After his overthrow in the Revolution of 1979, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi the last Shah found his final refuge in Cairo, Egypt. His time in the Egyptian capital marked the last chapter of his tumultuous life, one filled with exile, illness, and political isolation. Following the revolution, the Shah and his family were forced to flee , moving from country to country as most nations refused them asylum due to political pressure and the volatile international climate. In 1980, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, a personal friend and steadfast ally of the Shah, welcomed him and his family to Egypt with full honors.
The warm reception stood in sharp contrast to the cold responses they had received elsewhere. By the time he arrived in Cairo, the Shah was gravely ill with lymphoma. He received medical treatment at the Maadi Military Hospital, where Sadat frequently visited him. Despite his declining health, the Shah reportedly expressed gratitude toward Egypt and Sadat for offering him dignity and peace in his final months. On July 27, 1980, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi passed away in Cairo at the age of 60. His funeral was conducted with full state honors at Al-Rifai Mosque, a resting place reserved for Egyptian royalty.
