Damietta Governorate

Damietta is in the northeast of Egypt. It sits near the Nile river and the sea. Many people live in the farms there. They grow rice, corn, and many fruits. You can see many palm trees along the coast. These trees are sent to far lands like China. The area also makes cheese and sweet treats. A big port helps ships move in bad weather. It is a very busy and special place.

Damietta is in the northeast part of Egypt. It is part of the Nile Delta. Over 1.3 million people live there. Many people live in rural areas or on farms.

The land is very green. You can see many palm trees along the coast. These trees go to places like Greece and China. Farmers also grow rice, corn, and cotton. They grow many fruits too, like lemons and grapes. Damietta is also known for sweet treats and cheese.

Water is a big part of life here. The Nile river meets the Mediterranean Sea at Ras El Bar. This is an old place for summer holidays. There is also a large port. This port helps ships move even in bad weather.

Many schools and training centers are in the area. There are also two industrial zones. One is in New Damietta. The other is a free zone. The capital city is also named Damietta. It is a busy and important place in Egypt.

Damietta is a special place in the northeast part of Egypt. It sits inside the Nile Delta region. This area covers about 1% of all Egypt. The governorate is about 1,029 square kilometers in size. This is about 5% of the total Delta area. Many people live here, with over 1.3 million residents. Most of these people live in rural areas. In 2015, about 815,244 people lived in the countryside. Only 515,599 people lived in the cities then.

The land in Damietta is very busy with growing things. You can see many palm trees along the coast. These trees grow from Ras El Bar to Gamasa. Damietta sends millions of these trees to other lands. They go to places like China and Greece every year. Farmers also grow many different foods here. They grow wheat, maize, cotton, and rice. You can also find potatoes, lemons, grapes, and tomatoes. The area is also famous for its guava farms.

People in Damietta make many useful things. The area has a big furniture industry. They also make Domiati cheese and sweet treats. Some people work in sardine packing. There are two main industrial zones for work. One zone is in New Damietta and is 558 feddans. The other is the General Free Zone in Damietta. This second zone is 190 feddans in size.

Water is very important for this region. The Nile river meets the Mediterranean Sea at Ras El Bar. This spot is a very old summer resort. There is also a large place called Damietta Port. This port is very helpful for big ships. It can work even when the weather is bad. Nearby ports might have to stop during storms. The port helps keep the movement of ships steady.

Damietta has many places for learning and leading. There are 657 schools for students to attend. You can also find 7 colleges and 19 training centers. The area is divided into four main parts. These parts are Damietta, Faraskur, El Zarqa, and Kafr Saad. Different leaders help run the governorate. Manal Awad Mikhail was a famous leader here. She was the first Coptic woman to be a governor. Now, Ayman el-Shahaby is the governor as of 2024.

Damietta is one of the 27 governorates located in northeastern Egypt. It sits within the Nile Delta region. The governorate covers an area of 1,029 square kilometers. This represents about 5% of the total Delta area. It also makes up roughly 1% of the entire country of Egypt. The inhabited portion of the land is about 589.2 square kilometers. Damietta is an important administrative and economic center. Its capital city is also named Damietta.

The geography of the region is defined by its relationship with water. A major feature is the Damietta Port. This port is very important for maritime trade. It can accommodate moving ships even during bad weather. Nearby ports might be unable to function during such conditions. Another key location is Ras El Bar. This is an old summer resort area. It sits exactly where the Nile river meets the Mediterranean Sea. This meeting of fresh and salt water is a central part of the landscape.

Agriculture and natural resources drive much of the local economy. The coastline is covered in palm trees. These trees stretch from Ras El Bar in the east to Gamasa in the west. Damietta exports millions of these palm trees every year. They are sent to many different countries, including Greece and China. The land is also used for many types of farming. Farmers grow wheat, maize, cotton, and rice. They also produce potatoes, lemons, grapes, and tomatoes. The area is particularly well known for its guava farms.

Industry in Damietta is diverse and covers several different sectors. The governorate has a famous furniture industry. It is also known for producing Domiati cheese and various sweets. Some businesses focus on sardine packing. There are two specific industrial zones managed by the Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI). The first is the New Damietta zone, which covers 558 feddans. The second is the General Free Zone in Damietta, which covers 190 feddans. A feddan is a unit used to measure land area.

The population of Damietta has grown significantly over time. In 1999, a census recorded 953,430 people living there. By 2015, the population was estimated at 1,330,843 residents. The average population growth rate is 2.09% per year. Most residents lived in rural areas in 2015. Specifically, 815,244 people lived in the countryside. Only 515,599 people lived in urban areas at that time. This means the urbanization rate was only 38.7%. As of January 2023, estimates placed the population at 1,610,586.

Administratively, the governorate is organized into several different levels. It consists of four main subdivisions. These are Damietta, Faraskur, El Zarqa, and Kafr Saad. There are also 10 cities and 35 local village units. The region contains 59 villages and 722 sub-villages. For municipal purposes, it is divided into various types of districts. These include Kism, which are fully urban areas, and Markaz, which are rural districts. For example, Al Sarw is a Kism with 29,782 people. Markaz El Zarqa has an estimated 151,020 people.

Education and leadership are also vital parts of the governorate. There are 657 pre-college schools available to students. The region also hosts 7 colleges or institutes. Additionally, there are 19 professional training centers to help people learn new skills. The leadership of the governorate has seen historic changes. In August 2018, Manal Awad Mikhail was appointed as governor. She was the first Coptic woman to hold this position in Egypt. On 3 July 2024, Ayman el-Shahaby became the new governor. These leaders oversee the many complex systems within the region.