Navigate the legalese of real estate property registry

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THE WEEK IN REVIEW

A week full of privatization + economy updates. Plus: There was plenty of diplomacy to go around

Good morning, ladies and gents, and welcome to another packed edition of the Enterprise Weekend Edition to match the relatively busy week that has come to a close.

ARE YOU STILL STRUGGLING WITH PROPERTY REGISTRATION? Worry not — we have a step-by-step guide on how to register property and explain the ins and outs of this often dreaded, but necessary, process — straight from a lawyer’s mouth.

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- There was no single big theme in the news this past week, which was filled to the brim with updates on the privatization front, economy, and diplomacy.

PRIVATIZATION WATCH-

#1- Gov’t could be putting up more of Telecom Egypt for sale…: The Madbouly government is considering divesting another 10% of Telecom Egypt (TE) to investors before the end of the year.

#2- …while QIA might soon be snapping up TE’s stake in Vodafone Egypt: The Qatar InvestmentAuthority (QIA) could wrap up talks by the end of September to acquire a portion of Telecom Egypt’s 45% stake in Vodafone Egypt.

#3- The government has received five offers from investors interested in acquiring the580-MW Gabal El Zeit wind farm, one of whom has been given two months to make a decision on whether to go ahead with the purchase. While no names have been disclosed, the government’s preferred bidder is most likely emerging markets-focused private-equity outfit Actis.

#4- Investors want a piece of Sinai Manganese: Several local and international investors are reportedly eyeing a stake in state-owned manganese producer Sinai Manganese. The company, which has been earmarked for a stake sale, is being shopped around by the Sovereign Fund of Egypt (SFE), whose pre-IPO fund has been restructuring some companies ahead of share sales to strategic investors, via the EGX, or a mix of both.

ECONOMY-

#1- Inflation hit another all-time high of 37.4% in August up from 36.5% the month before. August’s figures marked the third consecutive month of record-breaking highs and surpassed most analysts’ expectations last week.

#2- The CBE added another USD 50 mn to FX reserves in August: Net foreign reserves in August reached USD 34.93 bn, up from USD 34.88 bn in July. This is the 11th consecutive month that foreign reserves have seen a modest increase.

#3- The IIF thinks the EGP is overvalued by some 10% compared to its “real effective exchange rate,” the group said in a note. Analysts at the Institute of International Finance (IIF) blamed record inflation, diminishing inflation amongst trading partners, and the fixed exchange rate for the overvaluation, which they say could widen to 20% by the end of 2024.

INVESTMENT WATCH-

#1- Private-sector players spoke with the AIIB this week: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) officials virtually joined Finance Minister Mohamed Maait, Vice Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk, and a number of private sector players to discuss how the Beijing-backed multilateral lender can benefit private-sector players ahead of the bank’s annual meeting in Sharm El Sheikh later this month.

#2- China could set up as much as USD 12 bn worth of chemicals-focused industrial facilities: Some 10-15 Chinese companies have shown interest in establishing a specialized industrial zone for chemicals with investments worth USD 7.5-12 bn in CNY over the next 3-4 years.

#3- NOSI gunning for Heliopark: State-owned National Organization for Social Ins’ (NOSI) offered Heliopolis Housing and Development (HHD) EGP 15 bn to buy 100% of the land allocated to the Heliopark project. HHD shareholders will consider the offer later this week.

DEBT WATCH-

#1- Egyptian Mortgage Refinance Company (EMRC) issued EGP 472 mn in securitized bonds. The three-tranche issuance was rated between AA+, AA and A by the Middle East Ratings and Investors Service (MERIS). The issuance is the first in a planned three-year, EGP 3 bn, program.

#2- The Finance Ministry is looking to secure USD 1.5-2 bn in fresh loans by 4Q 2023 that includes a planned USD 500 mn CNY-denominated panda bond issuance and a second JPY-denominated samurai issuance worth USD 500 mn.

M&A WATCH-

#1- Beshay Steel sold a minority stake to NSPO: Military-owned conglomerate the National Service Projects Organization (NSPO) acquired minority stakes in three private-sector steel companies owned by Beshay Steel Group. Beshay Steel sold up to 24% stakes in each of the three companies to the NSPO for around EGP 10 bn.

IPO WATCH-

#1- ADES is seeing strong demand from investors for its landmark IPO: Egypt-born regional oil and gas services driller ADES Holding’s initial public offering (IPO) on the Saudi stock exchange was reportedly oversubscribed within hours of the company releasing pricing on its shares.

KSA’s biggest debut so far this year: The company set the price range for the offering at between SAR 12.50 - 13.50 (USD 3.33- 3.60) per share, valuing the company at as much as SAR 15.2 bn (USD 4.05 bn) and raising up to SAR 4.5 bn (USD 1.2 bn) from the offering.

DIPLOMACY-

#1- President Abdel Fattah El Sisi led a delegation to New Delhi last Saturday to join G20 leaders for the 2023 leaders summit. Egypt was among the non-G20 countries invited by the hosts India to attend the events this year.

El Sisi held one-on-one meetings with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues.

El Sisi and Erdogan also met face-to-face for the first time: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan hailed “a new era” for relations between Egypt and Turkey in his first-ever meeting with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi following the decision to restore diplomatic ties in July.

#2- Ethiopia completed the fourth and final phase of filling the reservoir of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a social media post this week.

WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT WEEK-

WE HAVE JUST THREE SLEEPS until we see some of you at the Enterprise Finance Forum, which takes place 18-19 September (Monday and Tuesday) at the St. Regis Hotel on the Nile Corniche.This flagship forum is the latest in our must-attend series of invitation-only events, where CEOs, bankers, investors, founders, and corporate leaders will meet to discuss the trends shaping the future of banking, finance, NBFIs, and fintech — and of their clients.

You won’t want to miss this one: Join Basel El Hini (chairman, Housing and Development Bank), Hazem Hegazy (CEO and vice chairman, Al Baraka Bank), Ibrahim El Missiri (CEO, Somabay), Lamyaa Gadelhak (partner, Baker McKenzie), Ashraf Sabry (founder and CEO, Fawry), Dalia Wahba (CEO, Hassan Allam Utilities) and many others for talks on everything from how banks are transforming, to calling the future giants in fintech.

Tap or click here to view the FULL AGENDA with SPEAKERS.

** We are honored to count some of the region’s most important financial institutions as

our partners for this special event. The Enterprise Finance Forum could not take place without the support of our partners including Banque Misr, Al Baraka Bank, FABMISR, HSBC, Mashreq, Banque du Caire, CI Capital, Global Corp, Visa, Hassan Allam Utilities, the IFC, and Post for Investment.

We’ll be wrapping up the Enterprise FInance Forum as monetary policy decisions come into the spotlight both here at home and across the pond:

The US Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee meeting will take place 19-20 September (Tuesday-Wednesday). The Fed is likely to keep its benchmark overnight interest rate unchanged at the conclusion of its policy meeting, according to a Reuters poll of economists.
The Central Bank of Egypt’s Monetary Policy Committee will follow on Thursday, 21 September with its own meeting to review interest rates. The rate review will follow shortly after inflation figures hit another all-time high of 37.4% in August and as a potential IMF review of our USD 3 bn loan program looms.

Check out our full calendar on the web for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events, national holidays and news triggers.

YOUR MOST CLICKED LINKS-

Egypt’s debt levels and how we measure up in terms of debt exposure in comparison to other emerging markets. (X link)
Investor’s interest in Sinai Manganese got several clicks. (Al Mal)
Julian’s Rooftop got some love after we recommended it for a date night option. (Instagram)
Readers are excited about our upcoming Enterprise Finance Forum. (Enterprise Finance Forum Agenda)
Jumia Egypt’s new CEO’s LinkedIn pulled in readers. (LinkedIn)

AROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS-

The devastating earthquake in Morocco saw wide coverage: Over 2.8k people have died and another 2k were injured after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck in the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco over the weekend. Search and rescue efforts were underway throughout the week as aid workers scrambled to set up shelter and provide supplies to those displaced by the country’s deadliest earthquake since 1960.

The destruction left behind in the wake of Storm Daniel in Libya has also been getting ink: More than 5k people were declared dead and at least 10k missing after Storm Daniel unleashed massive flooding across Libya earlier this week. The eastern coastal city of Derna was among the areas hardest hit, with officials estimating that a quarter of the city was completely wiped out after the storm caused dams above the town to burst and sweep away tens of buildings.

The 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi earlier this week had the international press busy: Leaders at the summit released a joint declaration that touched on energy, global finance, artificial intelligence and most notably, the conflict in Ukraine — which caught the attention of Western news outlets for its omission of a direct condemnation of Russia. Also worth noting is the African Union’s formal admission to the bloc and the EU, India, Saudi Arabia, UAE and US’ agreement to construct a Middle East-South Asia infrastructure project that would link Middle Eastern nations and India by new rail networks and ports.

☀️ THE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND- The weekend will begin hot with the mercury reaching a high of 37°C today and cooling to 24°C this evening. Tomorrow will begin slightly cloudy, with temperatures reaching 37°C and falling to 23°C in the evening, according to our favorite weather app.

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-

2023’s Medfest Cinematic Film Forum , Stigma, is ongoing at AUC’s Tahrir Cultural Center . The forum kicked off yesterday and wraps on Sunday. Get your tickets from Ticketsmarche.

Egyptian trance duo Aly & Fila are performing at The Great Pyramids of Giza today, 15 September. Get your tickets from Nacelle.

The Cairo Flea Market is back at Zamalek Fish Garden tomorrow from 11am-7pm.

Work on your breathing at Ahimsa tomorrow with anemotional healing breathwork session at 8 pm. Go to their Instagram page for more details and reservations.

Head to Dawar Arts for Yin Yoga with Nour tomorrow from 7pm-10pm.

HAPPENING NEXT WEEKEND-

Masar Egbari will perform at City Garage Live in City Centre Almaza on Friday 22 September. Tickets are available on Tazkarti.

Tamino is coming back to Egypt to perform on Friday-Saturday, 22-23 September at 8pm at AUC’s Tahrir campus.

How do you register your property in Egypt?

So you’re still not quite sure how to go about registering your property. We get it. Regardless of how familiar you are with the labyrinth of Egyptian bureaucracy, the process of real estate registry can be daunting, and there’s no shortage of people who have avoided it altogether due to its tediousness, bureaucracy, and most importantly, historic lack of clarity. With the help of Hesham Foda, managing partner at law firm Foda and Associates, we break down the steps in a simple way and without legalese to demystify this essential process to avoid any penalties from the government or to prevent illegitimate claims to your property.

WHAT THE LAW SAYS- Last year, the government issued amendments to the Real Estate Registry Act (pdf) in a bid to encourage ]property owners to register their real estate assets by streamlining the process and digitizing what they can from it. The amended law also introduced a new system of establishing actual possession of the property.

HOW? For example, if you are in possession of an apartment for more than five years, have a utility bill in your name, and have a zoning certificate, you will apply at the real estate registry (shahr el aqari) under the “proving actual existence” process.

The registry will give you a queue number, and they will visit the property. Expect them to speak to your neighbors and the porter asking them direct questions about who has lived in the property, how long have they been there, and if anyone else claimed this property in the past.

HEED THE FOLLOWING- Squatters can establish claims to the property that has been abandoned and settle there for a few years to exercise possession, warns Foda. The change of electricity meters to smart meters made this crime easier: The illegitimate claimants used this as a chance to change the meter into their name to claim the right of possession when the government was rallying up the public to replace their electricity meters. Some have even managed to make valid claims to properties through false contracts.

THE DURATION- Ideally 37 days, according to Foda. He explains that this is the turnaround time that the government promises to complete registering a property after you have completed all your pre-requisite paperwork and gone through the motions.

ATTENTION: FOR NON-EGYPTIANS- You can still only own two properties. The government announced they will be easing up limitations on foreign property ownership to raise FX. However, the shape and form of such easing is yet to be seen, Foda adds.

SECURITY CLEARANCE IS NEEDED- In addition to the registration process, expats will be subject to a security inquiry at the request of the real estate registry. The notary will then contact four different security apparati, and when they receive the “no objection” from each apparatus, then the registration process can begin.

TIMELINE- Expats can be cleared starting from 60 days to one year, on a case-to-case basis.
THE TAX MAN COMETH- Just know that once you are in the system the Real Estate Tax Authority will be knocking on your door for you to pay your annual property tax.

HOWEVER- If you prove that this is your current primary residence, then you are exempt from the taxes, with limits.

NOT FOR SECONDARY HOMES- Whether in Cairo, Alexandria, North Coast, Hurghada, etc, these are taxed.

WANT TO SELL YOUR PROPERTY? Whether it’s a primary residence or secondary home, they will be asking for the property sales tax (2.5%) once you sell it.

THE PAPERWORK-

#1a- PROOF OF OWNERSHIP- Initial contract, or the finally registered contract from the previous owner (the blue contract), and any unregistered contracts in between.

#2a- Does your property predate 1992? You need to prove it. This is done through a document that comes from the Real Estate Tax Authority indicating possession in the last nationwide sweep they did in 1992.

#2b- POST-1992? You need your property’s building permit, which should be in the name of the contractor. You should receive this from the municipality. However, if you live inside a residential compound, you can request it from the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) or your developer.

#3- THE UTILITY BILL with the owner’s name on it with the documentation listed above.
#4- PROPERTY SURVEY- The Planning Ministry’s tech center for surveying properties website is the first step. To begin the process you will register on their website (or call their hotline) and provide your mobile number, to which they will send an SMS within 48-72 hours. From it you’ll know when the zoning officer will be making his visit to your property to measure its dimensions and details (PS: They’ll need access to the roof of your property).

The ministry’s tech center for surveying properties is punctual. After they take the measurements of the property they will have the A3-size zoning certificate ready and sent to you in 6-7 days by an officer from the authority.

The certificate is…impressive. It has a precise bird’s eye view of your property using Google maps, your property is outlined with a clear highlight on the image, GPS coordinates are listed, and minute measurements are described on a technical drawing.

#5- Building violations and settling with the government. Check and have proof that your properties are not in violation of the building code or that you have previously settled.

#6- THE TAXMAN, AGAIN- Present any receipts for paid overdue property sales tax (if you bought this property after 2016 and you are trying to register it) and all overdue annual property tax (rolling since mid-2013).

THINGS YOU’LL NEED TO CONSIDER-

Each type of ownership has a different form, and each form has a different process.

IF YOUR PROPERTY IS A TRADITIONAL / DOWNTOWN PROPERTY- Aside from the zoning certificate, you will also need a deed of title, or the last contract of ownership of the property itself, to present to the registry.
A SECOND GENERATION OWNER MUST HAVE THAT PRIMARY CONTRACT, aswell as the statement of inheritors — “e’lam el weraasa” — that indicates all the inheritors of the deceased. If your parents had a blue contract (that indicates full registered ownership of the property) then you’re halfway there. All you will need to do is to submit the statement of inheritors and the registered contract will be issued in all the inheritors’ names in 37 days after completing the application successfully.
ANY GAPS IN PROVENANCE WILL REQUIRE YOU TO FILE FOR A SALE VALIDATION CASE- Unfortunately the above only applies if you have a complete chain of title from the last registered deed. Otherwise, you will have to file a lawsuit and the judge will have to determine that all sales leading up to yours are kosher.

THE PROCESS-

#1- A visit to the registry. It’s important to note that the ones in the sports clubs, social clubs, and malls are not the ones to use when registering your property (sorry). If you are trying to register a property with a developer in Cairo or outside of the capital, such as the North Coast, etc, you have to check with the developer.

#2- Receive the stamp of approval to register the contract.

#3- Stamp from the Lawyers’ Syndicate. This stamp is the ratification for this contract from the bar association. By rule of law, any document that is going to be used on an official basis has to be ratified by the syndicate. This applies to selling land, buying land, or registering a company.

This amount is pegged at 1% of the value of the property and it is capped at EGP 25k. If, for instance, a property’s value is above EGP 2 mn, then EGP 25 k will be paid to the lawyer’s syndicate.

#4- Go back to the registry for their ratification. This step requires fees as well. The upside is that in 10 days you will have a draft of the blue contract.

#5a- If you just bought this property from someone, the seller needs to be present as well with you to sign the contract, unless you have a power of attorney (tawkeel) from them to sell and register the property to yourself or to others.

#5b- Buying property from someone in a compound? The developer will issue a new contract in your name to you.

Since you already established contact with the developer, the next steps become a little easier. It is assumed that most developers have registered their developments and they would have a zoning certificate ratified with NUCA for the entire property. Therefore, they can quickly match their certificate with your Zoning Certificate to simplify the procedure.

#7- We say “Mabrook.”

EXPECT TO FORK UP BETWEEN EGP 30K TO EGP 50K, FOR THE ENTIRE PROCESS.

The property survey process is between EGP 2-5k.
The real estate registry is EGP 5k to 9k.
Approximately EGP 1k for the blue contract: Each page costs EGP 150, plus a flat rate subscription of EGP 110.
The ratification from the Lawyer’s Syndicate, which is capped at EGP 25k.
There is an application fee which varies depending on the surface area of the property as everything is done by multipliers of square meters. The official at the authority simply plugs in the data from the zoning report and the value is reached, no negotiation.
Last but not least, the lawyer’s fees — if you hired one.

The Nun II’s still scares + Hosny’s Agent Sefr disappoints. Plus: The Balkan Kitchen grills will tame your inner carnivore

? AT THE MOVIES-

The Nun 2 makes polarizing reviews a habit. Set and released five years after the first installment, The Nun 2 (watch trailer, runtime: 2:12) marks the ninth movie in the Conjuring universe. The Conjuring is the highest-grossing horror franchise of all time, and 2018’s The Nun was its most lucrative and most divisive film. But reviews of the film have been contentious: One side believe that it’s the strongest addition to the franchise, and others are calling it “ creatively bankrupt.”

THE GOOD- Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) is back, investigating a string of murders across Europe and tracing them back to Valak, the big-bad-sister-of-the-cloth from The Nun and The Conjuring 2. Farmiga seems to have settled into her role as Sister Irene quite comfortably: Her performance is much stronger than her supporting role in The Nun. Finding herself in a convent in France, Sister Irene, and new companion Sister Debra (Storm Reid) — whose pragmatism complements Farmiga’s Irene — search for Valak.

THE BAD- Valak is there. All. The. Time. Valak is the core of the movie’s horror factor, and is effectively so, her sporadic presence was terrifying, and so was her absence. The Nun 2 accidentally puts the audience through exposure therapy, showing the titular character at every turn and desensitizing us to her presence. The plot and the pacing seem a little too curated and the cinematography a little too polished, all of which makes the viewer hyper-aware that this is a movie. That’s not to say that the fear isn’t very, very real. Eight movies in and the franchise has yet to feel stale. All frustrations aside, The Nun 2 is a significant improvement on its predecessor.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can find The Nun 2 at VOX Cinemas in City Center Almaza and Mall of Egypt, Citystars theaters, and Cairo Festival City, among others.

El Ameel Sefr (Agent Zero) is an Akram Hosny film ( watch trailer runtime: 2.15 ) he will not be remembered for. The actor, whose wit and one-liners (aka “effehat”) are often used everyday, seems to have put together a quick film to enter the summer box office, but to little impact. The premise of the actor’s latest production has taken a lot of its references from western films: A Night at the Museum, Johnny English, Peter Seller’s Pink Panther and — painfully — James Bond, to attempt to create a comedy filled with clever wit and slapstick. Thankfully, the film does not take away from the quality of his individual performance, nor does it from the film’s other cast members Asmaa Abou Zeid, Bayoumi Fouad, and Pheadra, among others, who play their characters exceptionally well and with conviction.

The crux: There was no character to play off Hosny’s Agent Sefr. The actor has always shared the screen with another performer to play-off his repartee, such as Mohamed Mamdouh (Bank El Haz, trailer runtime: 0:21) or Ahmed Amin (El Waseya, trailer runtime: 1:21), which makes his wit so much more impactful and worthy of laughs. Unfortunately, without this secret ingredient, a lot of the lines fell flat and the comedy relied completely on the moments of slapstick.

The storyline: Sefr, who was meant to be called Saqr, is a lower-class young man who dreams of a life of intrigue and adventure, despite his consistent failures. After being fired from his job as a security guard, he eavesdrops on a high-profile client looking for a top security detail. With some maneuvering he is able to track them down and take on the job. Chaos ensues: Expect mistaken identities, belly dancers, exotic Egyptian locations, humorous fight scenes, and of course, a catchy tune (runtime:1.17).

WHERE TO WATCH- You can still catch the film at Zamalek Cinema or VOX Cinemas in City Center Almaza and Mall of Egypt.

? FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

Ramesses: Loved by Ptah is a fascinating book by a passionate Egyptologist. Susanna Thomas is, among other things, an academicspecializing in the New Kingdom and a museum development expert currently working at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). Through the pages of this book, Thomas examines the history of one of the city’s most iconic landmarks and largest statues ever built. The monumental 83-tonne sculpture was created over three millennia ago and was subsequently discovered in separate pieces near Memphis. It was erected in honor of the life and accomplishments of one the New Kingdom’s most prominent monarchs who ruled for over half a century: Ramesses II. The author also gives us a history lesson about how statues were built in ancient times as well as the modern fate of this particular pièce de resistance up until its installation in the GEM.

A red granite masterpiece in context. The specifics of Ramesses’ statue aside, Thomas provides interesting insight into Egyptian statues in general and the cult of royal statues in particular in two chapters of her book. Through her writing, we come to gain greater appreciation for the symbolic importance of these monuments as they stand the test of time. Published by the AUC press, the book has garnered positive reviews from experts in the field including superstar archaeologist Zahi Hawass.

WHERE TO FIND IT- The 140-page book is currently available at Diwan and AUC bookstores.

? HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

Consider this your official introduction to southeastern European-Asian cuisine: The Balkan Kitchen(TBK) brings New Cairo’s Polaris Mall a range of flavors to enjoy. The upside is that the menu features the perfect balance between familiarity and novelty: With breakfast sandwiches like Sudjouk and Simit, we find ourselves enjoying what we know, with a tinge of fresh flavors to explore. While we recommend their breakfast trays, which are filled with options to suit every taste, red meat is where the restaurant shines. The selection of grilled options reflects the straddling of European-Asian traditions with dishes like lamb pilaf, Azerbaijani Shish Kebab and Lahmajun — yes, you’re correct to think of Lebanon’s lahm b ajeen, which is essentially the same open-face meat pie. The Romanian and Bulgarian kebab dishes are also packed with interesting flavors. Overall, a solid experience if you’re in the mood for something a little different.

? Per person: 350-500

? Outdoor seating: Yes

? Alcohol: No

? Accessibility friendly: Yes

High-ho: Assassin’s Creed’s Black Flags is an unmissable chapter in the series’ narrative

CLASSIC GAMEPLAY- The pirate title you never knew you needed: Assassin’s Creed Black Flag is an essential play for history buffs and folks who enjoy adventure games. As a 2013 release, it’s a bit long in the tooth, but Black Flag remains immensely popular. The Ubisoft title follows the chronicles of rogue pirate Edward Kenway, who finds freedom and adventure after setting out to seek his own fortune.

Black Flag features free and breathable gameplay revolving around stealth, combat, and exploration. As an Assassin you move (and kill) in shadows, and the design of the environment is perfectly suited. Unique in the series, Black Flag offers an exciting take on sea combat through Kenway’s ship, the Jackdaw.

The plot? Looking for the mythological Observatory. Of course, Black Flag wouldn’t be an Assassin’s Creed game without centering around the millennium-long war between the Assassins and the Templars who are both battling for the riches in the Observatory. As you watch characters adventure, plunder, lose, and grow, players are left with a feeling of sentimentality: The Assassin’s Creed series is famous for blending historical events (and characters) into its plots, so expect to see figures from your history books on screen.

Be ready to be awed by the scenery: Black Flag’s sprawling map allows players to explore the Caribbean and its seas during the golden age of piracy. It has some of the best graphics you’ll find in a decade-old game, while the texture of characters appear as grainy on occasion, character expressions, movements, and world itself are eerily realistic.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag has been out for a while, so it’s easy to hunt down. You can collect your spoils now on the PlayStation 5 store, PlayStation 4 store, Steam, and Amazon.

⌛ Hours of gameplay: 23.5 hours

? Price: EGP 940

? Platforms: Playstation 4, Nintendo Wii U, PC, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One

An unusual film to watch if you have a September flu

In the Shadow of the Moon is an unconventional, genre-bending Netflix movie. The 2019 feature is part-dystopian future, part-psychological thriller meets detective-movie. And while it may not fit neatly within any particular box, it is nonetheless quite fun to watch. It all begins in late 1980s Philadelphia, where Thomas Lockhart (played by Boyd Holbrook whom you may remember from Narcos or Logan) is working as a police officer when a serial killer — a female serial killer, might we add — begins attacking people. Her MO? Letting victims hemorrhage to death while leaving odd puncture marks near their necks. A game of cat and mouse ensues as Lockhart tries to capture the dangerous and mysterious woman only to find out that she has information about his future — like when his wife will give birth to their child. Before finding out more, the murderer meets her end.

But that’s just scratching the surface: Nine years later, Lockhart discovers a similar string of murders like the ones he investigated nearly a decade ago are taking place. While the initial assumption is that this is a copycat emulating the 1988 killer, Lockhart quickly learns the reality is much more grim — and unbelievable — than logic would have it. While the movie is not exactly a masterpiece, it is nonetheless entertaining as we try to figure out what exactly is going on.

WHERE TO WATCH- Catch the suspenseful movie on Netflix.

THE ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER

14-17 September (Thursday-Sunday): Medfest Cinematic Film Forum at AUC Tahrir Cultural Center.

15 September (Friday): Wust El Balad concert, City Center Almaza’s summer hub, Cairo.

15 September (Friday): Aly & Fila performance, The Great Pyramid of Giza.

16 September (Saturday): Cairo Flea Market at Zamalek Fish Garden.

16 September (Saturday): Emotional Healing breathwork, Ahimsa.

21 September (Thursday): Standup Comedian Ali Quandil show at Theatro in Arkan Plaza.

21-23 September (Thursday-Saturday): L’Etape Egypt by Tour de France, Sharm El Sheikh.

22 September (Friday): Masar Egbari concert at City Garage Live in City Centre Almaza.

22-23 September (Friday-Saturday): Tamino Sahar Tour concert in AUC Tahrir Cultural Center.

26 September (Tuesday): Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (TBC).

28 September (Thursday): National holiday in observance of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (TBC).

29 September (Friday): Samar Tarek, Muslim and Molotof LitOne concert, Greek Campus, Tahrir, Cairo.

OCTOBER

6 October (Friday): Armed Forces Day.

11 October (Wednesday): Teatro Di San Carlo performance, the Pyramids of Giza, Giza.

13-20 October (Friday-Friday): El Gouna Film Festival (GFF).

28 October (Saturday): DJs Kygo, Tiësto, Kung and Frank Walker concert, Giza Pyramids.

NOVEMBER

11 November (Saturday): El Gouna Half Marathon 2023, El Gouna.

15-24 November (Wednesday-Friday): Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF).

16 November (Thursday): Jim Gaffigan’s Barely Alive Tour at The Marquee, Cairo Festival City.

EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE

2023: The inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum.

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