Tech recap

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TONIGHT

Qatar eyes USD 3.5 bn project on the North Coast

Good afternoon, folks, and welcome to the end of what has been a tense work week. The silver lining? Summer is officially just around the corner, and we’ve got not one, but two long weekends coming up starting next week.

Sahel – what was once Egypt's summer escape has become an economic hub, social ecosystem, and regional travel hotspot. And we’re going to help you decode its rapid evolution with EnterpriseAM Destination Sahel.

In a special four-part summer series we’re taking the insights you’ve come to expect of us seaside. Think everything from Ras El Hekma's impact and investment opportunities to exclusive interviews with key players. And it wouldn’t be Sahel season without a sprinkling of what’s shaking up socially.

Expect us in your inbox Tuesday, 24 June.

See you, Sahel-side.

PSA-

We are officially getting Thursday, 26 June, and Thursday, 3 July off. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced 26 June as holiday in observance of the Islamic new year. Thursday, 3 July, will also be off instead of Monday, 30 June — which marks the 12th anniversary of the 30 June Revolution Day.

THE BIG STORY TODAY-

Qatar is in advanced discussions to develop a USD 3.5 bn tourism project on the North Coast, Bloomberg reports, citing what it says are sources familiar with the matter. The new project’s agreement is expected to be inked by the end of 2025, although its breakdown and exact location are yet to be revealed.

The timeline: The agreement is expected to witness Qatar providing Egypt with USD 1 bn after its signature, with the remaining amount to be delivered over the following year.

IN CONTEXT- Qatar previously agreed in April to work towards a USD 7.5 bn package of direct investments in Egypt in “the near future,” without providing details of the investment plan. The Gulf country has been reportedly eyeing majority stakes in terminal operators and a real estate project on the North Coast.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

Israeli jets struck dozens of targets in Tehran overnight, including an inactive nuclear reactor in Arak, the Israeli Air Force said. “The reactor was originally intended for the production of weapons-grade plutonium, capable of enabling the development of nuclear weapons,” the statement reads. Israel also said it struck a nuclear weapons development site in the area of Natanz as well as military manufacturing facilities. Iran filed a complaint with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), accusing Israel of breaching international laws that prohibit attacks on nuclear facilities.

Iranian missiles also struck multiple areas in Israel early Thursday, including southern Israel’s main hospital and residential buildings near Tel Aviv. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said the strikes were aimed at Israeli military and intelligence headquarters, while Israeli emergency services reported that five people suffered serious injuries and dozens more were wounded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tehran's “tyrants” would pay the “full price.”

And US officials are gearing up for the possibility of a strike on Iran in the coming days, with sources telling Bloomberg that the attack could be timed on the weekend. US President Donald Trump has teased about the possibility of joining the war for days, telling reporters on Wednesday “I like to make the final decision one second before it’s due.”

☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- Cairo is in for spring's last hurrah tomorrow, with a high of 35°C and a low of 23°C. It’s going to be milder along the northern coasts, where we expect a high of 30°C and a low of 20°C, according to our favorite weather app.

A byte into this week’s tech news

Tech in a byte. This week, the tech industry has seen quite a few developments, from the world’s most popular messaging app introducing ads, to Meta’s aggressive AI hiring drive, and Tesla’s robotaxi project facing political pushbacks. Here are some of the stories making headlines in the tech sphere this week.

Ads are coming to WhatsApp: Meta’s WhatsApp earlier this week announced that the app would start rolling out ads for the first time ever, marking a shift from its longstanding promise to keep the platform ad-free. The feature is being rolled out alongside paid channel subscriptions that give users access to exclusive content and promotions that allow users to explore channels that could be of interest as part of the company’s push to monetize the world’s most popular communications app.

That said, there’s a silver lining — the ads won’t appear in your chats and will instead be tucked away in the updates tab. “If you only use WhatsApp to chat with friends and loved ones there is no change to your experience at all,” the announcement reads. The company emphasized that it will use limited information like location, language, and followed channels to show relevant ads in an effort to maintain user privacy.

Meta is also ramping up its AI talent shopping spree. The company has allegedly attempted to poach OpenAI employees by offering signing bonuses of up to USD 100 mn and substantial annual compensation packages, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a recent episode of Uncapped with Jack Altman. “Their current AI efforts have not worked as well as they have hoped and I respect being aggressive and continuing to try new things,” he said, noting that Meta’s offer was turned down by all of the company’s best talents. The recruitment push is part of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's broader strategy to build a world-class AI team for the company's "superintelligence" lab. Altman’s statement follows Meta’s USD 14.8 bn investment in Scale AI.

That’s not where the recruitment drive stops: The tech giant is also in talks to hire former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman and his investment partner Daniel Gross to join the company's AI initiatives, Reuters reports.

Tesla’s robotaxi launch may hit the brakes: Tesla's bid to launch driverless cabs on the streets of Austin, Texas, on Sunday may find itself at a roadblock. In a letter sent on Wednesday, Democratic lawmakers in Texas requested that the launch of the autonomous vehicle service be postponed until September when a new autonomous driving law comes into effect, Reuters reports. The legislators argued that holding off on the launch would benefit public safety and build “public trust in Tesla's operations,” though they requested comprehensive compliance details should the company move forward with its June plans.

Other players are also revving their engines: Alphabet’s self-driving car unit Waymo has applied for a permit to test autonomous vehicles in Manhattan with a trained specialist seated behind the wheel, CNN reports. Meanwhile, Amazon’s Zoox launched its first autonomous taxi service production facility on Wednesday, positioning itself to compete with Tesla and Alphabet.

Granita: A return to a cosmopolitan Cairo

? Granita is easy to walk past — but inside the grounds of the All Saints Church in Zamalek sits a lively cafe. Named after an Italian dessert made of iced water, sugar, and various flavorings, the cafe serves a slew of international dishes representing local, European, American, and Asian cuisine.

Two different experiences up for grabs: Indoors, the color palette is white mixed with dark greens, the tasteful greenery and comfortable seating lends a calm, refined ambiance. On the contrary, the exterior’s warmer browns and blues, wooden furniture, and fun decor offers a casual lounge-like feel. Each affords a rich feeling without being overdone.

Our highlight: the Penne Arrabiata. Literally translating to ‘Angry’ in Italian, this arrabiata is a subtle take on the Italian classic. Although mildly spiced, the rich tomato sauce coating the al-dente penne and fresh olives makes for a tasty dish. Tastier still given it was a sizable portion that arrived within minutes of ordering.

A diner classic: Granita’s BLT sandwich puts a little twist on the vintage snack, replacing the bacon with local pastrami. It works. The salty kick of the pastrami was the ideal counterpoint to the creamy tomato, lettuce, and mayonnaise filling. It’s a good choice for a quick lunch break or study snack to keep your energy rolling throughout the day.

The drinks are worth a try too: The eponymous lemon “granita” is a must on a hot day — just the right mix of zesty lemony goodness and sweetness. We’re excited to return and sample their other granita flavors like the berry and hibiscus. Looking for something a bit heavier? The strawberry milkshake isn’t overly sweet and it comes topped with a hefty mound of whipped cream to spoon out. The shake leans milky rather than fruity, however, so anybody expecting a strong strawberry flavour may be a bit disappointed.

Don’t feel like making the drive to Zamalek? You can find granita in Sheikh Zayed’s Arkan Plaza and Azhar Park. Want the food without the vibes? You can plan an order on Talabat or Elmenus.

A second chance for Al Ahly

⚽ Your daily update on the Club World Cup: Al Hilal FC was the only non-European club to leave the field with their heads — slightly — held high last night. The rest of the African, Asian, and American clubs were not as fortunate — with some receiving a crushing blow.

Group G: Manchester City kicked off the first of their matches with a 2-0 victory over Morocco’s Wydad FC — yet it wasn’t enough to claim the lead, which went to Juventus, who demolished UAE’s Al Ain 5-0.

Group H: After a neck and neck face-off between Al Hilal and Real Madrid, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Al Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou blocking Valverde’s penalty shot in the final minutes of the match. Both clubs left the field with one point, leaving Salzburg to claim the lead with three points after defeating Mexico’s Pachuca 2-1.

Al Ahly will kick off the second round of the group stage against Palmeiras tonight at 7pm. The match will take place in New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, and will be followed by the second Group A face-off between Inter Miami and Porto at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlantia at 10pm.

Group A scoreboard: All four teams stand on equal ground with one point and zero goals each, following a series of scoreless draws in the first round.

Staying up? These are the matches happening at dawn. Group B’s Seattle Sounders and Atlético Madrid will meet at Seattle’s Lumen Field Stadium at 1am. Group leaders PSG and Botafogo will see if they can break their tie at the Rose Bowl Stadium in California later at 4am.

Group B scoreboard: PSG is in the lead with three points and a +4 goal difference, closely followed by Botafogo with the same points but a +1 goal difference. The Seattle Sounders and Atlético Madrid remain at the bottom with zero points to show.

Lella Fadda’s concerts are on the house

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-

No tickets needed, these concerts are on the house. Viral Egyptian singer and rapper Lella Fadda is throwing two pro-bono concerts this June. Tonight, June 19, Fadda will be lighting up Alexandria’s Antoniades Park before heading back to Cairo for an encore at The Greek Campus in Downtown Cairo on Saturday, 21 June. You can secure your spot through Laylo.

Miami-based Mexican artist and producer Sainte Vie is giving Cairo a taste of Floridian summers. Bringing his signature groove to CJC 610 tonight, 19 June, the techno dynamo will be joined by local DJs Ziad Mousa, Mohasseb, and Ashmawy. You can get your tickets from Ticketsmarché.

They might be creeps, they might be weirdos, but they’re definitely going to be entertaining the crowd. Tonight, Egyptian Radiohead tribute band The Bends will be taking over Garden City’s Room Art Space with an intimate unplugged session featuring Radiohead’s most beloved hits. Tickets can be purchased through EasyKash. Now, cue Exit Music (for a Film).

Care for an intimate musical experience this weekend? On Saturday, 21 June, Egyptian artist Hany Must will be hosting his “Storyteller Sessions” at Garden City’s Room Art Space. Expect raw vocals, smooth acoustics, and hauntingly-beautiful lyrics. Tickets are available on EasyKash.

Brazilian-Lebanese DJ Rodge is about to shake things up at CJC 610. The seasoned DJ knows how to get a crowd up and jumping, and his set on Friday, 20 June at the nightlife hotspot west of Cairo promises to be no different. Rodge will be dishing out global anthems, feel-good hits, and everything in between. Joining him on the decks will be Zabadi Khalat with their signature sonic shake-up. You can grab your tickets from CJC 610’s website — and we suggest doing so fast.

From Tomorrowland to New Alamein. Italy-hailing and Berlin-based artist, DJ, and composer Malandra Jr. wants you to be part of his symphony on Friday, 20 June at Cassette, New Alamein. The Ibiza resident is known for keeping his crowd on their toes with his unexpected sonic mashups that only a certified composer like him can whip up. Tickets can be purchased through Crcl’s — the event organizer — Instagram.

Need a dash of folklore in your life? Reconnect with your Egyptian roots at El Sawy Culturewheel on Friday, 20 June, as the all-Egyptian, all-women band Tablet el Sitt take the stage. On a mission to spread joy and preserve Egyptian folk music, the band will be performing from 8pm to 10:30pm. Tickets are available on El Sawy Culturewheel’s official website.

HAPPENING LATER-

12 hours of Egyptian culture? Sign us up. Qahrawya will be whisking curious wanderlusters off to Al Haraneyah and Dahshour on Saturday, 21 June, where they will get a full day experience through the Ramsis Wissa Wassef Center, the Adam Hanin Museum, and the Glass Museum. The itinerary will also include interactive workshops and a traditional Egyptian lunch. You can purchase tickets for Qahrawya’s Wrapped in Silk tour through EasyKash.

Ever dreamt of being a DJ? Kamelizer wants to make your beat-dropping dreams come true at District 5’s Townhall by Kamelizer this June. Collaborating with the DJ Academy in Cairo, Kamelizer is hosting a three-week-long DJ Bootcamp kicking off on Monday, 23 June, and taking place on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9:30pm. Want to master mixing? Be a transition-tron? Know how to work a crowd? The bootcamp will teach you how to do all that and more — and the best part? You’ll get to show off your skills at two live events following the bootcamp. To register for the bootcamp and find out more details, head to Kamelizer Spaces’ Instagram and click the link in their bio.

World-famous ventriloquist Jeff Dunham is bringing his puppets to Egypt this June. Performing live in Cairo for the very first time, the American comedian, actor, and host of the Jeff Dunham show will be playing puppet-master as he orchestrates a comedic showcase under the theme of Artificial Intelligence, stringing along his comical cast of characters at the Drama Hall in the New Capital’s Arts and Culture city on Thursday, 26 June. You can grab your tickets from Ticketsmarché — and don’t worry, you won’t have to pull any strings to get in.

Lose yourself in the last of Beethoven’s symphonies at the Cairo Opera House. On Saturday, 28 June, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 will reverberate throughout the Main Hall as Maestro Ahmed El Saedi guides his orchestra through the most influential of symphonic works. Tickets can be purchased through Tazkarti.

Freshen up your linen shirts and pack up your shades, because Egyptian megastar Amr Diab will be kicking off Sahel season at Sol Beach Marassi on Friday, 4 July. Joining the Hadaba will be German electronic dance music producer and singer Monolink, and Copenhagen-based experimental pop trio WhoMadeWho. You can grab your tickets from Ticketsmarché. Just don’t forget your sunblock.

In the mood to party by the Pyramids? On Friday, 19 December, world-famous Dutch DJ and Producer Tiësto is coming back to Egypt for a solo show at the Giza Plateau. Once voted “The Greatest DJ of All Time,” Tiësto will surely make this upcoming show one to remember. Tickets are available on Ticket Egypt.

What the markets are doing on 19 June 2025

The EGX30 fell 1.9% at today’s close on turnover of EGP 4.5 bn (5.8% below the 90-day average). Foreign investors were the sole net sellers. The index is up 1.7% YTD.

In the green: Edita (+1.6%), Mopco (+0.4%), and Credit Agricole (+0.1%).

In the red: TMG Holding (-5.8%), Oriental Weavers (-4.6%), and Eastern Company (-4.0%).

ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

JUNE

19 June (Thursday): Sainte Vie at CJC 610.

19 June (Thursday): Lella Fadda at Alexandria’s Antoniades Park.

19 June (Thursday): The Bends Radiohead Tribute Band at Room Art Space.

20 June (Friday): Rodge at CJC 610.

20 June (Friday): Tablet el Sitt at El-Sawy Culturewheel.

20 June (Friday): Malandra Jr. at Cassette, New Alamein.

21 June (Saturday): Lella Fadda at The Greek Campus.

21 June (Saturday): Qahrawya Wrapped in Silk Tour in El Haraniya & Dahshur.

21 June (Saturday): Hany Must at Room Art Space Garden City.

22-23 June (Sunday - Monday): Omar Khairat at The Cairo Opera House.

23 June - 9 July (Monday - Wednesday): DJ Bootcamp at Townhall by Kamelizer.

24 June (Tuesday): Studio El Etnin at CJC 610.

26 June (Thursday): Jeff Dunham at the New Capital’s Drama Hall.

27 June (Friday): Medhat Saleh at Cairo Opera House.

27 June (Friday): Cassette ‘90s at El-Sawy Culturewheel.

28 June (Saturday): Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at The Cairo Opera House.

28 June (Saturday): Cairokee Empire concert at Cairo International Stadium.

28 June (Saturday): Medic 20th Anniversary Concert at Rawabet Art Space.

JULY

4 July (Friday): Amr Diab, Monolinkand WhoMadeWho at Sol Beach Marassi.

11 July (Friday): Paradise Ibiza at Solare Ras Al Hekma.

19 July - 30 September (Saturday - Tuesday): Art Space at New Alamein.

AUGUST

1 August (Friday): The Martinez Brothers at Sol Beach.

6-30 August (Wednesday - Saturday): Egypt Sculpture Symposium at New Alamein.

8 August (Friday): &ME at Sol Beach.

OCTOBER

16-24 October (Thursday-Friday): Gouna Film Festival.

30 October - 22 November (Thursday-Saturday): Forever is Now at the Great Pyramids of Giza.

DECEMBER

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

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Qatar eyes USD 3.5 bn project on the North Coast

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