Giving back

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THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Egyptian pound extends gains, hits nine-month high against USD

Good morning, friends, and welcome to the weekend. We’re manifesting cooler weather — and calmer days. Haven’t planned out your time yet? We might have a few ideas for you.

For this week’s Enterprise Guide, we’re taking a look at ways to give back to our communities. Looking to lend a hand? We’ve gathered a list of where you might want to volunteer in your spare time this summer. Whether you’re seeking to help families get back on their feet or clean up the environment one plastic bottle at a time, here’s how you can help.

LAST WEEK IN 3 MINS-

EGP WATCH-

EGP extends gains, hits nine-month high against USD: The EGP continued strengthening against the greenback this week, reaching its highest level since October 2024. The USD was changing hands at EGP 48.62-48.72 at the National Bank of Egypt and at EGP 48.60-48.70 at the CIB at the end of the banking day yesterday.

REAL ESTATE-

Back-to-back shocks for the real estate sector: Real estate developments and urban land along the Dabaa Axis — from the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road to the Middle Ring Road — are now subject to new fees, according to a document seen by EnterpriseAM. Land near the axis will face the same tiered levies imposed on Cairo-Alex Desert Road projects: EGP 500 per sqm for land 3-7 km back from the highway, EGP 750 for 1-3 km, and EGP 1.5k for land within 1 km. Agricultural land along the Desert Road and Wadi El Natrun-Alamein Road will also be charged an EGP 15k per feddan improvement fee.

These new charges follow similar fees introduced last week on the Cairo-Alex Desert Road and North Coast, which drew criticism from developers who said the measures add pressure to the sector.

RETAIL-

NTRA denies applying mobile import fees retroactively: The National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) confirmed that returning travelers can still bring one mobile phone into Egypt exempt from import fees every three years, despite speculations to the contrary. This comes after some buyers reported receiving notifications of unpaid fees on phones they believed were exempt, prompting refund demands from local sellers who had sourced devices through the grey market.

NTRA suspended 13k devices over suspected fraud, while reactivating 47k after verification. The system is currently under review to prevent abuse, particularly by expats reselling phones.

ENERGY-

Cabinet is reportedly debating whether to push planned hikes in the price of electricity back as far as early next year instead of next month. No decision has been taken yet. This potential delay could be largely driven by two factors. First, the energy sector has secured its natural gas needs at a price below global rates through recent short and medium-term agreements. Then, there is the decline in the EGP/USD exchange rate — providing the government the flexibility needed to absorb the cost of pushing back these anticipated hikes.

INDUSTRY-

Some factories have received surprise letters demanding they pay retroactive fines for exceeding water consumption limits, execs at two manufacturers told EnterpriseAM earlier this week. The newly imposed water consumption quotas are being applied retroactively to all consumption records since 2020, the sources said. Industry insiders described the bar for being classified as a low-end water consumer as “unworkably” low.

M&A WATCH-

Raya looks to acquire up to 90% of subsidiary RCX: Raya Holding’s board greenlit plans to submit a mandatory tender offer for up to 90% of its subsidiary Raya Customer Experience (Raya CX). Raya Holding is offering to purchase 184.6 mn shares at a preliminary price range of EGP 6.87-7.50 per share, valuing RCX between EGP 1.41 bn and EGP 1.54 bn. We sat down with CEO AhmedKhalil to learn more about what we can expect from Raya in the years to come.

CAPITAL MARKETS-

#1- National Printing public offering was 23.6x oversubscribed following the close of the subscription period yesterday. The company priced its EGX IPO at EGP 21.25 per share, while the fair value was set at a fair value of EGP 28.27 per share. The company is floating a 10% stake via a secondary two-tranche offering that is expected to raise some EGP 449.9 mn in proceeds, implying a market cap of EGP 4.5 bn at listing. The offering included a 5% private placement tranche fully allocated to anchor investor Omran Mohamed Al Omran of Saudi Arabia, and a 5% public tranche offered to retail and individual investors in the local market.

#2- Hassan Allam’s SPAC has gotten an initial green light from the EGX’s listing committee to list its shares on the bourse as of yesterday. The SPAC — dubbed Hassan Allam Investments & Venture Capital — will list 10 mn shares at a par value of EGP 1 per share. The shares will be listed on the main market and the company will have up to three months to meet listing requirements and obtain regulatory approvals before the shares start trading.

WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT WEEK-

Belated exporter subsidy payouts begin: The Finance Ministry will begin disbursing overdue export subsidies totaling EGP 5 bn to some 2k exporters on 7 August under the revamped export subsidy program that will see exporters will receive 50% of their overdue dues in cash over four years, with the rest offset against liabilities.

Opening the door for more exporters: Exporters have between 17 August and 4 September to send their requests to receive payouts under the program.

AROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS-

US President Donald Trump has published alist of new tariffs set to be implemented on trade partners, while leaving the global minimum reciprocal tariff at 10%.

Trading partners are sorted into three groups: Those who run a goods trade surplus with the US will be subject to a 10% tariff; while those who have reached agreements and run moderate trade deficits will see a 15% tariff, and those with large trade deficits and no trade agreements will see higher tariffs. Meanwhile, transshipped goods will be hit with a 40% tariff.

Among the highest tariffs: Canada will be slapped with a 35% tariff, higher than the earlier announced 25%, as diplomatic friction between the country continues and after it said it would recognize a Palestinian state; Switzerland was slapped with a 39% tariff; and India will be subject to a 25%. The tariffs will take effect next Friday.

Canada was the latest to pledge this week recognition of the Palestinian state at September’s UN summit, following in the footsteps of France and the UK.

MEANWHILE- More than 90 Palestinians were killed and 400 injured in Gaza yesterday as they lined up for aid, according to a Gazan hospital that received the casualties. The Israeli military claimed that it had intended to fire warning shots, and was “not aware of any casualties." The news comes just days after Israel announced a daily 10-hour pause on military operations in Gaza to allow for more aid corridors. (ABC | BBC | Guardian | AP)

☀️ THE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND-

It’s going to be a breezy couple of days with the worst of the heatwave behind us. Temperatures in Cairo set to peak at 35°C over the weekend, before cooling down to 23°C. Up north, we’re expecting some wind with a high of 29°C and a low of 27°C, according to our favorite weather app.

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-

Looking to change it up in Sahel? Medhat Saleh is bringing opera by the beach, performing with Maestro Amr Selim and his band at Porto Golf Alamein City tonight. Head to Ticketsmarché for tickets.

A Sahel night with El Hadaba. Join Egyptian megastar Amr Diab for a night of summer hits and timeless classics at U Arenas in Al Alamein tonight, as part of the New Alamein Festival. You can grab your tickets through Tazkarti.

The Martinez Brothers will be giving the North Coast’s Sol Beach a taste of what New York City’s nightlife scene has to offer tonight. The DJ duo — and brothers from the same mother — will be joined by Lebanese DJ and producer Rolbac, so you know things will be heating up quite fast. You can grab your tickets from Ticketsmarché.

Up for a treasure hunt? This weekend, Maadi’s Darb 15 is hosting a garage sale brimming with fashion pieces looking for a new home. The sale will run from 12pm to 10pm on both days, and we’d suggest getting there fast if you plan on digging for gold.

HAPPENING NEXT WEEKEND-

DJ and producer Peggy Gou hits the Sahel sands once again. The South Korean DJ brings her signature blend of house, techno and Korean fusions to the North Coast for an unforgettable night under the stars at D-Bay on Thursday, 7 August. You can grab your tickets through Ticket Egypt.

Get caffeinated and grab your polaroid camera, because on Friday 8 August, &ME — one fifth of Keinemusik — will be bringing the beats all through the night until sunrise at North Coast’s Sol Beach. Promising to have you dancing till the sun’s up, the German EDM DJ and producer will be going solo this time around. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketsmarché.

Sahel fun is still going strong at Porto Golf Alamein City with powerhouse performances from Hamid El-Shaeri, Masar Egbari, and Sharmoofers on Friday, 8 August. Still got some fuel in your tank? Make sure to get your tickets at Ticketsmarché.

Hussein Al Jassmi, Disco Misr, and Ahmed Saad will be performing back to back at Seashore by Hyde Park on Friday, 8 August. If you just so happen to be enjoying the weather on the North Coast that weekend, we’d suggest heading on over to Ticketsmarché to secure your spot for a concert you likely won’t be forgetting any time soon.

Where to volunteer this summer

? For many, summer means mornings by the beach and late nights out, but for students stuck in Cairo waiting for the next semester to kick off, ways to fill time can run out fast. If you haven’t already landed a summer internship, volunteering for your local community is one way you can get out of the house, be positively productive, and add a little shine to your resume. Whether the cause is environmental or humanitarian, here’s where to volunteer this summer and give back to your community.

HELP CLEAN UP THE NILE-

If environmental harm is something that keeps you up at night, you might want to lend VeryNile a helping hand. Based in the small island of Qursaya just off the Nile’s riverbank, it is a rural haven right in the heart of Giza.

True to its name, the initiative focuses on sustainability of the Nile ecosystem, boasting an impressive 454 tons of plastic removed from the Nile, all thanks to the hard work of 180 local fishermen. VeryNile is by and for the local community, providing jobs to local Nile communities as well as equipping them with necessary training and literacy programs. Their work doesn’t stop at waste collection, partnering with local artisans to produce original upcycled and recycled products.

HOW TO VOLUNTEER- VeryNile is open for volunteer group cleanups for groups of 15 and more. Reach out to the initiative through Instagram or keep an eye on their social media platforms for announcements about volunteer openings.

HELP EDUCATE CHILDREN-

In response to the ongoing tragedies in Gaza, Ahfad Al Zaytoun was founded to help Gazan children in Cairo through post-traumatic recovery. The program focuses on supporting K-12 and fostering a safe environment where they can grow emotionally and intellectually. The heart of this work involves building loving and nurturing relationships with the children and instilling in them a sense of stability and belonging through heartfelt connection. Volunteers often describe the experience as deeply eye-opening and fulfilling.

HOW TO VOLUNTEER- If you have a knack for teaching, Ahfad Al Zaytoun is open for volunteers to teach a range of subjects at any level. To register as a volunteer, head to their website.

CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT-

#1- One of many social development initiatives in Egypt, Caritas is a multipurpose organization that supports underprivileged individuals. Since 1967, Caritas has been serving various parts of Egypt from Alexandria to Aswan, promoting inclusion and women empowerment, and providing refugee support.

Volunteers are never not in demand at Caritas. You can offer help through one of their many strategic programs: child care and protection, women and girls empowerment, youth and leadership, disability inclusion and rehabilitation, microloan and economic empowerment, refuge and migration, and more.

HOW TO VOLUNTEER-You can sign up through their volunteer form.

#2- Run by volunteers — and the first of its kind in the Middle East — Share a Smile supports orphans and youth in need, and boasts several medical and food programs. They support over 5k orphans quarterly and deliver 250k meals annually. Share a Smile stands out for its unique volunteer program, complete with training and education. The initiative has ongoing collaborations with 14 NGOs in Egypt, and has earned the support of over 10k volunteers.

HOW TO VOLUNTEER- You can join Share a Smile by filling out this volunteer form.

HELP TAKE CARE OF SOME FURRY FRIENDS-

At the Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals (ESMA), over 2k animals are treated with the utmost care and attention. Formed in 2007, the charity is a leading advocate for animal welfare and currently serves as the Chair of the Federation of Animal Welfare in Egypt. It operates as both a shelter and an adoption center, housing dogs, cats, and donkeys. Most of their animals are rescued from the streets, usually victims of violence, abuse, and neglect.

ESMA is more than happy to welcome volunteers. You can contribute by simply spending time with the animals or helping with some grooming or tidying up around the shelter. If you’re a seasoned pet parent, your help would be greatly needed in temporarily taking in some of the animals as a foster parent or as a flight parent for animals flying outside of Egypt. Love animals but not the mess? You can still help by donating.

HOW TO VOLUNTEER- You can visit their website for more details on how to help. Stay updated with ESMA by following their Facebook page.

CAN’T VOLUNTEER? HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP-

If you can’t physically help out, you can still support in other ways. If you’re short on time, check out this bite-sized guide to giving back to see where and how you can make a difference with minimal interruption to your routine. Want to incorporate more healthy, sustainable habits into your day? Read up on our sustainability guide.

A fantastic take on the Fantastic Four

? Our favorite Marvel family is back on the big screen. From an unreleased 1994 original to a classic ‘00s duology — and a not-so-well-received 2015 reiteration — it’s been a bumpy road for Marvel’s first family, but Matt Shakman’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps sets the franchise back on the right path — impressively so.

New film, new look, new plot. Staying true to its comic origins and set in a retro-futuristic 1960s, First Steps presents a brand new on-screen version of the classic Marvel story. While previous adaptations would all showcase the incident that gave the Fantastic Four their powers, First Steps dives right in years after the space experiment-gone-wrong. The family is well-established, well-loved, and universally acknowledged as the Earth’s protectors. Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) are already suited up and ready for action — and they didn’t have to wait long.

So, what exactly is the Silver Surfer heralding? On a seemingly inconsequential evening, the Manhattan sky lights up, revealing a mysterious silver-hued figurine in the sky. Our family of heroes quickly departs to meet the outsider, who nonchalantly lets them know that their planet is marked for death by Galactus, and there’s absolutely nothing they can do about it. The team — including a pregnant Sue — quickly begins devising a plan to prove the Silver Surfer wrong.

A superbun in the oven: The team — with the entire world’s support — head to outer space to track down the herald and Galactus. Alas, it doesn’t go according to plan. Sue ends up in stress-induced labor in space while chased by Galactus and the Silver Surfer, after the former demanded the unborn child in return for sparing the planet.

A catch-22: Upon their return to Earth, Reed reveals to scores of reporters that they were not able to defeat Galactus, noting that he asked too high a price for salvation — one they couldn’t afford to pay. The world quickly turns on the family, demanding they give their infant son — Franklin Reed — to the planet-eating Galactus. The four find themselves in a precarious situation, but remain adamant about finding a way out — that, however, proves difficult.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps stuck the landing. MCU’s latest release — and its biggest 2025 — is exactly what the MCU needed; no out-of-place one-liners, no convoluted CGI, and fleshed-out characters. The movie does a great job of making the viewer feel the stakes and remain uncertain of what’s coming next. The dialogue was well-written — at times quite emotional — and the plot naturally progressed without feeling rushed, as is the case with many superhero movies. Part of an MCU phase many have called underwhelming, The Fantastic Four: First Steps brings back hope for Phase Six of the cinematic universe.

Stay for the mid-credits scene. Once the credits start rolling, hold on to your popcorn and stick to your seats — it’s not over yet.

WHERE TO WATCH- The Fantastic Four: First Steps is screening at Vox Cinemas in City Center Almaza, Mall of Egypt, and Mall of Alexandria. You can also catch the film at City Stars Cinemas, Scene Cinemas at CFCM and District 5, and P90 Cinema. You can also watch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:43).

Banu Mushtaq spotlights women in this year’s Intl. Booker Prize recipient

? This year’s International Booker Prize recipient captures the nuanced reality of women and girls in Southwest India. Translated from the city of Karnataka's native language Kannada by Deepa Basthi, Heart Lamp unveils a collection of short stories written by Banu Mushtaq between 1990 and 2023.

Women amidst an oppressive patriarchy lie at the center of all her stories. As an activist and a lawyer, Mushtaq writes about women fighting for their rights. She portrays disruptive familial structures whose male figureheads ignorantly or malevolently mistreat the women and girls. Her narrations vary from metaphorical to direct, with interesting relationship dynamics and introspective characters leading the plotlines.

Mushtaq’s writing primarily spotlights women struggling in toxic marriages, with ruthless in-laws, being denied education, and suffocating from gender norms that see them as easily replaceable. The collection heavily explores motifs of faith, caste, class, and religion. Her stories draw on personal experiences and incidents. As she tells the Booker Prize Foundation, her “heart itself is her field of study.”

The collection centers on the short story Heart Lamp, falling right at the book’s midpoint. Heart Lamp depicts a culmination of all these struggles through a woman who cut off her education for an early marriage, later finding out that her husband is cheating on her. Feeling unloved and disrespected by him, she seeks refuge from her parents and two older brothers who fail to see or understand her plight. She returns to her husband’s house and intends to take her own life before her eldest daughter persuades her not to. The pain she suffers in isolation is represented as a lamp that went out in her heart.

In a translation that preserves the character of the original, Basthi retains certain Kannada words, breathing new life into the text in a new language. The translation doesn’t read as an entirely new form, but rather as an extension of the text’s potential, owing to Basthi’s embrace of the linguistic rhythms and cultural textures of Mushtaq’s stories. The award represents a significant milestone, being the first victory for a Kannada-translated work and only the second for an Indian writer overall.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can get the paperback version of Heart Lamp at Shorouk Bookstores. You can also get the ebook on Amazon and Kobo.

Willow’s is a culinary home away from home

? New Cairo’s Willow’s touts itself as a home away from home — and if that’s indeed the case, then they have some seriously talented home cooks running the show. High-end offerings meet casual dining, Willow’s ticks all the boxes for a weekend dining experience where all you have to do is sit back, enjoy your company, and know for sure that your cravings are bound to be satisfied.

A couple of hours spent at Willow’s feel like hours spent in the comfort of a home terrace. The restaurant is welcoming, calming, and filled with greenery, artwork, and a slew of mismatched-yet-complementary trinkets. It’s a get-comfortable kind of place, and makes it easy to do just that. While both indoor and outdoor seating arrangements carry their own charm, an evening spent enjoying your meal outdoors proves ideal.

Ambiance aside, the menu has quite a lot to offer as well. If you’re going for breakfast, expect everything from omelettes and benedicts to shakshouka and English muffins. Our sights were set on the all-day menu, however, which boasts a curated selection of soups, appetizers ranging from quick-bite potato tots to salmon ceviche, fondue platters, hearty salads, and a variety of international mains, grills, pastas, and sammies.

The chicken katsu curry called, and we promptly heeded. Alongside it, we opted for the panko shrimp sandwich, the signature beef and mushroom fettuccine, and the cookie dough pan for good measure. A spicy strawberry juice also caught our eye — but more on that later. The fettuccine won the round, closely followed by the panko shrimp sandwich — which offered a crunch we didn’t know we needed on a strikingly soft bread base. The chicken katsu, while delicious, was done the disservice of being on the same table as its culinary counterparts, slightly paling in comparison. The cookie dough pan was hard to keep away from, yet might be a tad too sweet for many.

The star of the show at Willow’s was surprisingly the spicy strawberry juice. When reading the words “hot spanish red pepper” and “fresh strawberry” in the same sentence, you might be inclined to skip on to the next menu entry. We didn’t — and it was the best decision we made all night. While initially jarring, the explosive flavor quickly proves itself worthy of your time. It’s hot, spicy, and yet still sweet — a novel combination we’ll be going back for.

To put it simply, if you find yourself in proximity to Willow’s this weekend, you’d be doing yourself a favor by walking right in. Truth be told, however, food took quite a while to show up on our tables — but with the right company, that shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

WHERE TO FIND IT- Willow’s has two branches; one at New Cairo’s District 5, and the other at Sheikh Zayed’s Arkan Plaza.

? Per person: EGP 800 - 900

? Outdoor seating: Yes

? Alcohol: No

? Accessibility friendly: Yes

Tales from a dark history

?Diving in the dark, forgotten corners of history, Dark History isn’t your average true crime podcast. Hosted by professional makeup artist turned Youtube star Bailey Sarian — whom you might recognize from True Crime Makeup — Dark History expands beyond true crime and into strange and shocking tales of history.

The podcast stands out for its niche historical tales — ones you likely have never heard of. From the musings of dictators to shocking scandals and the histories behind everyday concepts like bodybuilding, the podcast proves that our human history is anything but boring.

In one particular episode, Sarian dissects the Tuskegee Syphilis Study — a painful episode that exposes one of the most horrific medical experiments in US history — conducted by the US Public Health Service between 1932 and 1972 under the claim of observing syphilis.

Beyond this scientific facade, however, is a much harsher truth. Hundreds of individuals from marginalised communities were left to suffer in silence after being deceived, their bodies rotting in a secret lab for years on end. In 1972, a newspaper reported on the experiment, leading to public outrage that would see the experiment classified as a crime against humanity.

Sarian knows how to keep you listening. The podcast’s narration is both engaging and entertaining, presenting history in a manner that appeals to general audiences and satiates all sorts of curiosities. With over 180 episodes, Dark History has gained widespread popularity, earning a 4.8/5 rating from over 26k reviews on Apple Podcasts.

THE ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

? AUGUST

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

1 August (Friday): Amr Diab at U Arenas.

1-2 August (Friday - Saturday): Garage sale at Darb 15.

5 August (Tuesday): Tablet El Sitt at Madinaty’s Boom Room.

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

7 August (Thursday): Peggy Gou at D-Bay.

8 August (Friday): Hussein Al Jassmi, Disco Misr, and Ahmed Saad at Seashore.

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

8 August (Friday): All Day I Dream at ESCĀ Beach Club.

15 August (Friday): Marwan Pablo and Lege-cy at U Arena.

SEPTEMBER

4 September (Thursday): Al Mawlid Al Nabawi.

OCTOBER

6 October (Monday): Armed forces day.

7 October (Tuesday): Enterprise Egypt Forum 2025.

15 October (Wednesday): Scorpions concert at New Capital.

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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Egyptian pound extends gains, hits nine-month high against USD

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