Good morning, folks. Welcome to the weekend. It’s been a busy week — the phone import exemption is officially over, derivatives trading got the green light, and Trump walked back tariff threats after rattling global markets. You can catch up on all the headlines below. And if you’re craving a break from them, read down even farther.

Feeling the pull of the great outdoors? This week’s guide to rural escapes in and around Cairo has everything from farm day-visits to wellness retreats just a short drive from Cairo — no passport required.

🗞️ LAST WEEK IN 3 MINS-

TAX-

#1- Your chance to bring in a phone from abroad without being charged customs fees is now gone, after the Madbouly government ended the exemption that granted Egyptians the right to bring in one handset without customs or taxes every three years. This comes almost a year after the policy on personal mobile-phone imports was first introduced.

#2- The Finance Ministry is reviewing the VAT Law with a view to scrap exemptions on some goods and services, a senior government source tells EnterpriseAM. The move is designed to bolster tax revenues while allowing for income tax brackets adjustments to support low-income earners, the source added;

EGX WATCH-

Derivatives trading is almost here. The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) officiallylicensed the EGX to operate its futures exchange, clearing the way for trading to launch as early as March. This aligns with the exchange’s latest guidance that a functional derivatives market will go live before the end of 1Q.

REAL ESTATE-

The Madbouly government is preparing an integrated incentive package designed to attract EGP 3 tn in real estate investment between 2026 and 2030. The plan centers on a massive land bank of 115 mn square meters, valued at over EGP 500 bn, which will be offered to local and foreign developers under a revised fiscal and regulatory framework.

DIPLOMACY-

Gerd took center stage during a meeting between US President Donald Trump and President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on the sidelines of Davos. As expected, the meeting touched on Trump’s proposal to mediate the Egypt-Ethiopia dispute over the dam, with Trump saying that it “has become a very dangerous issue … I’ll see if I can get that back on track.”

M&A WATCH-

#1- A Dutch court just threw a spanner in Orascom’s works — and it’s a warning to every Egyptian company that set up shop in the Netherlands. Dutch-listed fertilizer giant OCI Global will remove its proposed merger with EGX- and ADX-listed Orascom Construction from the agenda of tomorrow’s shareholder meeting after a ruling from the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal that effectively blocks the transaction.

#2- Edita now owns HTT brands across the continent. Snackmaker Edita Food Industries has acquired the exclusive rights to the HoHos, Twinkies, and Tiger Tail (HHT) brands across an additional 45 African countries under an agreement inked with US-based Hostess Brands.

ENERGY-

#1- It looks like our USD 35 bn natural gas import agreement with Israel is moving forward after all. Leviathan partner NewMed confirmed in a disclosure that as of Thursday, all conditions precedent for the agreement have been satisfied.

#2- Egypt is moving to plug the biggest gap in its renewable energy strategy: storage. Local industrial services player Kemet and China’s energy storage batteries manufacturer Cornex inked a strategic cooperation agreement to establish a USD 200 mn energy storage battery cells factory in Egypt using local raw materials.

DIPLOMACY-

US President Donald Trump said he is “ready to restart US mediation between ⁠Egypt ‍and Ethiopia to responsibly resolve the ⁠question of ‘The Nile Water Sharing’ once ‌and for all” in a letter sent to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi. The letter signals a significant shift toward a US-led diplomatic track following years of stalled African Union-mediated talks over Addis Ababa’s filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

LOGISTICS-

The Madbouly government will launch a fully automated export system via the Nafeza platform on 1 April, utilizing a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) to slash customs clearance times from eight days to just 48 hours, two senior government sources told EnterpriseAM.

PHARMA-

Arab API’s USD 165 mn factory, now under construction in Ain Sokhna, could helpcurb Egypt’s hefty import bill for pharma raw materials, according to a statement from the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone). The joint venture between local pharma players Eipico, the Arab Company for Drug Industries and Medical Appliances (Acdima), and the SCZone is expected to produce 350 tons of cephalosporin a year and fill a USD 250 mn hole in the country’s import bill.

🌍 AROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS-

Trump said the US has agreed on a framework for a future deal on the Danish country after meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Davos. The geopolitical tensions sparked “Sell America” rhetoric as markets flopped in the US and Gold prices reached an all-time high at USD 4.8k per ounce, with forecasts saying it could climb to USD 7k an ounce.

Trump’s new Board of Peace has also been making the headlines, talked up as a potential United Nations replacement, or rival, and established with the aim of rebuilding Gaza. Permanent seats on the board require that countries pay USD 1 bn or otherwise join on a three-year term basis, with Trump as the board’s inaugural chairman. Several European countries have already joined as well as Egypt, Turkey, the UAE, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly declined his seat, prompting Trump to threaten a 200% tariff on French wines and champagne.

ALSO- India made plans to double bilateral trade with the UAE to USD 200 bn by 2032 after signing a USD 3 bn deal on Monday for the purchase of liquified natural gas. The 10-year agreement mandates that the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company supply LNG starting 2028 to India’s government-owned Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, making India the UAE’s largest LNG customer, accounting for 20% of sales by 2029.

⛅ THE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND-

Temperatures in Cairo are set to peak at just 22°C today before cooling down to 14°C. It’s more of the same tomorrow, with a high of 22°C and a low of 12°C, according to our favorite weather app.

🎤 HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-

In celebration of the release of El Sett, Cairo Prints 6 is honoring Umm Kulthum in a special exhibition at Cinema Radio, running from Thursday, 22 January to Saturday, 24 January. Presented by Cairopolitan, the gallery will showcase works from over 80 local and international artists inspired by the enduring icon. For more details, you can visit Cairopolitan’s Instagram.

It’s the time of year to stock up on books. The Cairo International Book Fair returns to the Egypt International Exhibitions Center for its 57th year, running from Thursday, 22 January until Tuesday, 3 February. Catch the opening night on Friday, 23 January celebrating the centennial of the iconic filmmaker Youssef Chahine with a special performance by the Philharmonic Orchestra led by maestro Nader Abbassi.

Calling all art collectors: Art Cairo is back to celebrate contemporary Arab talent at the Grand Egyptian Museum from Friday, 23 January to Monday, 26 January. This year, the fine arts fair honors the late Egyptian artist Guirguis Lotfi and his lasting influence. Tickets are available on Collard Tickets.

JadaL’s Mahmoud Radaideh is taking the stage at CJC 610 for a solo performance this Saturday, 24 January. Expect heartrending lyrics and electrifying guitar work from the alt-rock pioneer — tickets are available on Cairo Jazz Club’s website.

🎤 HAPPENING NEXT WEEKEND-

Attention Cairo runners: Registration is now open for Cairo Marathon 2026, happening on Friday, 6 February. Claim your spot through Cairo Runners’ website — tickets available until Friday, 30 January.

Popular youtuber-comedian Eyad El Mogy, aka Mogzz, is bringing his humor live to the Hilton Cairo Grand Nile with an encore of his El Sabt El Momtaz special on Saturday, 31 January. Tickets are available on Ticketsmarché.

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