Written by Athina Pfeiffer and Mathias Ghyoot (2024)

INtroduction

The Dominican Institute for Oriental Studies (IDEO) is a French research institute located in al-Abbasiyya in Cairo. Founded in 1953, IDEO is part of a priory and was originally meant to be an extension in Egypt of the École Biblique de Jérusalem. Today, IDEO holds a collection of more than 150,000 printed books and 1,800 periodicals, most of which are related to the study of both pre-modern and modern Islam.

IDEO is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9am to 4.50pm.

Location: Google Maps

GOING THERE

Grab a taxi or an Uber to IDEO. You can also take the metro to the al-Gaysh Metro Station. IDEO is located on 1 al-Tarabishi Street close to al-Halabi Square. If you’re lost, call them on +20224857825.

GETTING IN

Enter IDEO through the main gate. You'll immediately be greeted by a guard who will ask you to register your name. You’re permitted to bring bags and your computer into the facilities. Walk through the lovely garden and head towards the main building on your right. Once you’ve reached the building, facing it, head left and around the corner and up the small staircase to enter the library of IDEO. Once you’ve entered the library, head to the reception desk straight ahead and register your name with the librarian. Remember to bring your passport. You’ll have to deposit your bag at the reception, but you can bring your computer into the Main Reading Room.

Since January 1, 2023, the library subscription fee is 20 EGP per month. Alternatively, there is an option to pay 50 EGP for 6 months or 70 EGP for 12 months.

Finding your material

IDEO has an online catalog that you can access both remotely or onsite by way of one of the computers in the Main Reading Room.

Ordering your material

To order your materials approach one of the librarians at the reception desk who will hand you up to eight slips of paper (each slip equals one item) that you can then fill out with the information from the catalog. Next, the librarian will fetch the material and assign you a desk in the Main Reading Room. You’re not permitted to browse the stacks yourself.

Ordering scans

Anyone is allowed to take pictures of the material, but there is no overhead scanner on site. If you instead wish to get a black-and-white photocopy, you can request one from the librarians with a charge of 1 EGP per A4 page.

Food and well-being

IDEO is located in a quiet neighborhood without many food options around. You are welcome to bring your own lunch and eat in the garden or seek out one of the food stalls located on the streets around al-Halabi Square.

Toilets are decent and located next to the Main Reading Room.