Turathna 2026 ends 24 October: make it a full Fifth Settlement day
Turathna 2026 is your excuse for a Fifth Settlement day out
If you have been meaning to make a proper New Cairo plan instead of just a quick errand run, Turathna 2026 gives you a timely reason to do it this week. The eighth edition of the heritage and handicrafts exhibition is being held at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in Fifth Settlement from 17 to 24 October 2026, organized by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA). Official event coverage says it brings together more than 1,000 exhibitors from across Egypt, along with Arab and international participants, under the slogan “Where the Story Begins”.
For New Cairo readers, that matters because Turathna is not just another trade fair. It is one of the most practical shopping outings on the east side this week: you can browse handmade pieces from multiple governorates in one place, then carry on to lunch, coffee or dinner in the wider Fifth Settlement without crossing the city.
What makes Turathna 2026 worth visiting before it ends on 24 October
According to the State Information Service and Egypt Today, this year’s edition was inaugurated on Saturday, 17 October 2026 by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on behalf of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi. The fair is positioned as Egypt’s and the Arab world’s largest annual exhibition dedicated to handicrafts and heritage products.
The official event summary highlights several concrete reasons it stands out this year. The show features products across 32 traditional craft sectors, while women’s products account for around 70% of the exhibits. There is also a stated focus on artisans from border and underrepresented governorates including Halayeb, Shalateen, Sinai and the New Valley, plus participation by people with disabilities through small-enterprise projects.
That means a visit can be genuinely useful if you want gifts with a story behind them, home accessories that do not look mass-produced, or food-adjacent artisanal buys such as serving pieces, pottery and tableware that fit an Egyptian home better than generic mall décor.
How to shop Turathna like a smart day-trip stop
1) Go with a category in mind
The official description of the exhibition points to traditional crafts including handmade carpet weaving, pottery, ceramics, Tally embroidery and blown glass. If you walk in without a plan, you can lose hours. A better approach is to decide whether you are shopping for:
- Home pieces such as pottery, ceramics and glass
- Textiles including embroidered items and woven products
- Small gifts that are easy to carry and easy to budget for
- Statement buys such as rugs or larger decorative pieces
2) Leave room in your budget for impulse buys
Turathna’s appeal is that it gathers makers from many governorates in one venue, so even disciplined shoppers tend to add extra pieces once they start comparing craftsmanship. If your original goal is one gift, build in enough flexibility for a second or third find.
3) Wear comfortable shoes and carry lightly
The Egypt International Exhibition Center, widely referred to as EIEC, is a major event venue in New Cairo. Event organizer information for other exhibitions at the same complex describes it as the region’s modern exhibition center in New Cairo and notes that it has large on-site parking areas. In practice, that makes it manageable by car, but you should still expect walking between gates, halls and parking depending on crowd levels and event setup.
Where Turathna sits in your New Cairo map
Turathna’s location is the real advantage here. The exhibition is at Egypt International Exhibition Center, El-Moshir Tantawy Axis, New Cairo, placing it within reach of several Fifth Settlement dining clusters rather than isolating you in a one-stop venue. If you want to make a full outing of it, the easiest strategy is to split your day into three parts: morning or early-afternoon shopping at Turathna, a late lunch or coffee nearby, then a second stop for dinner or dessert on Road 90 or one of New Cairo’s commercial hubs.
Best nearby areas to eat after Turathna 2026
Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo for a polished sit-down meal
If you want to turn the fair into a more upscale outing, Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo (@dusitthanicaire on Instagram) is one of the strongest nearby anchors in the Fifth Settlement conversation. The hotel’s official dining page lists several restaurants on Road 90 South, including TAO, its multi-Asian restaurant, making it a good option if your group wants a comfortable, full-service meal after a long walk through the exhibition halls.
This is the best fit for visitors who are doing Turathna as a leisurely weekend-style plan rather than a quick shopping errand.
5A by The Waterway for a later lunch or dinner circuit
5A by The Waterway (@5abythewaterway on Instagram) remains one of New Cairo’s best-known dining-led destinations, and the development’s official site presents it as a flagship commercial destination in New Cairo. If your Turathna visit ends with the usual “Where do we go now?” question, 5A works because it offers a real second chapter to the day rather than a single restaurant decision.
One confirmed restaurant there is Reif Kushiyaki Cairo, whose official listing places it at 5A By The Waterway, New Cairo. That makes the area a solid choice if your group wants contemporary dining after a heritage-focused shopping stop.
Concord Plaza for a casual, easier group option
If you want something lower-commitment and more practical for mixed ages or family groups, Concord Plaza is another Fifth Settlement fallback. Its official dining section confirms an on-site food-and-beverage lineup, making it useful when the priority is convenience rather than destination dining.
This is the kind of stop that works well if you have already spent most of your energy and budget at Turathna and just need an easy meal before heading home.
How to structure the perfect Turathna day
Option 1: The focused shopper
- Start at Turathna early and go straight to ceramics, textiles or gift shopping
- Break for coffee once you have finished your first circuit
- Do a final pass only for items you are sure about
- Head to Concord Plaza or another casual Fifth Settlement stop for a simple meal
Option 2: The full day-out plan
- Spend late morning at EIEC
- Have a proper lunch at Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo
- Continue to 5A by The Waterway for coffee, dessert or an evening stroll
Option 3: The gift-hunting visit
- Use Turathna for occasion shopping such as wedding gifts, housewarming presents or travel keepsakes
- Prioritize handmade categories that are difficult to find together in regular malls
- Finish with dinner in New Cairo so the trip feels worth the drive
Why this is one of the week’s best New Cairo outings
There are plenty of places to eat in Fifth Settlement every day. What makes Turathna 2026 different is that it gives the area a clear event-led purpose before it closes on 24 October 2026. You are not only going out for lunch; you are pairing a current Cairo event with shopping that supports real artisans and small enterprises from across Egypt.
For readers looking for things to do in New Cairo this week, that combination is hard to beat: a time-limited heritage fair, a practical shopping mission, and easy access to some of Fifth Settlement’s strongest dining zones. If you have been postponing your visit, the deadline matters now. After Saturday, 24 October, this particular edition is over.