Nazli Fazl

Nazli Zainab Hanim (; 1853 – 28 December 1913) was an Egyptian princess from the dynasty of Muhammad Ali Pasha and one of the first women to revive the tradition of the literary salon in the Arab world, at her palace in Cairo from the 1880s until her death.

Early life Of Turkish origin, Princess Nazli Fazil was born in Cairo, in 1853, the eldest child of Mustafa Fazıl Pasha, son of Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt and brother of the future Khedive Isma'il Pasha, and his wife Dilazad Hanim

Personal life In October 1872, she married one of her father’s cousins, Turkish ambassador Khalil Sherif Pasha. She moved to Cairo with him in 1875. Khalil became the Porte's ambassador to France, so she left Cairo once more and shared with her husband his voyages and displacements to several European capitals. Her political and social formation benefitted from his diplomatic experience. It was not a happy marriage, and her one daughter, Hayya Hanim, died in infancy. Upon his death in 1879, she moved back to Cairo, Khedivate of Egypt, and settled in a palace located nearby to the royal Abdeen Palace, named "Villa Henry" She also arranged his marriage to Safiya Zaghloul. Additionally, it was at her insistence that Lord Cromer coordinated 'Abduh's return from exile in 1888.

Later life and death Nazli lived in La Marsa in a house that she named Villa Ramses. The abode became a cultural center that attracted the Tunisian intelligentsia. The house also became the pivot of relations between Tunis and Cairo. It was there that famous Egyptian personalities, such as the reformer Mohamed Abduh, met the Tunisian elite. He, in turn, invited the Tunisian Bashir Sfar to accompany him when he returned to Egypt. Through her, important Egyptians established contacts with the Young Tunisians.

On 13 October 1913, she fell while walking. The consequences of that fall were fatal, for after being transported to Cairo, she died on 28 December 1913. She was buried in the Fazil Mausoleum, Imam al-Shafi'i, Cairo.

Patronages Patroness of literary salon in Cairo Honorary member of the New England Conservatory of Music