It has been the capital of the country since 1952. The largest city in the Arab world, with a population of approximately 16 million inhabitants and one of the most populated cities in the world. It is also known as "The City of Minarets". It was founded in the year 116 AD. when the Romans rebuilt an ancient Persian fortress along the Nile River. To the southwest is the city of Giza and the ancient necropolis of Memphis, with the Giza plateau and its monumental pyramids. To the south is the place where the ancient city of Memphis was built. The current name is due to the Fatimids who baptized the city with the name of Al-Qahira.