Aswan

For other uses, see Aswan (disambiguation).

This article is about Aswan; not to be confused with biblical city of Sin.

Aswan أسوان Swenett
City
View of the city from the Nile Philae temple complex Aswan High Dam Elephantine Island El Nabatat Island Aswan Bridge Old Cataract Hotel Nubian Museum
Aswan Location within Egypt
Coordinates: 24°05′20″N 32°53′59″E
Country	Egypt
Governorate	Aswan
Settled	600 BC
Area
• Total	375.39 km2 (144.94 sq mi)
Elevation	99 m (325 ft)
Population  (2024)
• Total	370,000
• Density	990/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
GDP (nominal, constant 2015 values)
• Year	2024
• Total	$2.0 billion
• Per capita	$5,405
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Area code	(+20) 97
Designations UNESCO World Heritage Site Official name Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae Type Cultural Criteria i, iii, vi Designated 1979 (3rd session) Reference no. 89 Region Egyptian Governorates, Northern Africa, African Union

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Aswan is a city in Upper Egypt and the capital of the Aswan Governorate. The city of Aswan is among the oldest continuously inhabited cities, with its recorded history spanning over 2,600 years.

Aswan is a busy market and tourist centre located just north of the Aswan Dam on the east bank of the Nile at the first cataract. The city was the southern frontier of Ancient Egypt. Aswan's local quarries supplied granite to many ancient Egyptian monuments, and these quarries are still operating today. The modern city has expanded and includes the formerly separate community on the island of Elephantine. Aswan is considered a global tourist winter destination.

Aswan includes five monuments within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae; these are the Old and Middle Kingdom tombs of Qubbet el-Hawa, the town of Elephantine, the stone quarries and Unfinished Obelisk, the Monastery of St. Simeon and the Fatimid Cemetery. The city's Nubian Museum is an important archaeological center, containing finds from the International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia before the Aswan Dam flooded all of Lower Nubia.

The city is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the category of craft and folk art. Aswan joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2017.