Ismailia is the capital of the governorate of Al Isma'iliyah, and one of the newest cities in Egypt. [[1]] It has a population (including surrounding rural areas) of approximately 750,000 persons. It is located on the west bank of the Suez Canal, approximately half way between Port Said to the north and Port Said to the South. The Canal widens at that point to include Lake Timsah, one of the Bitter Lakes linked by the Canal. It is an administration center for the Suez Canal and still has a large number of Colonial housing dating from British and French involvement with the Canal. Most of these buildings are still used by Canal employees and officials.

Ismailia does get tourists from within Egypt, but is not a major tourism destination for international tourists. The city is approximately a ninety minute automobile drive from Cairo. From Ismailia it is approximately a four hour drive to Sharm el Sheikh in South Sinai. Driving to the Israeli border crossing at Taba and the Palestinian-Gaza crossing at Rafah are both approximatley four hours drives.

• Tom Friedman, New York Times on recent democracy demonstrations in Ismailia, March 13, 2005