Room Pass (15 hours in 1 month: 2520 EGP)
Spaces:
- Open Space
- Meeting Rooms (1 to 6 person capacity)
- Training Rooms
- Private Offices
Unique Perks:
- You can read newspapers and magazines to unwind
- They offer Virtual Offices
Downsides:
- Overpriced
KMT
Location: Maadi
Housed in a large old-style Maadi villa, surrounded by a beautiful garden, it is popular among urban tech startups and communities who aim to improve the city’s sustainability and general life. Its a central hub for sustainable events that take place in its very gardens. You can rent out the open garden space for any event of your liking. Its a great place to work if you want to avoid the typical indoors office space and want to instead unwind and relax in the outdoors.
Membership and Day Packages:
- Month Pass for Private Office (3-Person capacity) – 9000 EGP
- Day Pass for Garden (Access to cafe) – Free
- Day Pass for Meeting Room (Up to 40 people) – 6000 EGP
Spaces:
- Outdoor Garden Space
- Indoor Meeting and Conference Rooms
- Private Offices
Unique Perks:
- Delicious food and coffee
- Outdoor seating with garden view
- Can book the garden for a special event
Downsides:
- Weak internet
CO-55
Location: Nasr City and New Cairo
One of the more aesthetically well-decorated and spacious coworking spaces on this list opened its doors in 2019. It exudes modernity with unique fixtures within the space including white birds hanging from a black ceiling above one of their open spaces to lush greenery encased in an open framed boxed above their reception desk. They also play around with colors. In spaces were this is a lot of communication and collaboration like meeting rooms, you’ll find the colors of the room to be more intense and vibrant. Yet, as you move towards the more secluded, silent areas like the private offices, the colors start to die down and lose their intensity.
Membership and Day Packages:
- Day Pass for Open Space: 200 EGP
- Month Pass for Dedicated Desk: 2500 EGP
Spaces:
- Private Offices
- Dedicated Desks (Your very own desk that you can use for 1, 3 or 6 months)
- Hot Desks (Open Space – First come, First serve basis)
- Meeting Rooms
- Event Spaces
Unique Perks:
- Its modern, sleek design
- Has indoor and outdoor options (a terrace with bean bags)
- Strong Internet
- Very friendly staff
- High quality meals
Downsides:
- Overpriced
Regus
Make a home for your business with Regus’ private office spaces in Egypt with over 20 different working spaces all over Cairo, Giza and Alexandria. Regus offers serviced offices and spaces that will take care of your every need, from the furniture to the high-speed WiFi, and with flexible terms allowing you to rent office space from an hour to years, you can focus on driving your business forward.
Location: Arkan Plaza, Maadi, New Cairo, Nile City Towers, Alexandria
Membership and Day Packages:
- Month Pass for Co-working Space: 7410
- Day Pass for Open Space: upon Request
Spaces:
- Open Space
- Meeting Rooms
- Private Offices
- Break-Out Areas
- Business Lounge
Unique Perks:
- Strong Internet
- Disabled facilities
- City/Town Centre
- Business park location
- Customizable offices
- Modern Design
Downsides:
- Overpriced
The Hive
The Hive is a professional office space provider who’s main goal is to guarantee that you can get your business up and running in the quickest way possible by giving you access to a wide range of services and fully furnished workspaces that suit all your business needs. If you are eager to have your own desk in a spacious co-working area or your own personalized executive office in one of there elegantly designed facilities, they will provide that for you.
Location: New Cairo, Shiekh Zayed
Membership and Day Packages:
- Month Pass for Co-working Space: Price Upon Request
- Day Pass for Open Space: Price Upon Request
Spaces:
- Lounge
- Meeting Rooms
- Private Offices
- Open Space
- Outdoor Terrace
Unique Perks:
- Strong Internet
- Free Coffee
- Presentation Equipment
- Secretarial Service
- Office supplies
- Catering Service
- Modern Furniture
- Personal Lockers
Downsides:
- Only 2 Locations
Whether you’re a freelancer, have a big team project, or just want a space that’s furnished and ready for you to work immediately, you can put your productivity hat on and check out any of these coworking spaces.
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