Founded in 1961, Al-Azhar University is a non-profit public higher-education institution located in the urban setting of the large metropolis of Cairo (population range of over 5,000,000 inhabitants). This institution also has branches in Assiut, Tanta, Mansoura, Alexandria, Zaqaziq, Qena and Shebin-Elkom. Officially recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education of Egypt, Al-Azhar University is a very large coeducational Egyptian higher education institution formally affiliated with the Islamic religion.