Get ready to give back this Ramadan

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THE WEEK IN REVIEW

THIS WEEKEND: Ras El Hekma investment dominates the news as the first and second batches arrive with a total of USD 10 bn from the contracted USD 35 bn.

Good morning, friends. We hope this Friday treats you well. We are counting down the days until Ramadan begins.

What would Ramadan be without the spirit of giving? Kicking off the season, we are sharing the lowdown on some of the Ramadan charitable boxes and bag options in the capital and the different ways you can get them to the right people: Either through the click of a button or lending a hand to the awesome folks preparing the packages.

Enterprise Weekend comes out each Friday at 9:00am CLT. We’ll be back on Sunday at 6am with Enterprise Egypt AM. Until then: Enjoy the weekend.

LAST WEEK IN 3 MINS-

One single story drove the national narrative this week: The Abu Dhabi wealth fund acquiring the development rights to Ras El Hekma in a USD 35 bn agreement and the agreement’s aftermath.

KICKING OFF WITH MAJOR INVESTMENT NEWS…

The government dotted the Is and crossed the Ts on the mammoth Ras El Hekma agreement: The Madbouly government inked a USD 35 bn agreement with ADQ, giving the Abu Dhabi wealth fund and longtime investor in Egypt the development rights to Ras El Hekma on the North Coast, marking the “largest direct investment agreement in Egypt.”

ADQ on Tuesday deposited the first USD 5 bn of the funds at the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). The CBE will receive another USD 5 bn today, Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly confirmed in a cabinet statement yesterday.

Remember: ADQ agreed to make the first USD 15 bn payment for the development rights to Ras El Hekma on the North Coast within a week of signing the agreement, which was inked last Friday. Of the first payment, USD 10 bn are fresh inflows and USD 5 bn are in the form of a previous UAE deposit at the CBE. The remaining USD 20 bn will be paid within two months.

Market reax: The EGX fell by 5.0% at the closing bell on the Monday after the news broke, while the EGP strengthened in the parallel and derivatives markets. The USD was changing hands at EGP 47.8-48.3 on Wednesday.

IMF said that the agreement is “completely separate” from IMF discussions: The agreement “is not linked to the Fund’s discussions with Egypt. These two topics are completely separate,” the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia head Jihad Azour said. That being said, IMF staff and Egyptian officials continued to make “excellent progress” towards finalizing the long-stalled first and second reviews of Egypt’s loan program, the Fund’s director of communication Julie Kozack said on Saturday.

IN OTHER PRIVATIZATION NEWS- New investors in the running for United Bank: Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) and Kuwait Finance House completed their due diligence for United Bank in December. The transaction could reportedly reel in the USD equivalent of EGP 22 bn.

AND- The government will soon launch an international tender for the management and operation of all the airports in the country.

More money rolls in: The government also received USD 520 mn yesterday as part of the sale of seven historic hotels to Talaat Moustafa Group’s Icon, Madbouly added. Icon finalized the acquisition of 51% stake in the hotels last month for USD 800 mn.

This all came as good news for the EGP: The strengthening of the EGP in the parallel market indicated the EGP could trade between 45-50 against the greenback in the event of a devaluation, Goldman Sachs wrote in a note of their five key takeaways on the state of the economy. The Ras El Hekma agreement was an “inflection point” alleviating FX supply pressures, which “is likely to sharply reduce speculative/hedging demand for FX, driving the parallel rate lower,” the note wrote.

ENERGY-

Egypt announces USD 41 bn worth of investment in green hydrogen and renewable: Egypt has inked seven MoUs with international and local companies to develop green hydrogen and renewable energy projects worth USD 41 bn in the Suez Canal Economic Zone over the next ten years, according to a statement from the cabinet.

AND A TAD OF TELECOMS UPDATES

Telecom Egypt and Chinese tech giant Huawei announced a partnership to deploy5G services in Egypt. The partnership has enabled Huawei — a world leader in 5G technology — to establish 5G sites in “hotspot areas” throughout Egypt.

AROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS-

WAR IN GAZA-

Over one quarter of Gazans are on the verge of famine. It is “almost inevitable” that a widespread famine will occur if action is not taken, warned a senior UN aid official at the UN Security Council earlier this week.

Egypt, Qatar could help form a new Palestinian technocratic government: A new Palestinian technocratic government following the resignation of Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on Monday would be aided by both Egypt and Qatar, Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Husam Zomlot said. Although the new government to run Palestine, once Israel’s war on Gaza is over, will not contain any Hamas members, the group and all other Palestinian parties and factions will take part in the consultations to set up the new entity, Zomlot added.

The newsflow of the international business press was awash with stories on one techgiant in particular: Apple is ending its secretive, decade-long effort to build an electric car | The US Department of Justice may be on the verge of hitting Apple with an antitrust suit | Apple shareholders want the iPhone maker to be more transparent about its guidelines for the ethical use of AI.

?️ THE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND- Friday brings us a warm day with an afternoon high of 30°C and an early morning low of 14°C . Meanwhile, Saturday is slightly cooler with a high of 26°C before dropping to a low of 15°C later in the night, according to our favorite weather app.

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-

ARTS-

Cairo Design Week is coming to a close this weekend. The week-long event is allocated in five different areas in Cairo: The Citadel, Heliopolis, Downtown, Zamalek, and Maadi, and brings creatives and industry experts together in a venue that showcases the latest in Egypt’s design industry. Get your ticket now through their website.

Bibliothek Art Gallery is hosting an artist talk featuring Amani Mousa, Eman Hussin, and Yasmine Shash, moderated by Ismail Fayed, to discuss their Lines of Intimacy Exhibition which continues untiltomorrow. You can find the catalog here.

ENTERTAINMENT-

Like comedy and want to get in on the fun? Presented by Al Mothalas, El Khatba is an interactive comedy experience at Rawabet Art Space tonight at 8pm.

EVENTS-.

Bibliothek Egypt is hosting yet another book signing for Reem Basyuni’s two latest works, Mario Abu al-Abbas and In Search of Happiness, tonight at 6:30pm. Along with the book signing will be a seminar titled Architecture and Impact.

Fancy yourself a detective? Murder-mystery fans can pull out their magnifying glasses to crack this case. Cluedupp and Crime Scene Investigator are staging a hard-boiled outdoor event tomorrow where you have to solve four murders around the city by solving puzzles, interrogating witnesses, and hunting for clues. Find more details here.

For all the mothers who need a break — or a bit of fun — Rahet Bally is collaborating withEl Malahy to give moms a day of fun with their children tomorrow. All you have to do is download the Rahet Bally app, sign up for entry without charge for you and your kids, and buy your playing credit — at a marked-down price — for you to play all day alongside endless competitions and prizes.

Dust off your tote bags: The Cairo Flea Market is back at the Zamalek Fish Gardentomorrow. You’ll have a day of second-hand shopping where you can browse the products of over 250 local vendors selling handmade products, antiques, secondhand items, and more. It only happens once a month so be sure not to miss it. The market runs from 11am to 7pm but we’d recommend getting there early to avoid the crowds.

HAPPENING NEXT WEEKEND-

ARTS-

Catch a glimpse of Egyptian cinema through Mohamed Bakr’s lens at Photopia in Fifty Years of Cinematic Portraits. This exhibition opened yesterday and continues until Saturday, 9 March (except for Sunday) where you’ll get to see a selection of portraits taken from his extensive collection of over 2000 artistic works captured since 1956. The exhibition showcases around 100 images from 80 films, covering various genres including literature, cinema, performance, comedy, and realism.

COMMUNITY SERVICE-

Join Ultra Ibex on their Wadi Degla clean-up event this Saturday, 9 March. All you have to do is wear your trainers, sunglasses, and refillable water bottles and head down to Wadi Degla Protectorate at 10am. You can sign up here.

Your roadmap to Ramadan charity boxes

The holy month of Ramadan is a time for reflection, generosity, and stocking the pantry. As we gather to share food with friends and family, we can’t help but feel like it’s also a time for strengthening the community. Planning suhoor and iftar is an inadvertent pillar of the month, and here’s how you can help those in need be as prepared.

Note: The prices in this guide reflect those advertised at the date of publication — prices may vary at the point of purchase.

CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND NGOs: These are a tried and tested conduit to get these necessities to the people who need them the most.

Feeling pressed for time? These foundations are happy to offer online donation options to make sure that good intentions aren’t sidelined by busy schedules.

#1- Misr El Kheir: Their traditional donation box comes in two sizes that include rice, pasta, sugar, oil or ghee, tomato paste, salt, beans, dates, vermicelli, and orzo. The Satr box weighs around 6 kg and retails for EGP 225, and the larger El Kheir box is 12 kg for EGP 450. For EGP 550, you can gift someone a blanket alongside the Satr box.

The larger Family Support box weighs around 65 kg, and is designed to provide a family with everything they need for the month. In addition to the items in the first box, this one also includes meat or chicken, pasta, and juice. This box is worth EGP 2.75k. The Lamit El Leila package can provide a family with one meal for EGP 250.

If you’d like to donate individual meals, you can choose between the suhoor and iftar options for EGP 30 and EGP 65. What if they have different needs? El Khair cards, which are EGP 150 or EGP 350, give recipients the freedom to pick the groceries they need. Smaller meals can be donated to travelers for EGP 30.

If you’d like to give back big, you can opt for the Village Iftar for EGP 65k, which will provide a village in need with daily meals for the whole month of Ramadan.

#2- The Egyptian Food Bank: This organization has always been a reliable option as well and offers similar options. Their donation boxes come in two sizes: 8 kg for EGP 275, and 13 kg for EGP 450. Both of these boxes include rice, pasta, sugar, black-eyed peas, fava beans, dates, salt, tomato sauce, oil, tea, cheese, and flour.

Individual iftar meals can be purchased for EGP 65, and include rice or pasta, vegetables, beef, chicken, chicken shawarma, or kofta, and dates.

You could also choose to donate towards an iftar table, which is made available throughout 27 governorates in Egypt. The available donation packages are EGP 1k, EGP 3k, and EGP 5k.

You can also make these donations to Misr El Kheir and the Egyptian Food Bank through Talabat.

#3- TheMersal Foundation: Different people may have different needs. If you’d like to leave the contents of the Ramadan box up to the recipients, Mersal offers a prepaid shopping card worth EGP 500 that you can pay forward.

SUPERMARKETS: Big chains have boxes full of staple ingredients needed for well-rounded meals available for purchase. This is an easy way for you to stock others’ pantries while you stock your own.

#1- HyperOne: The supermarket offers two boxes to purchase.Both boxes include rice, sugar, pasta, tea, ghee, fava beans, tomato paste, and oil. The larger box contains more of each ingredient, in addition to lentils and dates. The smaller box retails for EGP 259, and the larger one is EGP 399.

#2- Carrefour:Their Ramadan box contains seven items: Pasta, rice, sugar, oil, ghee, and salt. The box is available for EGP 175. Keep in mind that you can only order a maximum of 10 boxes online per order.

#3- Mahmoud El Far: Theyoffer a similar package. Their small EGP 165 box includes rice, sugar, pasta, tomato paste, oil, and tea. Their medium and large boxes retail for EGP 200 and EGP 280, and offer more products. You can order up to 20 boxes online per size.

You can also customize the contents of the box if you visit one of their branches. Price will vary based on what you include, but if you’d rather leave the customization up to the recipient, you can gift them a Premium Card with EGP 50-1k of credit.

#4- Lulu Hypermarket: This supermarket offers a Ramadan kit for EGP 145, containing rice, oil, pasta, tea, salt, tomato sauce, and fava beans. You can order up to 99 boxes through Talabat.

#5- Metro: Their Ramadan carton includes eleven items: Yellow rice, oil, sugar, ghee, pasta, tomato sauce, tea, and salt. You can order these through Talabat for EGP 275 with a cap of 99 boxes.

#6- Spinneys: This retailer’s bags cost EGP 200, and contain rice, pasta, vegetable ghee, oil, salt, dates, and tomato sauce. Unlike the rest of the stores, there is no maximum order limit.

If you want to donate the boxes to specific people, you can give the store an address to deliver to. Otherwise, you can take the boxes home and distribute them as you see fit.

FOOD DELIVERY APPS: You can purchase pre-packed Ramadan charity boxes with just a few clicks through these apps:

As mentioned earlier, Talabat hosts several charitable organizations on its site and app. These include Misr El Kheir, the Egyptian Food Bank, and Al Orman. Find the charity you’d like to donate through, pick your donation box, and pay through the Talabat portal. The delivery app will distribute your donations for you.

#1- Rabbitoffers their own donation services. Their EGP 169 Ramadan bag includes rice, sugar, pasta, ghee, tomato paste, and salt. As per usual for this delivery app, you can have the boxes delivered to you on the same day. You can only purchase a maximum of five bags to be delivered same-day, but the next-day option allows you up to 30 bags.

#2- Breadfast also provides donations through their app. For EGP 220, you can donate sugar, rice, pasta, oil, ghee, tea, lentils, tomato paste, and salt. They are currently sold out, but you can choose to be notified when the boxes are back in stock.

HANDS-ON GIVING BACK: If you have some time to spare and would like to help the good people prepare the boxes, here’s where to look.

#1- Al Joud Foundation and Lifemakers offer boxes for purchasing, but if you can donate your time to help out. DM them on Instagram to find out how.

#2- i-Volunteer is gearing up to launch this year’s Ramadan campaign soon. If you’re interested in helping out, you can DM them on their Instagram page for more information.

#3- Share a Smile organizes packing events announced on their page, and is happy to tell you how else you can be involved if you DM them on Facebook or Instagram.

#4- If you live near Smart Village, you can contact Seket El Kheir to find out how you can help out this Ramadan or register here.

#5- The Egyptian Food Bank is perhaps the most popular way to volunteer. To sign up, you can contact them on Facebook, email them, or call at 16060.

Bob Marley: One Love gets plenty of love from loyal fans + Humankind shares a study of our species. PLUS: The Bake Bar will spoil you with their chill ambiance and top-notch service

? AT THE MOVIES-

Bob Marley: One Love(watch trailer, runtime 2:50) pulled on our heartstrings a little. The film, as the name suggests, is a biopic about the globally renowned late reggae singer, songwriter and legend Bob Marley, from his rise to fame in the mid-1970s until his untimely death in 1981.

Unfortunately, the storyline fell flat, barely scratching the surface, and failing to fulfill the film’s purpose. Despite showcasing Marley’s incredible music, achievements, and critical moments, everything seemed portrayed without the necessary context, depth, and exploration of the true story.

The narrative kicks off midway through his career — delving into the political turmoil in Jamaica, where Marley, known for his pacifism, navigated through election-year violence. Occasional flashbacks touched on his beginnings, the love story with his wife, the discovery of Rastafari, and glimpses of his childhood and upbringing.

The plot then shifts to his two years in London, where his career began to take off on a global scale, up until his battle with skin cancer and eventual death. Viewers are left wondering about Marley's emotional state during this period — did he feel betrayed by his country, homesick, or overwhelmed by international fame?

The performances were commendable, with the cast list including Kingsley Ben-Adir (Bob Marley), Lashana Lynch (Rita Marley, his wife) James Norton (Record producer Chris Blackwell), and more. However, the film’s surprise were the producers: Marley’s wife, Rita Marley, and their two children, Ziggy Marley and Cedella Marley — even Brad Pitt shared an executive producer credit.

Reception was mixed, though. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a modest 42%. But his fans thought otherwise, giving it a 92% on the audience score section on Rotten Tomatoes.

While entertaining, the film left us wanting more: We wanted to know the makings of the King of Reggae and how he truly lived — with this film, he’ll continue to be the peaceful enigma we know and love.

WHERE TO WATCH– Bob Marley: One Love is screening in VOX Cinemas at City Center, City Center Almaza and Mall of Egypt, Zamalek Cinema and Sun City Cinema.

? FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

It’s time for some good news. Well, is it news if it’s historical? In any case, Rutger Bregman has some. Whether humans are innately good or bad or neither has been the subject of many philosophical debates, but in Humankind, Bregman makes the argument a historical one.

His multi-disciplinary approach insists that people are good at heart, and argues that a new worldview that acknowledges that will benefit us all. He believes that if we dismantle the negative misconceptions we have about humans being lazy, egotistical, and malevolent, we can channel that goodwill into building a better society.

Bregman guides us gently through a tour of the history of humankind, from the first appearance of the homo sapiens to modern-day elections. The meticulousness of his documentation offers case study after case study that proves that our natural instincts stem from a kind place. That isn’t to say that some historical figures haven’t demonstrated the potential for human evil, but Bregman examines these events with sensitivity and perceptiveness.

WHERE TO FIND IT- Humankind is available on Amazon for USD 11.99 as an ebook, USD 16.99 as a hardback, and USD 17.09 as a paperback, and at Diwan for EGP 600.

? HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

The Bake Bar is a secluded cafe getaway in the Dusit Thani. The cafe gives an air of luxury while also being welcoming. Their menu is expansive, covering drinks, coffee, sandwiches, pizza, dessert, and a variety of breakfast dishes.

It’s easy on the eyes. With a huge outdoor area and a decently sized indoor area, you’ll never feel cramped or like you’re a part of your neighbor’s conversation. The tables are a good size and decently spread apart with fun pastel decor scattered in between.

Not a remote office: While it has all the makings of a great remote work setup, wifi is only available for guests, and outlets are few and far between. If your device is fully charged, though, and you’re willing to use up your hotspot, the calm environment is ideal to focus alongside a quick bite.

The options are simple and taste as advertised, but the coffee leaves more to be desired.We tried the Talk Turkey to Me sandwich which had a sweet kick to it and came with salty fries — they might be a little too salty for some but we liked it. The portion will leave you full so maybe plan to share with a friend if you want a sweet treat later. Other than that, the Danish was light and flaky, satisfying our sweet tooth, but the latte we ordered was more like a cold glass of milk.

Adding to the lovely ambiance is the friendly staff, ready to happily make recommendations and talk you through the menu. Once you make your order, it will be ready promptly and just as you asked, making us feel at ease in the establishment. But it’s worth noting that the items are on the pricier side.

? Per person: EGP 300-500

? Outdoor seating: Yes

? Alcohol: Yes

? Accessibility friendly: Yes

Would you want to tell the future if you had the choice?

Do you have a couple of hours to spare — and a third eye? Divination is a (very) short game in which you are a future-telling being, visited by four clients. Each client’s session runs around 30 minutes each. They ask you questions, and you read the runes. Whatever you say will come to pass. And it affects the whole world, not just your clients. Phew.

The concept is simple: You have no idea who or what you are. All you see is a date and a news report before your first client enters. As you progress, so does a chaos meter: Whichever runes you choose to create a butterfly effect that affects society as a whole, and you learn more about the world you live in.

Can you control the prophecy? Kinda. The placement of the runes is what determines the outcome, so if you have a good understanding of imagery and metaphors, you could choose what the future will be. Or you could just randomly choose the order and really leave the future to the fates. As more runes get introduced, the trickier it will be for you to predetermine the outcome.

The more you ask, the more you’ll know. You have the option to ask your clients yes or no questions to learn more about them and what led them to seek your services. You can explore the different options through different playthroughs that keep track of the paths you’ve taken. To help you experience each ending, the developers have provided a flowchart to track which predictions you’ve made on which path — an essential tool in games with multiple endings.

It bears mentioning again — Divination is a short game. But perhaps it doesn’t necessarily need to be longer. While we were sometimes left pining for more time with the clients and more information about the dystopia we live in, a self-contained game that doesn’t wear out its welcome is refreshing. As is its price point, which reflects its length.

? Rating: 9/10 on Steam.

⌛ Hours of gameplay: 1-2 hours.

? Platforms: Playstation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and Steam for PC.

? Price: USD 1.99, or USD 4.43 for the Collector’s Edition on Steam, USD 4.99 on Playstation and Xbox, and USD 4.49 on Nintendo eShop.

Find connection with this podcast that does not shy from discussing the difficult in a raw and intimate approach

Finding light in life’s hardships with We Can Do Hard Things. In a world where it often feels like we’re navigating treacherous waters alone this podcast emerges as a beacon of hope and solidarity. The show is hosted by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle and it tackles life’s toughest challenges, offering listeners a space to share in the raw, unfiltered realities of existence.

From love and loss to the intricacies of parenthood and addiction, no topic is off-limits: It breaks down every topic that has crossed your mind but hasn’t found something or someone to talk about it — what makes this show better is that they make it relatable by sharing their own personal experiences and struggles.

One episode explored the relationship with material possessions. They got into the profound question of Do we own our stuff, or does our stuff own us? Through self reflection the hosts share their contrasting views on the significance of possessions, while giving a glimpse into the subconscious meanings attached to their belongings. You even get to see whether you’re a Keeper or Clearer, shedding light on how our attitudes toward stuff reflect deeper aspects of our psyche. It also went into the perspective of Gen Z on materialism, showing they’re more evolved in the spiritual understanding of possessions.

There are no sugar-coated platitudes here — just real, genuine conversationsabout the messy, imperfect nature of life. Whether you’re laughing along with the hosts or shedding tears of recognition, each episode offers a powerful reminder that we are all in this together.

You can listen oniHeart, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, and YouTube.

THE ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

MARCH

1 March (Friday): Red Bull Dance Your Style at Paris Marina.

1 March (Friday): EGYCON at Club 7.

1 March (Friday): Stigma album release concert at ROOM Garden City.

1 March (Friday): Book signing and seminar at Bibliothek Egypt.

1 March (Friday): El Khatbaat Rawabet Art Space.

2 March (Saturday): Kajwelo event at Zed Park.

2 March (Saturday): Cairo Flea Market at Zamalek Fish Garden.

2 March (Saturday): Rahet Bally at El Malahy.

2 March (Saturday): CSI Cairo by CluedUpp.

3-6 March (Sunday-Wednesday): Digital illustration workshop at SYNC School.

8 March (Friday): Tablet El Sitt and Mushequa Artists at the Grand Egyptian Museum.

9 March (Saturday): Wadi Degla clean up event at Wadi Degla Protectorate.

9 March (Saturday): Red Bull Car Drift at Sports Expo.

11-12 March (Monday-Tuesday): Creative Industry Summit.

11 March (Monday): The Oscars

20-23 March (Wednesday-Saturday): Advertising Workshop: Presenting and Pitching for Creatives at SYNC School.

APRIL

9 April (Tuesday): Eid El Fitr (TBC).

19 April (Friday): Keinmusik at the Giza Pyramids by Panorama 2.

25 April (Thursday): National holiday in observance of Sinai Liberation Day (TBC).

MAY

1 May (Wednesday): National holiday in observance of Labor Day (TBC).

5 May (Sunday): Coptic Easter.

6 May (Monday): Sham El Nessim (TBC).

JUNE

15-19 June (Saturday-Wednesday): Eid El Adha (TBC).

30 June (Sunday): June 30 Revolution Day (TBC).

JULY

7 July (Sunday): National holiday in observance of Islamic New Year (TBC).

23 July (Tuesday): Revolution Day (TBC).

SEPTEMBER

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

OCTOBER

6 October (Sunday): Armed Forces Day.

EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE

2023: The inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Q1 2024: Opening of the newly developed Pyramids Plateau in Giza

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