Asuit

Asuit, also spelled Assiut or Asyut, is a city in Upper Egypt and the capital of the Assiut Governorate. It lies on the Nile about 350 kilometers south of Cairo and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in Egypt, with a history extending back to ancient times. The city has served as a regional commercial and administrative center through Islamic and modern periods, benefiting from its position on the Nile and its role in rural trade.

In the modern era, Assiut is a transportation, education, and service center for the surrounding governorate. It hosts Assiut University, established in 1957, along with other higher education and medical facilities. The economy is primarily service- and agriculture-based, with surrounding farms producing crops such as cotton and grains; local industries include textiles and food processing.

The population is diverse, with a long-standing Coptic Christian minority alongside the Muslim majority. The city contains mosques and churches that reflect this multi-religious heritage, and it has institutions dedicated to education and culture. The toponym derives from Arabic أسيوط, with transliterations including Asyut and Assiut.