Girga is one of the largest cities in Upper Egypt and one of the oldest in the whole of the Arab Republic of Egypt. It had previously been an independent province at the beginning of the Ottoman era, but was renamed the Directorate of Girga during the reign of Muhammad Ali Pasha.

Tina, or Nag El-Tina, which is now one of the villages within Girga central district, was the home and residence of the first Egyptian ruler, known in history as King Mina Narmer, who was able to unite Egypt and transfer its capital to Memphis. During the first and middle history of Egypt, Girga became a center of Ottoman rule in southern Egypt, and was one of the major cities in the Ottoman Empire. 

It flourished in trade and science, and many grand mosques were built, such as the Mosque of Osman Bey, El-Foukaraa Mosque (El-Zebda), and the Mosque of Jalal Bey (Sheikh Jalal). The center of the city, during that period, was El-Teikia (Sooq El-Teikia) and El-Ghelal. What remain today are Qaysariyya, Osman Bey Mosque, and Sheikh Jalal Mosque.  In 1730 the plague spread in the area and led to the death of much of the city’s population.  After this, the city was abandoned for a long time. Muhammad Ali Pasha redrew the Egyptian map and established in Girga a large Directorate of Egypt.