Nahla Zayed Cairo, Egypt – March 2026 – Across the Middle East, Ramadan is increasingly becoming a canvas for creative installations that transform everyday spaces into cultural moments. This year in Cairo, heritage rug house Kahhal 1871 brings that idea to life with Rugs in the Sky, a striking rooftop installation created in collaboration with Mazeej Balad.
Suspended above the restaurant’s rooftop majlis, three handcrafted Kahhal rugs appear to float above guests gathering each evening for iftar and suhoor. The installation turns traditional woven textiles into a suspended architectural gesture, transforming the dining space into an immersive setting where heritage craft meets contemporary design.
Set against the skyline of Old Cairo, the project creates a visually striking moment where centuries-old craftsmanship is reimagined through a modern urban lens. More than décor, Rugs in the Sky reflects a broader shift across the region, where Ramadan is becoming a platform for design, creativity, and cultural storytelling.
Through the installation, Kahhal 1871 continues to push the boundaries of traditional rug making, exploring how heritage textiles can exist beyond the floor and into new forms of spatial expression.
As Cairo’s rooftops fill with iftar gatherings throughout the holy month, Rugs in the Sky offers a new way of experiencing Ramadan in the city, where craft, community, and creativity intersect.
About Kahhal 1871:
KAHHAL 1871 is the luxury home of contemporary and heritage hand-knotted rugs, currently operated by the fifth generation of the oldest and most renowned manufacturers and purveyors of handmade carpets and rugs in Egypt.
About Mohamed El Kahhal:
Mohamed El Kahhal is the fifth-generation leader and Managing Director of Kahhal 1871, Egypt’s oldest luxury rug house. With a deep respect for craft and culture, he is reshaping a 150-year-old legacy for a fast-moving world. Recently becoming a father, Mohamed is driven by the question of what kind of world – and brand – the next generation will inherit. His leadership blends heritage with fresh perspectives, collaborating across design disciplines to create work that feels alive and globally relevant while remaining unapologetically rooted in Arab identity.
