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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TONIGHT

USD 700 mn solar and battery storage Aswan project wraps up financing

Good afternoon, friends, and congratulations on making it to the end of what has been a very busy workweek as everyone tries to wrap up loose ends before the end of the year. We’re looking forward to a festive pre-Christmas weekend with family and friends, and we hope you are too.

But first, let's dive into the headlines of the day.

THE BIG STORY TODAY-

? 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 International Finance Corporation led a USD 570 mn debt package, with co-financing from a who’s-who of development finance institutions, including Italy’s CDP, Dutch development bank FMO, Germany’s DEG, British International Investment, the OPEC Fund, and Europe Arab Bank.

By the numbers: 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.

This one is special: The Amea-Kyuden plant is being paired with what will become Africa’s largest battery energy storage system (BESS). The battery system will allow the massive solar park to supply renewable energy to the national grid during peak evening hours when load-shedding risks are highest.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

? The global news cycle seems to be taking a breather as we wind down for the weekend. No single story is dominating the digital front pages, but plenty are making the rounds:

Among the stories getting plenty of ink in the business press: Murray Auchincloss is out, and Meg O'Neill is in as the first female CEO of BP and the first woman to run a major global oil firm. O’Neill is BP’s third CEO in five years, with Auchincloss stepping down less than two years after taking office. She’s expected to stick to BP’s strategy of prioritizing its core oil and gas business over renewables.

AND- New York Hedge Fund Standard General is reportedly in talks to invest in (or acquire) the Warner Bros. Discovery television networks excluded from the Netflix deal, which include CNN, according to a Financial Times report.

☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- We’re in for a cool start to the weekend in Cairo, with the mercury set to peak at just 22°C before cooling down to 12°C, according to our favorite weather app.

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FOR YOUR COMMUTE

The pros and cons of Egypt’s new real estate investment options

?️ The Egyptian real estate market is experiencing a fundamental shift in how people invest in property. Rising prices and technological innovation have created new pathways to property ownership, with fractional investment emerging as a compelling alternative to traditional whole-property purchases.

ICYMI: You can read part one here to understand your investment options, and learn more about how and with whom you should invest. Below is our rundown of the pros and cons of each investment option.

Fractional property investments

The benefits: Platforms like PartmentX, Nawy Shares, and SAFE handle management issues to create a truly passive investment experience. This type of investment allows for “high-value properties in prime locations for a fraction of the price,” as well as for the diversification of investments, according to Partment co-founder and CEO Ahmed El Raggal.

Why is this important? “Real estate prices are rapidly climbing, making it harder for people to invest on their own,” Nawy told us. “Fractional ownership makes it accessible — instead of saving for years, you can invest in premium properties today with a fraction of the cost.”

The regulatory landscape: Recent administrative decisions mark “a major turning point for Egypt's real estate market, unlocking significant benefits for fractional ownership, enabling mortgage finance companies to securitize and fractionalize financial rights portfolios and inject fresh liquidity into the market,” according to Madinet Masr. The FRA is continuously developing clearer regulations for fractional real estate investment, which has enhanced investor confidence, Partment co-founder and CEO Nadim Nagui told us.

Many investors who can afford traditional property investment still choose fractional approaches for the diversity, says Nawy: “It's a flexible, lower-risk approach, especially when their primary goal is investment.” Partment reports similar patterns, with a portion of its users owning multiple fractions across different units, sometimes with total investments matching or exceeding the value of a single standalone property.

The downsides: “Since fractional real estate investments are tied to physical properties, you can't pull out instantly like a bank account. The exit happens when the whole property is sold,” Nawy says.

Partment is addressing this concern through their resale marketplace, which provides a structured platform for users who want to exit their holdings, Nagui told us. Once the minimum holding period is met, users can list their shares for resale, a process facilitated by the company’s client network and social media channels.

But this still means that investors have limited control over property decisions and restricted liquidity options, and are dependent on the platform’s management quality and longevity. Nawy and Madinet Masr have been collaborating with the FRA to introduce resale options in the future, providing investors with increased liquidity.

Time-share property investments

The benefits: Time-share properties offer guaranteed second-home or vacation accommodations in desirable locations without the full purchase price. The predetermined usage schedule provides predictability, while the property is professionally maintained without direct involvement from the owner.

The downsides:Time-share properties typically depreciate in value rather than appreciate. Maintenance fees will increase significantly over time, and reselling time-shares is notoriously difficult, with secondary market values far below initial purchase prices. Unlike other real estate investments, time-shares generate expenses, classifying them more as prepaid stays than true investments.

Real estate company stocks

The benefits: Unlike the fractional ownership model, which lacks a robust secondary market (where it is the seller's responsibility to find a replacement buyer for a specific asset), Bonyan offers market depth and immediate liquidity, providing flexibility for investors to enter and exit positions, Abdel Rahman told EnterpriseAM.

Not to mention diversification. “When you buy a share in Bonyan, you're essentially indirectly owning 10 different assets,” whereas a fractional investor is buying a share in a specific project. “Out of the 10 assets, nine are already rented out and yielding cash,” Abdel Rahman adds, while most fractional models often involve buying off-plan, where you are “stuck until they sell.”

As a listed entity, Bonyan provides transparency, offering clear company valuation and activity reporting, and removes the burden of extensive market screening. With professional management overseeing a diversified portfolio, investors gain exposure to multiple Grade A commercial properties without selecting individual assets.

This investment type provides exceptional liquidity, allowing investors to buy and sell within seconds during market hours without lengthy property transactions. They require minimal capital to start, making them the most accessible real estate option. The stock market listing also means regulatory oversight from the FRA and the EGX, providing an additional layer of investor protection not always present in private fractional platforms.

The downsides: Stock prices are susceptible to broader market volatility unrelated to real estate fundamentals, and investors have no control over specific property decisions. Corporate issues like management changes, debt levels, or strategic missteps can impact returns regardless of property market performance.

Real estate funds

The benefits: Real estate funds deliver professional portfolio management with investment decisions made by experienced real estate professionals. They provide instant diversification across multiple properties, property types, and geographic locations even with modest investment amounts. Most funds offer relatively stable returns compared to direct stocks, with some providing regular income distributions.

The downsides: Management and performance fees reduce overall returns, there is minimal control over specific property selections or exits, and typically less liquidity than stocks, but more than direct property. Fund performance depends entirely on management quality, creating another layer of due diligence for potential investors.

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ON THE TUBE TONIGHT

The New Yorker at 100

? As journalists, news junkies, and people who live and breathe the inner workings of a newsroom, we love the New Yorker… and we loved this documentary. Narrated by actress Julianne Moore, the documentary is, in essence, a charming love letter to the iconic magazine and the city of New York. If you appreciate one or both, you’ll find yourself smiling throughout the 97-minute runtime.

The New Yorker at 100 takes viewers behind the scenes of the magazine’s newsroom, creative process, and editorial decisions as staff work toward the centennial issue. The story is told through the New Yorker’s 5th editor, David Remnick, and a roster of Hollywood celebrities and celebrity writers who launched their careers at the New Yorker. Actors like Sarah Jessica Parker and Jon Hamm, whose television and real-life personas are closely associated with the city of New York, make appearances. The documentary also includes archival footage of cultural figures like James Baldwin and Truman Capote, who are part of the New Yorker’s rich legacy.

Even if you’ve never read a word in the New Yorker, you know what its covers look like — they are a master class in establishing visual identity. Most interesting to us were the parts of the documentary that featured veteran New Yorker staff members like Françoise Mouly, who has been art editor for the past 32 years. “A cover needs to speak to the moment but also be a timeless piece of art that can be framed and put on a wall,” says Mouly about the intricate process that goes into creating and selecting a New Yorker cover. “For 100 years, we have never run a photo cover or a cover featuring a celebrity, and never will,” vows Remnick.

And let's not forget the cartoons. The New Yorker was founded by Harold Ross in 1925 as a sophisticated humor magazine aimed at an elite audience, so cartoons as social commentary have been, and continue to be, an integral component of the editorial vision. Legendary staff cartoonist Roz Chast makes an appearance to talk about her creative process.

The fundamental message of the documentary is: as hundreds of magazines and newspapers struggle to survive, the New Yorker is doing just fine, and here’s why. Interestingly, the documentary shows us a 29-person fact-checking department making phone calls and marking up copy by hand, and doesn’t mention a word about the use of AI — it’s old school journalism on full display. Long live Eustace Tilley, the dapper, monocle‑wearing 20th-century gentleman who has been the New Yorker’s mascot for 100 years.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can stream The New Yorker at 100 on Netflix, or watch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:13).

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Sports

Grab your snacks and tune in — we’re in for another sports-packed weekend

As usual, we’re being treated to yet another sports-packed weekend. Between cup title deciders and European league matches, here’s everything on our radar.

Today’s top fixtures-

Who’s walking away with the Arab Cup title? Qatar’s Lusail Stadium will play host to the anticipated face-off between Jordan and Morocco in the Arab Cup final today at 6pm. Morocco has its eyes set on the title following years of absence, whereas the Jordanian national team hopes to clinch the title for the first time.

Where to watch- BeIN SPORTS.


The Partenopei vs. The Rossoneri: Eyes also turn today to Alawwal Park Stadium in Riyadh for the clash between Italian league champions Napoli and Coppa Italia runners-up AC Milan in the semifinals of the Supercoppa Italia tonight at 9pm.

Where to watch- Thmanya App.

Tomorrow’s top fixtures-

Al Ahly and Ceramica Cleopatra face off in the second round of the Egypt Capital Cup at Al Mokawloon Al Arab Stadium tonight at 8pm. Al Ahly leads its group and seeks a victory to make up for their loss against Enppi in the previous round.

Where to watch- ON Sports.

Other matches on our radar:

  • Petrojet vs. Ismaily (5pm, watch on ON Sport);
  • Ghazl El Mahalla vs. Pharco (5pm, watch on ON Sport);
  • Al Masry vs. Zed (8pm, watch on ON Sport).


When in R…iyadh: We’re tuning in for the semi-final fixture between Inter Milan and Bologna at 9pm. The victor of the match will face off against the victor of tonight’s semi-final between Napoli and AC Milan in Riyadh.

Where to watch- Thmanya App.

Saturday’s top fixtures-

Zamalek and Haras El Hodoud will take the field at the Arab Contractors Stadium for the second round of the Egypt Capital Cup at 8pm. Zamalek, which will be walking onto the field missing several key players, kicked off the tournament with a draw against Ismailia Electricity in the previous round.

Where to watch- ON Time Sports.

Also on our radar:

  • Gouna vs. Pyramids (5pm, watch on ON Sport);
  • Enppi vs. Tala’ea El Gaish (5pm, watch on ON Sport).


The English Premier League returns with several Matchweek 17 fixtures, most notably Liverpool vs. Tottenham at 7:30pm. Mohamed Salah will be absent from the Reds' upcoming match as he joins the national team to prepare for AFCON, which kicks off on 21 December in Morocco.

Where to watch- BeIN Sports 1.

Also in the Premier League:

  • Newcastle vs. Chelsea (2:30pm, watch on BeIN Sports 1);
  • Manchester City vs. West Ham (5pm, watch on BeIN Sports 1);
  • Everton vs. Arsenal (10pm, watch on BeIN Sports 1).


Other key European League fixtures on our radar this Saturday:

  • Real Madrid vs. Sevilla — La Liga (10pm);
  • Juventus vs. Roma — Serie A (9:45pm).
5

A MESSAGE FROM ONSI SAWIRIS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS EXECUTIVE EDUCATION

AUC Onsi Sawiris School of Business Executive Education and Marakez launch Egypt’s first academic program supporting F&B entrepreneurs

Onsi Sawiris School of Business Executive Education (ExecEd) at the American University in Cairo (AUC) has launched the Restaurant Business Management Program – Powered by Marakez. This is the first academic program in Egypt to support F&B entrepreneurs and startups. The program blends academic coursework with practical, on-the-ground learning, providing participants with access to Marakez’s F&B ecosystem, field visits to District 5, and sessions with industry operators and investors from the company’s extensive network in the field.

ExecEd Executive Director Mohamed AbdelSalam said the partnership marks a significant step toward positioning the school as a leader in F&B innovation, noting that the program links participants with industry leaders and real business environments while building the skills and networks entrepreneurs need to grow. Program Manager Yasmine Khalil highlighted rising demand for structured learning in Egypt’s rapidly expanding F&B sector, adding that interest in the pilot cohort has already exceeded expectations.

From Marakez’s side, the program addresses one of the sector’s most significant challenges: high failure rates among new restaurants. CCO Ashraf Maklad described the initiative as the “missing link” that helps founders understand critical elements such as service, supply, and consistency — factors that often make or break a new concept. Executive Vice Chairman Dasha Badrawi added that while restaurants remain one of the most popular yet risk-prone forms of entrepreneurship, equipping operators with fundamentals and an understanding of common pitfalls is essential.

Together, ExecEd and Marakez aim to combine academic rigor with practical insight to help Egypt’s next generation of F&B entrepreneurs turn promising ideas into viable, scalable businesses.

For more information or to enroll in the program, visit AUC ExecEd’s website here.

This publication is proudly sponsored by

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OUT AND ABOUT

Ring in the New Year with Medhat Saleh

MARK YOUR CALENDAR-

? New Year’s Eve just got more magical — Medhat Saleh is bringing his timeless classics to Theatro Arkan on Wednesday, 31 December for a live show, joined by a full band led by Maestro Amr Selim. Expect a decadent and festive night to close out the year. You can book tickets on Ticketsmarché.

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-

Abyusif makes his comeback at the Greek Campus in Downtown Cairo tomorrow. 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 Center Almaza’s City Garage tomorrow. Expect a night of good vibes and groovy music. You can find tickets on Ticketsmarché.

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 producer and trumpeter this winter at New Capital’s Concert Hall as he honors the late legend Umm Kulthum on Saturday. 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 on 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 LATER-

Looking to share a heartwarming family moment? Theatro Arkan is celebrating a decade of its Golden Theatre productions, bringing back the beloved Dahab The Musical on Monday, 22 December. Based on the popular Egyptian film, the musical promises drama, emotions, humor, and powerful messages. Starring Nelly Sadek and Adam El Masry, the family musical is a must-see. Tickets are available on Ticketsmarché.

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GO WITH THE FLOW

What the markets are doing on 18 December 2025

The EGX30 fell 1.4% at today’s close on turnover of EGP 7.7 bn (44% above the 90-day average). Local investors were the sole net buyers. The index is up 37.6% YTD.

In the green: Abu Qir Fertilizers (+4.3%), Egypt Aluminum (+3.2%), and Alexandria Mineral Oils (+1.3%).

In the red: Eastern Company (-5.6%), Emaar Misr (-3.1%), and CIB (-2.7%).


?️DECEMBER

6 December - 15 February (Saturday-Sunday): Cairo Prints at Cairopolitan in Garden City.

12 December - 15 January (Friday-Thursday): Cairo Art Fair at TAM Gallery, Abu Rawwash.

19 December (Friday): Sharmoofers at City Garage Live, City Centre Almaza.

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

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

19-20 December (Friday-Saturday): Athar Lina’s Spend the Day in Khalifa at al-Khalifa Community Centre.

20 December (Saturday): Tamer Hosny Fundraising Concert at Abdeen Palace.

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

22 December (Monday): Dahab The Musical at Theatro Arkan.

25 December (Thursday): Tul8te at El Arena, El Malahy.

26 December (Friday): Bahaa Sultan at the Hilton Cairo Grand Nile.

27 December (Saturday): Saad El Oud at the Hilton Cairo Grand Nile.

31 December (Wednesday): Medhat Saleh at Theatro Arkan.

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.

JUNE

16 June (Tuesday): Islamic New Year.

30 June (Tuesday): June 30th Revolution.

JULY

23 July (Thursday): July 23rd Revolution 1952.

AUGUST

25 August (Thursday): Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday.

OCTOBER

6 October (Tuesday): Armed Forces Day.

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