Unless your company will provide your wife and kids with a car and driver, living in Kayamayia is the pits, I think. It is nice, if you're a golfer but it's pretty boring unless she likes to hang out with the "oil wife" set - that is who is there. The ONLY shopping and entertainment is a fair distance away that requires a car and driver.

I would opt for Maadi of the two until you have lived here a year and experienced visiting people in both areas and understand what it would be like.

There are several people I know that live in Maadi that work in Zamalek, and they are happy with their choice. I don't know what your "family" means, but if you have kids, Maadi is a good choice. What school will your company pay for them to go to? Hopefully CAC. It seems to be the only one with an EXCELLENT rating these days. The others - even some of the British schools are not doing as well.

If you have no kids, or your kids are older, then you might still consider Zamalek. Zamalek is seriously the Cultural Center of Cairo. I have no idea how old you are, but if you happen to be in your 30s and want a nice social life, Zamalek is the place to live. It has it's down side and that would be seen definately if you have little kids as there just aren't that many nice places to take them.

Good luck with your decision.

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Thanks so much. I'm still looking for an estimate of the time required for the commutes. That seems a challenge. I have an 8 year old boy, and two preschoolers. I'm 66; wife is 40. Night life is not our priority. Playgrounds are.

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From Maadi to Zamalek I would plan on an hour usually. From Katamayia probably plan on 90 minutes there might be a faster way coming over Mokattum and through town, but that would change daily depending on traffic. Cairo traffic is almost always awful, so there are no easy commutes.

Cairo isn't exactly full of playgrounds but if you live in Maadi you have access to the British Community Association (BCA) Club which has a very nice big garden that kids can play in. If you get a nice enough place in Katamayia you might likely have a pool.

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