For best-informed decision-making to improve climate change adaptation and reduce present and future air pollution health hazards, it is essential to identify major trends in spatiotemporal air quality patterns of common air contaminants. This study examined the patterns and trends of SO2, NO2, CO, O3, and particulate matter (PM) air pollutants over 91 monitoring stations in Egypt during 93 months in the August (2013)–April (2021) period. In situ data with their monthly, seasonal, and yearly spatial trends are defined and used to validate the counterpart satellite reanalysis MERRA-2 data. The Mann–Kendall test characterized the seasonal monotonic trends and their Sen’s slope, and annual change rate for both data series. Regression analysis of MERRA-2 against in situ concentrations of SO2and PM10revealed underestimation with RMSE values of 13.38 g m−3and 69.46 g m−3, respectively. Local plumes with variable magnitudes characterized distinct industrial places clarified by patterns of in situ pollutants. As a result of the COVID-19 lockdown, the in situ air pollutants showed a considerable regional decline in the yearly average in 2020 compared to the years before. The in situ air pollutants showed annual trends far more significant than those seen in the MERRA-2 data. The shortcomings of the few and spatiotemporal discontinuities of the in situ contaminants are addressed by MERRA-2 air quality products. The in situ data made trends and magnitudes clear that were hidden in their MERRA-2 counterparts. The results clarified air pollution patterns, trends, and spatial variability over Egypt that are essential for climate risk management and for reducing environmental/health concerns.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11869-023-01357-6.