Good morning, friends, and a happy Friday to you all. It’s been a long and busy week, but we have all you need to wind down for a chill weekend below.
What do you do when your 8-second attention span craves something more substantial than mindless scrolling? We’ve gathered all the channels you need to restore your faith in digital content and prove that learning something new doesn’t have to be boring.
Out of deep appreciation for music and its tastemakers through time and place, we are delighted to present a new monthly segment: Now Playing. On the second Friday of each month, we will be sharing an artist, album, song, or musical piece that we love, and tell you why it resonates with us. Inaugurating the segment is English-Nigerian singer Sade, whose songs have captivated audiences and shaped the industry since the 1980s.
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-
ECONOMY-
No electricity price hikes this month. Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly announced that the government will not hike electricity prices this month during his weekly presser, confirming what EnterpriseAM reported earlier this week. “We look at electricity prices as part of the wider economy and their impact on inflation,” Madbouly said.
ALSO- Annual headline urban inflation eased again in August by nearly two percentage points, falling to 12.0%, according to data from state statistics agency Capmas seen by EnterpriseAM. The 1.9 percentage point fall from July brings the country’s headline figure to its lowest reading since March 2022 and marks the third consecutive month of easing price growth.
INVESTMENT WATCH-
Emaar Misr and Saudi-owned real estate developer Citystars Properties will develop an EGP 900 bn integrated tourism project, Marassi Red Sea, under a contract inked with the Madbouly government, according to a cabinet statement. The development is slated for completion in four years, aiming to boost the Red Sea’s status as a global tourism destination, expected to generate USD 200 mn in annual revenues. The development will house an international conference center, schools, hospitals, sports and leisure facilities, and Marassi Wonders.
ENERGY-
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has frozen his state’s USD 35 bn natural gas export agreement with Egypt last week, amid rising Israeli-Egyptian tensions over the war in Gaza and Cairo’s military deployments in Sinai, according to industry publication Middle East Economic Survey (Mees).
MANUFACTURING-
The Finance Ministry has begun approving applications from manufacturers to access subsidized loans under the industrial finance initiative at a 15% interest rate, a government source at the ministry told EnterpriseAM. Some EGP 6 bn has already been disbursed by the Industry Ministry for qualified applications, the source said. The initiative is restricted to funding capital goods, machinery, and equipment.
DIPLOMACY-
Egypt has sent a formal letter to the UN Security Council after Ethiopia officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), calling the move “a unilateral act in violation of international law,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement yesterday. The letter also stressed that Egypt reserves the right to take the necessary measures permitted under international law and the UN Charter to protect its interests.
AUTOMOTIVE-
The Electricity Ministry raised electric vehicle charging tariffs under a new set of rules, allowing operators to charge more for both slow and fast public charging, according to a decision published in the Official Gazette. The new rules — which don’t affect home charging rates — are meant to encourage the development of EV infrastructure and address profitability concerns of charging infrastructure firms.
AROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS-

Prominent right-wing influencer and co-founder of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk was assassinated Wednesday night — shot dead while speaking at a Utah university. The 31-year-old, credited with mobilizing youth and minority voters for President Donald Trump’s second-term victory, was struck in the neck moments after taking a question on gun violence. The killing — the latest in a string of violent attacks on US political figures — sent shockwaves through Washington. At time of publication, the shooter is still at large, while US authorities released photos of a “person of interest” believed to be the perpetrator. (Financial Times | Wall Street Journal | New York Times | BBC | CNN)
Israel launched airstrikes on Qatar and Yemen this week. Israeli attacks killed 35 and injured over 100 in Yemen, a response to a Houthi drone attack that hit an Israeli airport. The attack came one day after Israel launched an attack on Qatar, taking its cross-border campaign against Hamas into uncharted territory, launching what it claimed to be ‘a precision airstrike’ in Doha targeting the group’s political leadership. The strike — which killed five Hamas members including the son of top negotiator Khalil Al Hayya — came as Hamas leaders gathered to discuss a US-backed ceasefire proposal.
The attack has upended fragile truce efforts and drawn sharp condemnation from Qatar, which labeled the strike a “flagrant violation.” A Qatari security officer was among those killed, and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani warned that the talks now “lack any validity,” and said it will reserve the right to retaliate.
France’s government collapses amid budget standoff: French Prime Minister François Bayrou’s nine-month-old government was toppled after losing a confidence vote in parliament, deepening France’s fiscal and political crisis. Bayrou’s unpopular austerity plan — including tax hikes, spending cuts, and scrapping two public holidays — was rejected by a wide opposition front. His ouster leaves President Emmanuel Macron scrambling to name his fifth prime minister in less than two years.
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☀️ THE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND-
We’re in for a moderately warm weekend, with temperatures in Cairo set to peak at 34-35°C, before cooling down to 21-22°C. Heading up north one last time? Expect highs of 28°C and lows of 25°C, according to our favorite weather app.
🎙️HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-
Give a preloved item its new home at Darb 15’s Garage Sale, happening today and tomorrow. Join the sustainability crowd and browse through a huge collection of secondhand items. Doors open from 12pm to 10pm.
Good news, friends: We’ve got some squash to look forward to this September. Kicking off today and running until Friday, 19 September, the CIB Egyptian Squash Open 2025 — headlined by World No. 1s Mostafa Asal and Nouran Gohar — will be taking place right by the Great Pyramids of Giza, with opening games at Club O West. Ticket details are yet to be confirmed, but we’d suggest keeping an eye out for them on the tournament’s website.
Address Beach Resort is where the fun never stops. Megastars Wael Gassar and RehamAbdelhakim will give electric performances tomorrow at Marassi. Head over to Ticketsmarché for tickets.
🎙️HAPPENING NEXT WEEKEND-
The iconic Myriam Fares is set to perform all-time favorites at Hacienda White’s Kiki’s Beach on Friday, 19 September. Don’t miss the final days of Sahel season — you can grab your tickets on Kiki’s website .
Tamer Ashour to join the lineup for Marassi’s Address Beach Resort celebrations on Friday, 19 September. Be where the fun is and sing along to his hits on Saudi National Day. Get your tickets on Ticketsmarché.
Mega stars Asala and Ahmed Saad are wrapping up the Marassi fun on Saturday, 20 September. Don’t miss these exciting performances at Address Beach Resort and get your tickets at Ticketsmarché.
If you’re looking for your next vintage find, we’ve got some good news. Cairo Flea Market Streets Edition is kicking off the new thrifting season on Saturday, 20 September at Zamalek’s Horreya Garden. The market is set to run from 10am to 10pm, and will feature everything from vintage finds to handcrafted treasures.


