Asyut is the largest city in Upper Egypt, the largest central administrative district, and the capital of Asyut governorate. It is situated slightly south of the central point in the governorate, on the western bank of the Nile, and is home to the first major regional university, the University of Asyut, and the branch of Al-Azhar University that includes its scientific and religious faculties.

During the Pharaonic era, Asyut was the center for the Third Century territory, and home of the Viceroy. In the Greek era, Egypt was divided into the Nile Delta, Middle Egypt, and Upper Egypt, with Asyut serving as the capital of Upper Egypt. During the Roman era, Asyut was the capital of the Department of the North. Under the reign of Muhammad Ali Pasha, Egypt was divided into seven states, one of them being Gerga Asyut and called ‘the first half of the tribal area’ with its capital being Asyut.

In Qaysariyya area of Asyut city there are three Islamic Archaeological Agency buildings dating back to the Ottoman era.  These are known as Thabit Agency, Lutfi Agency, and Shelby Agency. They were built in the Ottoman architectural style, with a rectangular courtyard and a large window in the roof for lighting and ventilation. These Agency buildings usually consist of two floors; the lower floor was for the animals and storage of goods in different rooms, and the upper floor was for living and temporary lodging for traders who came from distant cities. Agency buildings have played an important role in the economic and commercial life of the city, where Asyut was an important trade center at that time as it is located at the beginning of Al-Arbaan Road that connects to the region of Darfur and Kordofan in Aswan.

Asyut governorate is famous for its production of cotton, wheat, maize, sorghum, pomegranates, citrus fruits, mangoes, grapes and bananas. There is also a large area devoted to the planting of sesame and peanuts in Bani Mahdiat village. Manfalout village is especially famous for its pomegranate crops.

Asyut governorate contributes to the country’s industrial activities with leading industries such as cement, fertilizer, oil refining, pharmaceuticals, and cotton ginning and spinning.  Six industrial areas have been established in various centers of the governorate to accommodate these industrial plants. Asyut Cement (CEMEX), a Mexican company, is one of the largest cement production facilities, and there are two Egyptian pharmaceutical companies, Sayed and T3A.  Asyut is also famous for its furniture industry, which has been established there for a very long time.

Asyut governorate has thirty-eight tourist areas that include Pharaonic, Coptic, Islamic and modern places of interest. There are the monuments of Mir and the monuments of Al-Hamaih, and the Burnt Monastery in Qusia, the Monastery of the Virgin Mary in Bandraka, and Al-Virgil Mosque in Abu Teig. In Asyut city there is the Institute of Religious Azhari, the Umayyad Mosque and Mujahideen Mosque, Asyut Barrage, and the protected Valley of Asyut.