The Cairo International Model United Nations (CIMUN) was founded in 1989 by a group of ambitious students of the American University in Cairo under the guidance and support Professor Earl Tim Sullivan, previously a professor in the AUC Political Science Department and the current Provost of AUC. The CIMUN program is an integral part of student life at AUC, being the oldest student activity on campus, now in its nineteenth year, and is recognized as one of the largest student- run inter-collegiate Model United Nations program outside of North America.

Starting with the simulation of only one council, the Security Council, CIMUN now simulates a total of seven councils. Every March, more than 400 students from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas come together in the heart of Cairo to simulate the various committees and councils of the UN and other related agencies. These students represent countries other than their own and debate a variety of political, economic, social and legal issues of great relevance and importance in international affairs. During the four days of the conference, resolutions, recommendations or declarations are submitted and voted on as a documentation and reflection of their rich discussions.

However, CIMUN aims to present itself not only as a conference appearing in March of every year, but as a year-long operating program through its two wings, the Model United Nations Awareness Program (introduced in 2004) and the Model United Nations Development Program that was created in 1999.  CIMUN believes in the importance of this organization playing a role not only within the Egyptian student body, yet more importantly for these students to participate in projects and activities within the framework of political and socio-economic development of Egyptian society.