Good morning, friends, and happy Friday. Even though fewer issues made it to your inbox this week, it’s been a long and busy one for us at EnterpriseAM, and we’re happy to settle into our couch and wind down on this chilly morning.

Missed our coverage during our publication holiday? No worries, you can find everything that you might have missed in the headlines below, from investment news to international developments.

Leave resolutions of smaller portions and more mindful eating for the new year, and dig into these foodie favorites this weekend. From newly-minted eateries to long-hailed favorites that stood strong in ‘25, we’ve listed our favorite bites of the year in this week’s edition of The Enterprise Guide.

Enterprise Weekend comes out each Friday at 9:00am CLT. We’ll be back on Sunday at 6am with EnterpriseAM. Until then: Enjoy the weekend.

🗞️ LAST WEEK IN 3 MINS-

ENERGY-

#1- Egypt locked in a long-term energy backstop after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed off on the stalled USD 35 bn natural gas export agreement. The deal will see Chevron and its partners in the Leviathan gas field, NewMed Energy and Ratio Energies, export 130 bcm of gas to Egypt between 2026 and 2040.

#2- Dubai-based Amea Power and Japan’s Kyuden International have wrapped financing on a USD 700 mn solar and battery storage project in Aswan, Amea said in a statement. It will be the largest single-site renewable energy facility in Africa when it comes online. The 1 GW solar plant, paired with 600 MWh of battery storage, should come online by June 2026. Amea Power holds 60% of the project, while Kyuden has 40%. It’s Kyuden’s first investment in Egypt; construction work is already underway.

#3- The Tourism Development Authority is allocating land for renewable energy projects for the first time, with Cairo-based Karm Holding (formerly Karm Solar) securing the inaugural deal: a 500k sqm site south of Marsa Allam Airport for a 40 MW off-grid solar plant.

INVESTMENT WATCH-

Egypt expects to land c.USD 10 bn in Qatari investment by the end of 2026, a senior government official told EnterpriseAM. The inflows will be a mix of sovereign and private capital, with the lion's share coming from state-affiliated entities. Officials expect Qatari companies in manufacturing, ports and logistics, and hospitality to invest a combined USD 2.0-2.5 bn.

TOURISM(ish)-

The Tourism Development Authority (TDA) is offering relief measures to investors in the Taba-Nuweiba area to cushion the blow from the war in Gaza. Investors will be able to defer debt repayments for an additional year and suspend repayments for 18 months without interest penalties.

DEBT WATCH-

The Mabdouly government ispreparing a new incentive package and regulatory tweaks in a bid to start curbing our reliance on the hottest of hot money flows. The package of measures includes changes to the primary dealers system and the secondary market for local-currency debt, a senior government official told EnterpriseAM.

CONSTRUCTION-

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) sent a signal of confidence in Egypt, after tapping our friends at Hassan Allam Construction to build its USD 250 mn African Trade Center (AATC) in the New Capital. It will be the bank’s largest global complex to date and will house its new global headquarters, replacing the bank’s current HQ in Heliopolis.

🌍 AROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS-

The spotlight remains on the oil trade amidst rising tensions between Venezuela and the US. US President Donald Trump ordered a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela, he said in a lengthy post on Truth Social. Following Trump’s announcement, crude futures dipped to their lowest close since February 2021.

^^ The must-read on the topic: Oil rises as Trump's Venezuela blockade takes edge offglobal crude surplus concerns (Reuters).

Over in the business press- Warner Bros. Discovery’s board rejected Paramount Skydance’s “inferior” GCC-backed offer and urged shareholders to recommit to Netflix’s bid. Also, New York hedge fund Standard General is reportedly in talks to invest in (or acquire) the Warner Bros. Discovery television networks, including CNN, according to a Financial Times report. Read more: Associated Press.

Meanwhile- BP’s Murray Auchincloss is out as CEO after less than two years. He’s being replaced by Meg O’Neill, who comes in from Australia’s Woodside Energy. She marks BP’s third CEO in five years, and their first woman CEO. Analysts expect her to toe the line and stay committed to BP’s oil and gas-first approach. Read more: Financial Times.

And- Volkswagen is shutting a plant in Germany, its home market, for the first time in its 88-year history. That’s bad news for any country hoping VW is eyeing them for a new assembly plant, including Egypt. Read more: New York Times.

Also- Earlier this week, PayPal applied to open a bank in the US. If greenlit, the newly-minted bank would offer savings accounts and strengthen PayPal’s loan services to SMEs across the US. Read more:Bloomberg.

☀️ THE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND-

Put on your sweaters and grab a hot cup of cocoa — we’re in for a chilly weekend in Cairo. Temperatures on Friday are set to peak at 22°C before cooling further to 12°C. On Saturday, the capital is in for a slightly warmer day with a high of 23°C and a low of 14°C, according to our favorite weather app.

Happening this weekend

🎵Abyusif makes his comeback at the Greek Campus in Downtown Cairo tonight. Expect a high-energy show and a hyped up crowd. Tickets are selling out fast — you can get yours on Ticketsmarché.

Sharmoofers are hitting the stage at City Centra Almaza’s City Garage tonight. Expect a night of good vibes and groovy music. You can find tickets on Ticketsmarché.

In the mood to explore Old Cairo? Join Athar Lina’s Spendthe Day in Khalifa for a tour through al-Khalifa today and tomorrow. Expect to learn about the heritage of al-Khalifa with narration from its very own residents alongside a trip to the Southern Cemetery. The event is at no charge — full program details are available through this form.

Grammy-nominee Ibrahim Maalouf is coming to Egypt as part of his tribute tour, marking the 10th anniversary of his acclaimed album Kalthoum. Catch the Lebanese trumpeter at New Capital’s Concert Hall tomorrow. You can get your tickets now on Ticketsmarché.

Pop icon Tamer Hosny is bringing his biggest hits to the Abdeen Palace open air theater for a fundraising concert this Saturday. Dress in black tie and formal evening wear for a fully seated night with the star live on stage. Tickets are available on Tazkarti.

Happening next weekend

  • 😶‍🌫️ It’s not too late to catch Tul8te. The masked singer will be performing live at El Arena, El Malahy next Thursday. Book your spot on Ticketsmarché.
  • 💃 Care for an evening with Bahaa Sultan? The star will be taking over the Hilton Cairo Grand Nile on Friday, 26 December. Tickets are available on Ticketsmarché.
  • 🎻 Saad El Oud will also be performing at the Hilton Cairo Grand Nile on Saturday, 27 December. Get your tickets from Ticketsmarché.
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