The Place: Mataria Quarter in Cairo, a modest neighborhood with a population exceeding 650,000 people.
Time: Every 15th of Ramadan in the Islamic calendar, during the holy month of Ramadan.
The tradition began 11 years ago when a group of Mataria residents decided to gather for a communal Iftar meal. (Iftar is the meal served at sunset to break the fast during Ramadan.) They set up tables and seating, sharing food and drinks together. Since then, this gathering became an annual tradition held on the 15th of Ramadan.
On April 27, 2021, after emerging from the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a collective eagerness to revive social connections. However, that year’s Iftar event was extraordinary. Satellites detected unusual high-illumination activity in Mataria, appearing like a long, illuminated train with seats on both sides running through the narrow 3-meter-wide alleys. The surprise was immense when it was revealed to be a 3,000-meter-long dining table, uniting the entire Mataria community in a shared celebration of Ramadan without curfew restrictions.
The event quickly evolved beyond the local community. Mataria began welcoming guests from across Egypt and even beyond, offering them free Iftar meals. Additionally, meals were distributed to people on the streets, in orphanages, and to the less fortunate.
The tradition gained further recognition, attracting wealthy individuals, officials, public figures, bloggers, and ambassadors. In the following year, representatives from Guinness World Records visited Cairo on the event’s date to assess whether Mataria’s table could qualify as the longest dining table in the world. Against all odds, the humble quarter of Mataria achieved this remarkable milestone.
On March 15, 2025, four ministers from the Egyptian cabinet, numerous ambassadors, and thousands of bloggers and vloggers attended the event. They witnessed this incredible gathering, supporting Mataria’s ongoing nomination for the world’s longest dining table and celebrating a tradition that embodied unity, generosity, and community spirit.
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