Worshippers gathered in Cairo on Friday to mark Eid ul-Fitr, offering prayers and celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
At the well-known Al-Seddik Mosque, families and children filled the area after prayers, with balloons distributed freely as children played with water guns, creating a festive atmosphere.
Eid ul-Fitr is traditionally a time of joy, marked by communal prayers, family visits, outings and the wearing of new clothes. In Egypt, celebrations also include sharing kahk buttery biscuits with loved ones, while children receive cash gifts known as eidiya.
However, this year’s celebrations come against the backdrop of ongoing regional tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran, which has unsettled much of the Middle East.
Despite the wider instability, many Egyptians say they feel insulated from the violence.
“The world outside is full of war; all countries are fighting and attacking each other. But here, we don’t have that and the mood is very different. Egypt is always safe,” said Cairo resident Manar Fayez.
Egypt remains one of the few countries in the region not directly affected by the conflict. It is not involved in the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran and has not faced missile or drone attacks like some Gulf states, nor bombardment like Lebanon.
As families gathered to celebrate, the festive spirit of Eid endured—offering a moment of unity and relief despite the tensions unfolding across the region.
