Language
العربية

Sections

About

Privacy & Support

Get EnterpriseAM daily

Available in your choice of English or Arabic

Thursday, 4 Dec 2025

What We’re Tracking Tonight
For Your Commute
On The Tube Tonight
Sports
Out And About
Go With The Flow
The Enterprisepm Entertainment Calendar

Price tag

An independent publication supported by

Rise every day

Where disruption meets success

Shaping the future of education in Egypt

Today at a glance

1

The Big Story Today

FinMin to allocate EGP 10 bn to startups and entrepreneurs in 2026.
2

FOR YOUR COMMUTE

The death of the price tag is worth mourning.
3

ON THE TUBE TONIGHT

The rich and powerful are still Jesse Armstrong’s favorite target.
4

Sports

A jam-packed weekend of football + the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
5

OUT AND ABOUT

The Cairo Art Book Fair is back.

Thursday, 4 Dec 2025

What We’re Tracking Tonight
For Your Commute
On The Tube Tonight
Sports
Out And About
Go With The Flow
The Enterprisepm Entertainment Calendar
1

WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TONIGHT

FinMin to allocate EGP 10 bn to startups and entrepreneurs in 2026

Good afternoon, friends. Congratulations on another workweek done and dusted.

THE BIG STORY TODAY-

?2026 set to bring good news for our startups and entrepreneurs: The Finance Ministry is currently working with the Central Bank of Egypt and other relevant ministries to launch a first-of-its-kind financing initiative worth EGP 10 bn to support startups, a government source told EnterpriseAM. The initiative aims to provide concessional funding to entrepreneurs through the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA) and the CBE, according to the source.

The initiative will also provide technical assistance and simplified procedures related to registration, documentation, and utilities. “This will help young people establish a large base of small projects and entrepreneurship activities on a sectoral basis, linked to the state’s plans to expand strategic industries and sectors,” our source added.

What about the rates? The Finance Ministry has not determined yet the final interest rate on loans offered under the initiative, but our source confirmed that the rates will be intentionally favorable to incentivize the sector.

The timeline: The initiative is expected to be launched in the first half of next year, according to our source.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

? Still topping this week’s headlines is Russia, which has vowed to seize Eastern Ukraine as peace talks continue. Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Moscow will capture Ukraine’s Donbas and Novorossiya “by any means,” including military force, as diplomatic efforts to end the three-year conflict continue on multiple fronts. The statement comes as Ukrainian officials travel to Miami for fresh negotiations with US counterparts, following an unfruitful Tuesday meeting.

US President Donald Trump described the Moscow talks as “very good,” suggesting that Putin wants to end the war, contrary to prevailing theories by experts, who believe that prolonged discussions are advantageous for Russia, who continue to weaken Ukraine’s military capabilities as they maintain a battlefield advantage. Ukrainian officials continue to reject Russia’s territorial demands, which remains a non-negotiable for the Kremlin.

IN BUSINESS NEWS- The EU has launched yet another antitrust probe into Meta, this time over WhatsApp AI restrictions. The European Commission is investigating Meta’s policies restricting AI providers’ access to WhatsApp, marking the latest regulatory challenge for US tech companies in Europe. The probe examines whether Meta’s October policy change “prevent[s] third party AI providers from offering their services through WhatsApp in the European Economic Area.”

Meta rejected the allegations, stating that WhatsApp’s application programming wasn’t designed for AI chatbots, and “puts a strain on [their] systems.” The investigation arrives amid heightened EU scrutiny of US tech giants. Recent actions include a EUR 3 bn fine against Google for advertising violations, a EUR 500 mn penalty for Apple over anti-steering obligations, and a EUR 200 mn fine against Meta for data privacy breaches.

Potential penalties for antitrust violations can reach 10% of annual revenue, though no timeline has been set for the investigation’s conclusion. Trump has previously threatened retaliatory investigations and potential tariffs over EU actions against US tech companies.

☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- We’re in for a warmer day in the capital tomorrow with temperatures peaking at 28°C before cooling down to 15°C, according to our favorite weather app.

Tags:

2

FOR YOUR COMMUTE

The death of the price tag is worth mourning

? Haggling isn’t a cultural quirk — for most of human history, shopping was a negotiation. What you paid depended on your bargaining skills, how wealthy you appeared, or simply the mood of the shopkeeper, according to The New York Times. In the US, this began to change in the mid-19th century when Quaker merchants, believing that charging people different amounts for the same item was immoral, began posting fixed prices at their stores. This one-price system was institutionalized in 1874, according to NPR’s Planet Money, with the practice spreading and becoming industry standard.

The price tag was revolutionary — it enabled consumers to compare prices between stores, forcing merchants to compete. It was, in essence, a democratic innovation, and that small piece of paper leveled the playing field between buyer and seller.

And now, 150 years later, that agreement is breaking down worldwide. With the rise of AI and automated surveillance, corporations are quietly dismantling the price tag system — not by removing the tags altogether, but by making the pricing on them meaningless.

The rise of algorithmic pricing: Even if you haven’t realized it, you’ve already fallen victim to dynamic pricing. It’s why Uber charges more during rush hour, why airline tickets fluctuate not just by the hour, but based on what device and which country you check from, and why the same hotel room will cost differently on the same website through your screen and your friend’s.

The infrastructure enabling this transformation is already being deployed across global retail. Electronic shelf labels — digital screens that replace traditional static price tags — are rapidly becoming standard in Western countries. While its convenience has allowed price changes that would take employees at superstores two days to implement to take effect in minutes, what makes electronic shelf labels significant isn’t just efficiency. Theoretically, stores can now change prices as they please as fast as every 10 seconds. By the time you make it to the register, the price might have already changed.

With our data firmly in the hands of Big Tech, it’s not long before surveillance pricing based on individual consumer data becomes a market standard. Companies will be able to determine how much each person can — and will — pay based on their spending habits, and more concerningly, what they’re in desperate need of. In January 2025, the US Federal Trade Commission released preliminary findings from its surveillance pricing study. The FTC found that consumer behaviors ranging from mouse movements on a webpage to products left unpurchased in an online shopping cart can be tracked and used by retailers, and that intermediary companies can help grocery stores, apparel retailers, and department stores to target prices based on the location, demographics, browsing patterns, and shopping history of consumers.

A consumer profiled as a new parent might intentionally be shown higher-priced baby thermometers if the algorithm knows your baby is sick. This can be determined through recent searches, for example. It might hike up shipping costs if it knows you’re more likely to pay for expedited delivery. As the FTC explained, instead of a price being a “static feature of a product, the same product could have a different price” based on what companies know about you.

This kind of personalized pricing isn’t new in principle — companies have long tried to determine what different customers are willing to pay. But the scale and precision of modern data collection represents something fundamentally different. In 2012, a Wall Street Journal investigation revealed that some stores’ websites displayed higher prices to shoppers in areas with fewer nearby competitors. Disturbingly, this resulted in customers in lower-income areas often seeing higher prices than those in wealthier neighborhoods.

The regulatory response is still in its early stages, and the technology continues to advance. Pricing algorithms grow more sophisticated by the day, electronic shelf labels spread, and data profiles companies build on consumers grow ever more detailed. The question facing consumers — and later, policymakers — is whether the 150-year experiment in fixed pricing will survive the algorithmic age, or whether we’re witnessing a full circle moment, this time at the discretion of an unfeeling technology instead of a friendly shopkeeper.

Tags:

3

ON THE TUBE TONIGHT

The rich and powerful are still Jesse Armstrong’s favorite target

? Jesse Armstrong’s directorial debut proves that the Succession creator hasn’t lost his touch for eviscerating the ultra-wealthy. Mountainhead is a caustic, defiant film — a righteously furious diatribe against the maniacal egos of those with all the money and power but little moral fiber, wrapped in the best jokes in the business.

Four tech b’naires retreat to a sleek Utah mountaintop lodge while the world below burns, largely due to their own creations. Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Ramy Youssef, and Cory Michael Smith form a quartet of characters who are extremely unpredictable and very, very rich. What follows is both a hilarious and harrowing analysis of the state of Big Tech, especially when you take into account that these four characters are avatars for real-life figures who could very well be shaping our future.

Armstrong channels his anger into brutal comedy, and the script moves fast, hits sharply, and knows exactly what reaction it wants from you. The film delivers robust dissections of big ego masquerading as big humanity, exposing the philosophy-washing of big-money greed and immorality. With biting references to moral philosophy and contemporary tech culture, Armstrong demonstrates the sharpness and intellect that made Succession what we know it to be. Beneath the barbed one-liners, egos, and one-upmanship are prescient reminders of how AI and disinformation can damage our society in untold ways. The satire resonates because it feels too close for comfort.

We believe Mountainhead is a misunderstood underdog that deserves far better than its lukewarm audience scores suggest — and the critics scores can back us up. The film may be billed as a comedy, but the way Armstrong’s TV hit or The Bear can be considered comedies. It’s not a crowd-pleasing, slapstick blockbuster designed for mass appeal — it demands engagement and a healthy knowledge of Silicon Valley’s inner (and outer) turmoil.

For fans of intelligent comedy that punches up, Mountainhead delivers exactly what you’d hope for from Armstrong: wit that draws blood and laughter in equal measure.

WHERE TO WATCH- Mountainhead is currently streaming on OSN+. You can catch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:06).

Tags:
4

Sports

A jam-packed weekend of football + the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

FOOTBALL-

⚽ As usual, we’re in for an exciting weekend with a full agenda of matches to follow across the Arab Cup, Europe's major leagues, and cup competitions in Egypt and beyond.

The English Premier League’s 14th round wraps up today, with round 15 kicking off on Saturday.

Will the Red Devils be among the big four? Old Trafford will see Manchester United go head-to-head against West Ham tonight at 10pm, giving the Red Devils a chance to reclaim their place among the elite. United currently sit in ninth on the leaderboard with 21 points, and could give Chelsea a run for their money for fourth place with a victory, factoring in goal difference. Meanwhile, West Ham languish in 18th place, stuck in the relegation zone.

Saturday brings around seven round 15 Premier League fixtures, featuring Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham. Here’s when to catch them:

  • Aston Villa vs. Arsenal (2:30pm);
  • Manchester City vs. Sunderland (5pm);
  • Bournemouth vs. Chelsea (5pm);
  • Tottenham Hotspur vs. Brentford (5pm);
  • Newcastle vs. Burnley (5pm);
  • Everton vs. Nottingham Forest (5pm);
  • Leeds United vs. Liverpool (7:30pm).

**Don’t miss out on the fierce competition in the EnterpriseAM Fantasy Premier League — click on this link or use the code 2ez9kt to join.

Barcelona will be traveling to Benito Villamarín Stadium on Saturday to face off against Real Betis at 7:30pm for the 15th round of La Liga. Barça leads the table by just one point over Real Madrid.

Other fixtures we’re tracking across Europe’s major leagues:

  • Mainz vs. Mönchengladbach — Bundesliga (Friday, 9:30pm);
  • Lille vs. Marseille — Ligue 1 (Friday, 10pm);
  • Villarreal vs. Getafe — La Liga (Saturday, 3pm);
  • Augsburg vs. Bayer Leverkusen — Bundesliga (Saturday, 4:30pm);
  • Stuttgart vs. Bayern Munich — Bundesliga (Saturday, 4:30pm);
  • Deportivo Alavés vs. Real Sociedad — La Liga (Saturday, 5:15pm);
  • Inter Milan vs. Como — Serie A (Saturday, 7pm);
  • Leipzig vs. Frankfurt — Bundesliga (Saturday, 7:30pm);
  • Verona vs. Atalanta — Serie A (Saturday, 9:45pm);
  • Athletic Bilbao vs. Atlético Madrid — La Liga (Saturday, 10pm);
  • Paris Saint-Germain vs. Stade Rennais — Ligue 1 (Saturday, 10:05pm).

Cup matchups worth following today:

  • El Gouna vs. Petrol Assiut — Egypt Cup (2:30pm);
  • Bologna vs. Parma — Coppa Italia (7pm);
  • Lazio vs. Milan — Coppa Italia (10pm);
  • Cartagena vs. Valencia — Copa del Rey (10pm);
  • Extremadura vs. Sevilla — Copa del Rey (10pm).

Closer to home: Our homegrown B team will be facing the UAE in round two of the Arab Cup at 8:30pm on Saturday. The Pharaohs sit third in Group C after drawing with Kuwait in the opener, while Jordan lead following their victory over the UAE. Kuwait are set to meet Jordan in the same group at 1pm on Saturday.

Other matches to keep an eye on:

  • Palestine vs. Tunisia (today, 4:30pm);
  • Syria vs. Qatar (today, 7pm);
  • Oman vs. Morocco (Friday, 4:30pm);
  • Comoros vs. Saudi Arabia (Friday, 8:30pm);
  • Bahrain vs. Algeria (Saturday, 3:30pm);
  • Sudan vs. Iraq (Saturday, 6pm).

In the Egyptian Premier League: Pyramids will be facing Petrojet at 8pm on Saturday in a postponed round 10 match. The Sky Blues trail league leaders Ceramica Cleopatra by three points, making this a golden chance to pounce onto the top spot — especially with Pyramids having played two fewer matches than Ceramica.

FORMULA ONE-

?️ The 2025 F1 season will be down to the wire at the Yas Marina Circuit, with Formula One heading to Abu Dhabi for the season’s dramatic finale over the weekend through Sunday.

Will Norris claim his first title? Three drivers remain in contention for the highest spot on the podium — Lando Norris leads the standings with 12 points over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, while his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri sits in third, 16 points behind. Norris needs just a podium finish to secure his maiden title, while Verstappen must cross the finish line in pole with Norris finishing in fourth or lower to claim an unprecedented fifth consecutive championship. Piastri’s chances are slim but mathematically alive — he needs a victory for himself and a devastating loss for his teammate.

Friday will see two practice sessions as teams dial in their setups for the title decider. The full schedule:

  • Free practice 1 (Friday, 11:30am–12:30pm);
  • Free practice 2 (Friday, 3pm–4pm);
  • Free practice 3 (Saturday, 12:30pm–1:30pm);
  • Qualifying (Saturday, 4pm–5pm);
  • Final race (3pm start).

This marks the 32nd time in F1 history since its inaugural season in 1950 that the drivers’ championship will be decided in the final race, and the first title showdown since the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi finale.

Tags:

This publication is proudly sponsored by

5

OUT AND ABOUT

The Cairo Art Book Fair is back

MARK YOUR CALENDAR-

? Cairo Art Book Fair returns at Ghurnata Community Space for a three-day run from Thursday, 11 December to Saturday, 13 December. This year, the special fair is showcasing work by over 90 exhibitors from 27 countries, bringing art books, zines, and experimental publications. The program also includes talks, workshops, book launches, and more for those looking to engage with contemporary art publishing and print culture. Tickets are available on Ticketsmarché.

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-

The Arab world’s first truck flea market is here with Redefine Flea Market, landing this Thursday, 4 December. Be ready for a lot of clothes, bags, accessories — and a lot of bargaining. The market takes place beside the Abou Ghaly Motors, kilo 30 Ismailia Desert Rd.

In need of some enlightenment? Renowned author and speaker Dr. Khaled Ghattass is setting foot at Theatro Arkan for his talk, Between The Strange and The Prevailing on Friday, 5 December. Don’t miss this chance to delve into the science behind human behavior, society, decision-making, and relationships. Tickets are selling out fast — you can get yours now on Ticketsmarché.

Tamer Ashour and Amal Maher are stealing the show at Fustat Winter Festival on Friday, 5 December. Don’t miss out on this magical winter evening of powerful vocals and breathtaking arrangements at Fustat Park. You can get your tickets on Tazkarti.

Don’t miss this holiday market: All Saints’ Cathedral is hosting its annual Christmas bazaar this Friday, 5 December at 5 Michel Lufallah St in Zamalek. This year marks the bazaar ’s 50th year — join for a festive shopping experience where you’ll find everything from winter wear and cosmetics to Christmas essentials, handmade crafts, and homemade goodies. All proceeds from the market go to Egyptian charities.

Shababco the Festival is landing in 6th October City’s Tanza on Friday, 5 December and Saturday, 6 December. Both nights feature a curated marketplace with live music and good food, but night two cranks up the energy with a live performance from fan favorite rapper Lege-Cy. You can head to Ticketsmarché for tickets.

Christmas bazaar season is here: Walk of Cairo is kicking off their Xmas Market this Friday, 5 December and running until Wednesday, January 10. Embrace the holiday’s festivities and enjoy the vibrant market at Walk of Cairo in Sheikh Zayed.

HAPPENING LATER-

Up for some psychological drama? Kenoma Theater is bringing back One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest with an Egyptian adaptation and stage production titled El Moristan. The play ’s main cast — featuring screen icon Yosra El Lozy — will be performing six showings between Sunday, 7 December and Monday, 15 December at AUC’s Falaki Mainstage Theater, with the alternate cast taking over twice. The play tackles mature themes including depictions of violence, blood, and suicide, and is recommended for ages 16+. Tickets are available on Ticketsmarché.

American singer Brian McKnight is bringing live R&B to the Grand Egyptian Museum on Friday, 12 December, promising an unforgettable night of soulful music against the background of Egypt’s great history — tickets are available on Tazkarti.

Abyusif makes his comeback at the Greek Campus in Downtown Cairo on Friday, 19 December. Expect a high-energy show and a hyped up crowd. Tickets are selling out fast — you can get yours on Ticketsmarché.

Tags:
6

GO WITH THE FLOW

What the markets are doing on 4 December 2025

The EGX30 rose 0.4% at today’s close on turnover of EGP 7.4 bn (44.2% above the 90-day average). International investors were the sole net buyers. The index is up 39.5% YTD.

In the green: GB Corp (+5.0%), E-finance (+3.3%), and Juhayna (+2.4%).

In the red: TMG Holding (-2.6%), Rameda (-2.5%), and Oriental Weavers (-2.1%).

Tags:

THE ENTERPRISEPM ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

?️ NOVEMBER

11 November - 6 December (Tuesday-Saturday): Forever is Now at the Great Pyramids of Giza.

DECEMBER

4 December (Thursday): Redefine Flea Market at kilo 30 Ismailia Desert Rd.

4 December (Thursday): Hauser at The Grand Egyptian Museum.

4-7 December (Thursday-Sunday): AL MILAD Christmas Musical at Kasr El Nile Theater.

5 December (Friday): All Saints’ Cathedral’s Christmas bazaar at 5 Michel Lutfallah St, Zamalek.

5 December (Friday): Fatima Said at The Grand Egyptian Museum.

5 December (Friday): Salah El Daly at Hilton Cairo Grand Nile.

5 December (Friday): Between the Strange and the Prevailing by Dr. Khaled Ghattass at Theatro Arkan.

5 December (Friday): Tul8te at El Malahy Arena.

5 December (Friday): Tamer Ashour X Amal Maher at Fustat Park.

5 December (Friday): Walk of Cairo Xmas Market in Sheikh Zayed.

5-6 December (Friday-Thursday): Shababco the Festival at Tanza, 6th October City.

7-15 December (Sunday-Monday): El Moristan at AUC Falaki Mainstage Theater.

11-13 December (Thursday-Saturday): Cairo Art Book Fair at Ghurnata Community Space.

12 December (Friday): The Winter Music Festival at Open Air Mall, Madinaty.

12 December (Friday): Brian McKnight at The Grand Egyptian Museum.

12-13 December (Friday-Saturday): Pyramids Echo Festival encore at New Opera House.

13 December (Saturday): Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon by The TriFactory.

19 December (Friday): Abyusif at the Greek Campus.

19 December (Friday): DJ Tiësto at the Giza Plateau.

20 December (Saturday): Ibrahim Maalouf at Concert Hall, New Capital.

December: Al Rawi Awards submissions open.

2026

JANUARY

7 January (Wednesday): Coptic Christmas Day.

25 January (Sunday): January 25th Revolution / National Police Day.

30 January (Friday): Cairo Marathon normal registration ends.

FEBRUARY

6 February (Friday): Cairo Marathon at Heliopolis, Merryland Park.

17 February (Tuesday): First day of Ramadan (TBD).

MARCH

20 March (Friday): Eid Al-Fitr (TBD).

APRIL

13 April (Monday): Sham El Nessim.

25 April (Saturday): Sinai Liberation Day.

MAY

1 May (Friday): Labor Day.

26 May (Tuesday): Arafat’s Day.

Now Playing
Now Playing
00:00
00:00