Worst air pollution Cairo, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Cairo is poor. AQI and O3 are poor; PM2.5 and NO2 are fair; SO2 is medium; PM10, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 72.3/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Cairo is poor. NO2 decreases to medium; PM1 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 66.0/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Cairo's air quality reflects the Nile Delta's flat basin position, with vehicle traffic on the Ring Road and the surrounding extraordinary vehicle density, industrial corridor, and seasonal agricultural burning generating elevated PM2.5 and PM10. The khamsin desert winds from the Sahara periodically deliver intense dust episodes, while winter temperature inversions concentrate vehicle and industrial emissions and Cairo's combination of vehicle, industrial, and desert dust sources maintains it among Africa's most challenging major metropolitan air quality environments throughout the year.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Poor
72.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
20.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
16.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
39.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
72.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
43.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
6.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
18.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Poor
66.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
23.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
18.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
47.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
66.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
48.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
11.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
22.2/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Cairo right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Cairo is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 72.3/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 72.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Cairo?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Cairo will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 66.0/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 66.0/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Cairo?
Air quality in Cairo tends to be worse when traffic emissions as well as agricultural activity build up and temperature inversions set in over the valley. Topographic enclosure in the valley lets pollution accumulate rather than clear out. Strong seasonal winds can lift dust from the surrounding dry terrain and push particulate levels sharply higher.
Are air quality levels in Cairo based on measurements or forecasts?
It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.
Why doesn’t the forecast always reflect wildfire impacts?
Airmine’s forecast uses CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) as its background atmospheric model. While CAMS includes wildfire emissions, these are derived from satellite observations and are not available in real time. During rapidly evolving wildfire events, there may therefore be a delay before increased emissions are incorporated into the model. As a result, the forecast may temporarily underestimate PM₂.₅ and other pollutants associated with wildfire smoke.
During rapidly evolving wildfire events, CAMS may lag by approximately 1–2 days before increased wildfire emissions are fully represented, which can lead to temporary underestimation of PM₂.₅ concentrations in Airmine’s forecast.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)
This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.
Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.
Disclaimer: Forecasts are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. Actual pollen and air quality conditions may vary from the forecast. If you have allergies, asthma, or another medical condition, consult a healthcare professional. Please see our Terms of Service for important information about limitations of liability.
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