[3] It has a length of 34.2 km (21.3 mi) with 34 stations (21 underground, 2 at grade, 11 elevated), all built and operated in seven phases between 2007 and 2024.

This first phase includes five underground stations (Attaba, Bab El Shaariya, El-Geish, Abdou Pasha, and Abbassiya) and serves the eastern part of Cairo from the city centre.

The project was built by a consortium, led by VINCI Construction Grands Projets, comprising Bouygues Travaux Publics, Orascom and Arab Contractors.

[15] The phase 1 civil engineering contract covered construction of a 4.3 km (2.7 mi) tunnel section and five stations.

[16] VINCI subsidiary ETF-Eurovia Travaux Ferroviaires led the consortium responsible for the track works.

The construction was led by consortium with VINCI, Bouygues Travaux Publics, Orascom and Arab Contractors.

It starts from Haroun El-Rashed Street and passes through Heliopolis Square and ends at Ain Shams District.

It has four tunnel stations: Haroun, Heliopolis Square, Alf Masken and El Shams Club.

[23] Phase 4B starts from El-Nozha passing through Qobaa on Gesr Al-Suez Street then towards Hikestep district and ends at Adly Mansour Station in El-Salam City (near El-Asher Bus Stop).

[4] Phase 4C is proposed to start from Heliopolis station passing through Al-Hegaz Square and Military Academy area to Sheraton District and after 7.0 km (4.3 mi) ending at Cairo International Airport.

The northern branch runs parallel to the Cairo Ring Road, reaching 10th of Ramadan City.

[30][31] When construction began, residents of the historic island of Zamalek were concerned that the location of the station was not opportune.

[32] The residents fears were nevertheless confirmed on 26 July 2020, when an apartment building above one of the construction sites subsided and was evacuated.