The National Police Museum is one of Egypt's historical museums, dedicated to commemorating the role of the Egyptian police in maintaining the security and safety of the nation throughout different historical periods. It is located in the northwestern corner of the Citadel of Saladin, near the Royal Carriages Museum.

The exhibits include historical weapons and military oils, rare documents, photographs of prominent police officers and ministers of the interior, antique fire extinguishers, and accounts of some of the most famous criminal cases that shook Egypt.

An Overview

The museum comprises a series of halls, each dedicated to showcasing a specific era in the history of the Egyptian police. One hall displays the history of the police in ancient Egypt, another in the Islamic era, and a third exhibits firefighting equipment. Visitors can explore the history of major battles, political assassinations, and social crimes in the modern era, as well as models depicting the evolution of weapons and police uniforms. You can also see some of the fire trucks used by the police during the 18th and 19th centuries. Furthermore, you can journey back in time to some of the most significant battles fought by the Egyptian police by exploring models representing their struggle against colonialism in the January 25, 1952, battle in Ismailia. The museum is housed in a single building divided into several halls containing artifacts and photographs that highlight the efforts and continuous struggle of the Egyptian police from ancient Egyptian times to the modern era.

The Construction

The idea of ​​establishing and opening the museum began in 1986 during the celebration of Police Day. It was then closed for development in 2008 and reopened in 2013. The Police Museum was opened on January 25, 1986, in the presence of the late President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak and Major General Ahmed Rushdi, the Minister of Interior at the time. The opening coincided with the celebration of Police Day that year.

The Main Hall

The walls of the main hall are adorned with portraits of Ministers of the Interior from the monarchy to the present day. Examples include:

Hussein Rushdi Pasha

Adly Yakan Pasha

Abdel Khaleq Tharwat (during the monarchy)

Fouad Serag El-Din Pasha

Zakaria Mohieddin

Abbas Radwan

Abdel Azim Fahmy

Shaarawy Gomaa

Mohamed El-Nabawy Ismail

Ahmed Rushdi

Zaki Mostafa Badr

Mohamed Abdel Halim Moussa

Hassan El-Alfy

Habib El-Adly (from the 1952 Revolution until after the January 25, 2011, Revolution)

In addition, there is a collection of police medals. The Ministry of the Interior has also prepared a summary of the role of the Antiquities Investigations Department, legislation for the protection of archaeological heritage, and some examples of counterfeit currency and the equipment used in counterfeiting.

The Development work

The museum was fully restored in 2013 after a closure of about a year. The restoration work included strengthening the walls, replacing damaged tiles, installing modern ventilation and lighting systems, and upgrading the security and surveillance system. The museum is designed in the luxurious Ayyubid Islamic style and consists of six main exhibition halls, each hall dedicated to a specific time period.

What is the connection between the Police Museum and the Lions Tower?

The building rests on the Lions Tower, which was discovered during the museum's construction. The tower was named for the prominent reliefs depicting several lions in combat on its upper frame, suggesting its association with Sultan al-Zahir Baybars. It is the only remaining tower from the Mamluk Citadel.

The Police Hall in the Pharaonic Era

This hall includes models of weapons used during that period.

The collections include arrows, shields, bows, and axes.

Stucco panels shed light on police activities in Pharaonic Egypt.

There is a model of a wooden boat with ten sailors representing the river police in the Pharaonic era, similar to modern river police. The river police were specifically known during the reign of King Menes (or Narmer) around 3000 BC.

What is the connection between the Police Museum and the Lions Tower?

The building rests on the Lions Tower, which was discovered during the museum's construction. The tower was named for the prominent reliefs depicting several lions in combat on its upper frame, suggesting its association with Sultan al-Zahir Baybars. It is the only remaining tower from the Mamluk Citadel.

The Police Hall in the Pharaonic Era

This hall includes models of weapons used during that period.

The collections include arrows, shields, bows, and axes.

The stucco panels shed light on police activities in Pharaonic Egypt.

There is a model of a wooden boat with ten sailors representing the river police in the Pharaonic era, similar to modern river police. The river police were specifically known during the reign of King Menes (or Narmer) around 3000 BC.

The Police Hall during Islamic Egypt

It displays weapons from various Islamic eras and police emblems from each period. For example, a primitive pistol made of iron and wood.

The handle is decorated with floral motifs inlaid with gold. It is muzzle-loading, operates on a breech system, and has a very short effective range. It is considered one of the first firearms to replace traditional weapons of the time, such as the sword.

The Paintings illustrating police uniforms during the Ottoman era. An example of an artistic painting depicts three people: a soldier, an infantry commander, and a guard.

Another painting depicts four people: two policemen, the first lieutenant's assistant for the camps, and a palace officer

A rare archaeological document from an Ottoman-era trial includes a ruling issued on April 3, 1678, by the Sharia judge of the Ibrim court. The ruling orders the payment of 500 dinars in blood money to a man named Ahmed Khalil as compensation for paralysis of his hand and the loss of some fingers, after he was struck on the hand with a sword by a man named Ahmed ibn Bahram.

The Hall of Political Assassinations

Photos and Methods of Political Assassinations (Assassination Attempts): The museum displays weapons and photographs of failed and successful assassination attempts targeting politicians and leaders in Egypt, most notably the attempt on the life of President Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1954.

The Hall of Social Crimes

Such as the infamous case of Raya and Sakina, as well as folk heroes like Adham El-Sharkawy, who lived in the village of Zubaida, Itay El-Baroud district, Beheira Governorate, Egypt. The museum presents a brief overview of his struggle and resistance against the British occupation. There are sections dedicated to the most famous criminal cases in Egyptian history, most notably the case of Raya and Sakina (Alexandria, 1920s). Photographs, documents, and footage from the crime scene are displayed, along with the tools used in the murder and burial (such as axes, hammers, and cleavers), culminating in the account of their arrest. The story of the folk hero Adham El-Sharkawy is also presented.

The Hall of Firefighters' Equipmen

This hall houses some of the oldest fire engines used in Egypt, displaying four fire engines dating back to successive historical periods, from the Ottoman era and the era of Muhammad Ali to the modern era.

The Ismailia Hall

One of the museum's most prominent features is a hall dedicated to the epic battle of the Ismailia police and their resistance against the British occupation on January 25, 1952, an event commemorated as Egyptian Police Day. This hall showcases the police's struggle against the British occupation. It includes a model depicting the events of the Battle of Ismailia between the Egyptian police, fortified within, and the British forces besieged outside, along with a number of weapons used in the battle. The main hall also displays a collection of statues representing the Egyptian police uniform and its evolution from the Mamluk era to the modern age.

You can also journey back in time to some of the most important battles fought by Egyptian police officers by exploring the models that represent the Egyptian police's struggle against colonialism in the Battle of Ismailia on January 25, 1952. The history of the Egyptian police, from ancient Egypt to the modern era, is also explored. Among the museum's most notable exhibits is a memorial plaque inscribed with the names of 50 Egyptian police martyrs from the Battle of Ismailia.

The Historical Firearms and Bladed Weapons Hall

A vast collection of weapons used by the Egyptian police and criminal gangs throughout history is on display, ranging from Ottoman swords and shields to modern pistols and rifles. Among the most prominent is the weapon used in the 1954 assassination attempt against President Gamal Abdel Nasser, as well as weapons used in other notorious political and criminal acts.

The Uniforms and Insignia Hall

A rare collection of Egyptian police uniforms and insignia is exhibited, spanning from the Mamluk era (cavalry and governors), through the Ottoman period and the reign of Muhammad Ali Pasha (the indigo uniform), to the modern era (khaki, gray, and blue uniforms). Portraits of Ministers of the Interior from the monarchy to the present day are also on display.

The Fleets Hall

The museum features models, photographs, and statues of police forces in ancient Egypt, where the pharaohs had a sophisticated police system (security guards, Nile police, and desert police). Primitive weapons from the pharaonic era (arrows, clubs, spears) and administrative seals are also on display.

The Scientific Instruments and Forgery

The museum displays a rare collection of forgery detection devices (currencies and documents) used by the police throughout the ages, from simple handheld magnifiers to relatively modern mechanical machines.

The Vintage Fire Trucks

A separate section houses the latest firefighting equipment and displays some of Egypt's oldest fire trucks, dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries (the Ottoman and Muhammad Ali Pasha eras). These trucks were sometimes horse-drawn or handcrafted.

The Prison Hall (Historical Cell)

It's part of the Police Museum, this section includes antique prison cells dating back to the Middle Ages within the Citadel. These cells were used to detain convicts or important prisoners. You can see the shackles, chains, and massive iron doors.

The Medals and Decorations

One of the halls features display cases filled with police medals, decorations, and awards, from the Medal of Bravery and the Sinai Medal to medals for long service and good conduct, awarded to police officers and personnel.

How to Prepare for a Visit to the History of Egyptian Security Inside the Ayyubid Citadel?

Prepare in advance: Allocate only 30 minutes to an hour for the museum, as it is relatively small compared to other museums. Most importantly: Take advantage of your visit to the Citadel to see other museums (the Royal Carriage Museum and the Military Museum).