The Ras El Hekma agreement dominated the airwaves last night, as the nation’s talking heads gave their praises to the UAE and Egypt’s government for finalizing the agreement, while speculating over the implications of the sale and what it could mean for Egypt’s future.

The agreement is “unlike any other,” Naguib Sawiris said during a phone call with Hadrat el Mowaten’s Sayed Ali (watch, runtime: 4:58). Sawiris brought attention to the importance of the timing of the agreement — given Egypt’s current economic woes — as well as the favorable conditions of the agreement. “There is a humanitarian side to the agreement from the UAE. This is a people who have loved Egypt all their lives, and have stood with Egypt all their lives, because they are convinced that Egypt is the gateway to the Arab nation and we must stand behind it," Sawiris added.

“The agreement is a lifeline – but it is not the solution, it is only the beginning,” El Heyaka’s Amr Adib said (watch, runtime: 28:00). “The state is breathing a sigh of relief. Now many officials can sleep in their homes. We are in a much better situation, and things are going well. This agreement is the beginning of a solution to the crisis,” he added.

Adib was primarily concerned with how the agreement would reflect on the lives of Egyptian citizens, and whether it could curb the surging prices of essential commodities. “Commodity prices will fall when the state adjusts its course and begins implementing a new policy that will fight inflation, and harness the state’s resources for that,” economist Mohamed Fouad told Adib (watch, runtime: 19:52) “The government has recently focused on fixing the exchange rate, which — along with large amounts of spending — greatly interferes with inflation, and even creates it. The price of the USD will fall only when the real demand for it is met,” Fouad added.

The Ras El Hekma agreement also received coverage from Kelma Akhira (watch, runtime:7:50), Masaa DMC (watch, runtime: 45:54), and Al Hayah Al Youm (watch, runtime: 30:07).

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