The rapid change brought about by the growing commercial activity of the area is responsible for the astronomical increase in the price of land. In 1984, he added, a businessman had the Ottoman-era Hammam's four domes destroyed. The SCA took prompt action, however, and had the domes restored. Residents say merchants from the area hope to make millions from the land on which Cairo's Islamic monuments stand. The collapse of these monuments, therefore, is highly desirable as far as they are concerned.
Administrative procedures take several hours, allowing most of the demolition work to be completed.
Abdel-Mohsen's father, 'Amm Ramadan, explained they had received the flats a year ago. But I work here, near the Wikala. So I closed my flat, and I'm still living in my room here. Amm Ramadan pays LE1.25 a month for his room at the Wikala. If he moved to his flat in Al-Muqattam, he would lose time and money commuting to work every day.