LEGISLATION WATCH-

The revamped Criminal Procedures Law is now law of the land: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has signed into law the new Criminal Procedures Law after it got the green light from the House, according to an Ittihadiya statement. El Sisi had previously sent the law back to the House to address objections over several articles related to governance, clarity, and practicality, which the House addressed before sending it back to be ratified. The law will come into effect at the start of the 2026 judicial year to give courts and prosecutors time to implement the new framework.

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REFRESHER- The new law replaces a decades-old legislation, setting a unified framework for investigations, prosecution, appeals, and enforcement. It was first passed by MPs in April after months of debate, then sent back by the president in September for further refinement. We dove into some of the key provisions of the draft law in our previous coverage — check it out here.

DIPLOMACY-

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelaty met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara yesterday, delivering a letter from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on ways to deepen ties and finalize preparations for the second Egyptian-Turkish High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, set to take place in Cairo in 2026, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. During the meeting, the two sides touched on the latest developments in Gaza, Sudan, and Libya.

Abdelaty co-chaired the first meeting of the Egypt–Turkey Joint Planning Group alongside his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, which brought together senior officials from both governments. The meeting saw both sides reaffirming plans to expand cooperation across industry, energy, transport, and tourism, and explore joint ventures in green transition and renewable energy. Abdelaty underscored Egypt’s commitment to attracting fresh Turkish investment into Egypt.

REGULATION WATCH-

Life insurers can now invest in gold: The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) has issued a decision authorizing life ins. firms to directly invest in precious metals — including gold — for the very first time, the regulator said in a statement. Under the decision, firms can allocate a fraction of their investment-linked premiums towards gold following FRA approval and under a strict regulatory framework designed to balance innovation, transparency, and client protection.

ENERGY-

Our friends at renewables giant Infinity Power have secured a USD 372 mn refinancing facility from African financial services group Absa Corporate and Investment Banking to optimize financing for its 368 MW wind portfolio in South Africa, according to a press release(pdf). The portfolio — which includes three wind farms — falls under South Africa’s national energy procurement plan Bid Window 3.

What they said: “This refinancing reflects the strength of Infinity Power and the confidence our partners place in us. It enhances our financial position, enabling us to expand clean energy solutions across Africa while ensuring lasting value for the communities we serve,” Infinity Power Chairman Mohamed Mansour said.

REAL ESTATE-

Proptech startup Partment has launched PartmentX, a real estate investment platform allowing users to invest in properties starting from EGP 50k, according to a statement (pdf) from the startup. “[The platform] introduces a fractional investment product in residential real estate, creating income-generating pathways and empowering a new generation of investors to participate in the market growth shaping the country’s real estate landscape,” the statement read.

MICROFINANCE-

Local microfinance provider Tamweely Financial Services raised its paid-up capital to EGP 225 mn, up from EGP 150 mn, aiming to strengthen its capital base and support its upcoming expansion plans, according to a statement (pdf) from the company. The increase — fully funded from the company’s own reserves — raises the capital allocated to SME financing to EGP 150 mn, and to EGP 75 mn for microfinancing. This follows approval from the Financial Regulatory Authority and the General Authority for Freezones and Investments.

The company plans to open 50 new branches across 19 governorates in 2026, bringing its total network to 280. It is preparing to launch new products, including medical equipment financing and shariah-compliant financing. It will also be able to double its maximum loan limit per SME client from EGP 7.5 mn to EGP 15 mn, following the capital increase.

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