Egypt's most famous director Ali Abdel Khaliq passed way on Friday at the age of 78 after a battle with illness.

The funeral prayers of the late director will be held at Sayyed Nafisa Mosque in Cairo on Saturday.

Abdel-Khaliq graduated from the Higher Institute of Cinema in 1966 and worked as an assistant director for years before becoming a director.

Pairing with veteran writer Mahmoud Abo Zeid, Abdel Khaliq directed a series of smash-hit movies, topped by Ughniyya 'ala al-mamar (A Song on the Passage) in 1972, El 'Aar (The Shame) in 1982, Al-Keif (The High) in 1985, Gary El Wohoush (Monsters Run) in 1987, El-Baydha Wal Hagar (The Egg and the Stone) in 1990.

He also directed some TV series like Al-Bawaba Al-Thaneya (The Second Gate) in 2009.

MENA