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THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Egypt’s inflation rises again in April to sit at 13.9%

Good morning, friends. We hope this issue finds you well-hydrated and close to the nearest air conditioner.

It's Friday morning and your laptop is off. Is your brain still churning through the meeting that ended yesterday? The weekend stretches ahead, but instead of relief, you feel a familiar knot of anxiety. Rest feels like giving up. Switching off feels impossible. And somehow, Sunday always arrives with you feeling more depleted than refreshed.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. For many professionals, the concept of "rest" can feel like another item on an already overwhelming to-do list. But what if rest didn't mean numbing out? What if it meant tuning in without the guilt?

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-

#1- Annual headline urban inflation rose for the second month running in April to hit 13.9%, marking 0.3 percentage point increase from the 13.6% recorded in March. On a monthly basis, inflation eased by 0.3 percentage points to 1.3%. Food and beverage price inflation — the largest component of the basket of goods and services used to calculate headline inflation — fell 0.6 percentage points to 6.0% in April.

#2- Remittances from Egyptians residing abroad continued to rise in February, climbing 130.8% y-o-y to around USD 3 bn — the highest figure recorded during the month. February marks the twelfth consecutive month of y-o-y remittance growth. The figure was also up on a monthly basis, rising from the USD 2.9 bn recorded in January.

#3- IMF kicked off fifth review: A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) held its first round of meetings with government officials, kicking off the fifth review of Egypt’s loan program, after it landed in Cairo late last week, a government source told EnterpriseAM. The meetings have been heavily focused on structural reforms that ensure the sustainability of what has already been achieved in terms of growth and debt reduction. The Fund is looking to ensure the stability of the government’s general budget in the face of any changes that may take place in the global scene, the source added.

TAX-

New brains for a new tax map: The Finance Ministry is in the process of selecting three to four private-sector consulting firms to help reassess Egypt’s real estate assets and propose new valuation methods for the property tax system. The consulting firms are expected to be selected and begin work next month. The new valuations — expected to be out in 2H 2025 — are part of a broader strategic overhaul of the property tax law that will include legislative amendments.

MANUFACTURING-

Two projects worth a combined USD 210 mn kick off operations in Ain Sokhna: China’s state-owned Xinxing Ductile Iron Pipes Company inaugurated its USD 150 mn ductile iron pipes plant in the Sokhna Industrial Zone, while Turkish sanitary product company Hayat inaugurated a USD 60 mn project in the zone.

ENERGY-

#1- Gov’t finds defective fuel samples: The oil and supply ministries have conducted tests of gasoline samples in circulation, finding five samples not in compliance with established standards — out of a total of 807 collected — following complaints by citizens over the quality of gasoline.

Authorities responded with stricter quality control and compensatory measures: The Oil Ministry enacted measures to ensure fuel supplied to fuel stations meets specifications — including testing rules for both locally produced and imported fuel. The ministry will also compensate eligible car owners for damaged fuel pumps of up to EGP 2k.

#2- A move towards long-term contracts for natgas imports: Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) has inked a 10-year agreement with global maritime energy infrastructure player Höegh Evi for an LNG regasification vessel, Bloomberg reports, citing a statement it has received from the firm. The newswire says the move signals the country’s “long-term dependency on fuel imports.”

Egypt is also mulling over signing long-term contracts with Qatar to secure Qatari natural gas for domestic consumption. This came during a meeting between a delegation led by Oil Minister Karim Badawi and Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Sherida Al Kaabi.

AROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS-

Trump’s Mideast tour was front and center in the international headlines this week, with the foreign press also honing in on a de-escalation in the US-China trade war.

US President Donald Trump kickstarted his Middle East tour in Riyadh, where he pledged to lift the longstanding and crippling sanctions in place against Syria, signaling a major shift in US policy following decades of diplomatic isolation. Trump also met with Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa and urged him to normalise ties with Israel by joining the so-called Abraham Accords.

The Saudi-US summit saw the signing of 145 agreements totalling USD 300 bn as part of a USD 600 bn package whose remainder is set to be announced in the coming months. The Kingdom is set to eventually round out the figure to USD 1 tn in a second phase. AI was a big theme, with Riyadh-based DataVolt planning to invest USD 20 bn in US-based AI data centers and energy infrastructure.

Trump’s second stop in Qatar saw the signing of USD 243 bn in agreements, including defense purchases for drone and counter-drone capabilities from US companies, Qatari investments at Al Udeid Air Base, and a tall, USD 96 bn order for up to 210 Boeing jets.

The third and final leg of the tour took him to UAE, where the US and the Gulf nation inked USD 200 bn worth of commercial agreements. The new agreements, in energy, critical minerals, and — as expected — AI, bring the total investment ticket over his Gulf tour to USD 2 tn.

MEANWHILE- The US and China agreed to a 90-day pause to their trade war after two days of talks in Geneva, with the US slashing tariffs it imposed earlier this year on Chinese goods from 145% to 30% — encompassing the 10% baseline US tariff and an additional 20% linked to fentanyl trafficking — while China lowered its tariffs on US imports from 125% to 10%.

AND- India and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire that quickly turned out to be fragile, as both sides accused each other of violations and reportedly went back to exchanging fire, with multiple explosions heard around Indian-controlled Kashmir. The US-led talks had been hoped to de-escalate the serious confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

☀️ THE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND-

Gear up for a scorching weekend in the capital. Today’s temperature is peaking at 40°C throughout the day, with the coolest temperature we see being a still-warm 30°C at night. Tomorrow will be even hotter, with a maximum temperature of 42°C, but a way cooler night of 22°C, according to our favorite weather app.

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-

Ehab Tawfik will be turning it up this Friday, 16 May at CJC 610. On the off chance that you woke up this morning quietly humming Tetraga Feya to yourself, we’re pleased to break the news that the Egyptian vocalist will be bringing his hits to life at Cairo Jazz Club, joined by Cairo-based DJ Andy Cheikho. Sounds like a Friday night well-spent? You can grab your tickets from Cairo Jazz Club’s official website.

Craving some ‘90s nostalgia? Amr Diab knows you are. On Friday, 16 May, the Egyptian superstar will be performing a medley of his most beloved hits at the American University in Cairo in a one-night only “Polaroid” concert. Tickets can be purchased through Tazkarti — though we’d recommend moving fast if the idea of not hearing Tamally Ma’ak live puts you through severe FOMO.

Beats for brunch. Everyone’s favorite make-believe grandpa DJ Dr. Alfons will be serving a side of sonics with your brunch at Italian restaurant Storia Katameya Heights this Friday, 16 May, starting at 2pm. Dr. Alfons will also be joined by DJs Adham Dou and STZ, so you know the beats will just keep on coming. You can reserve your spot by messaging Storia Karameya Heights’ official Instagram.

Cairo Photo Week returns under the banner of Finding the View, featuring over 14 exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and networking meetups. This year’s festival has kicked off, and is taking place until Sunday, 18 May Downtown and in the Cairo Design District at District 5. You can access all the exhibitions without a paid ticket, but talks and panels require either a day access or a full festival ticket and accept walk-ins. Workshops require advance registration. You can grab your passes from Ticketsmarché.

HAPPENING NEXT WEEKEND-

Hip Hop fans: Don’t miss the historic Project Meem concert, headlined by rap icons Marwan Pablo and Marwan Moussa sharing the stage. The concert will take place on Friday, 23 May at Cairo Festival City, and tickets are selling fast on Tazkarti.

The high-performer’s guide to rest

In a culture that glorifies the busy, choosing rest may feel uncomfortable. Even when you’ve crushed it at work that week, tied up all the loose ends, and have a clear plan for the week ahead. When Friday morning hits, you just can’t shake the nagging feeling that you should be doing something. For driven professionals, rest can feel like weakness, laziness, or worse — falling behind. But here’s what the most successful people know: Rest is a strategic advantage.

WHY YOUR BRAIN WON’T POWER DOWN (AND WHY THAT’S NORMAL)

#1- The modern world revolves around the metrics of productivity. We said it before, and we’ll say it again. From optimized lunch breaks, time blocking our schedules, to using LLMs to craft our emails — we’ve engineered our lives to maximize output at every turn. Even our leisure activities increasingly come with metrics, scores, and achievements — fitness means closing rings on our Apple Watches, hobbies turn to side-hustles, and reading becomes a challenge with annual targets. Why? Because time is money. So every moment must be measured, every action quantified to chase an ever-rising benchmark of efficiency that often prioritizes profit over human wellbeing.

#2- Constant mental math about financial security and career trajectory. Society has trained us to believe that constant hustle equals responsible success. But chronic stress doesn’t just feel bad — it actively impairs the decision-making and strategic thinking that got you here.

#3- The comparison trap makes it worse. You’re scrolling through LinkedIn, watching everyone else’s wins while you’re on the couch trying to unwind. Social media creates this relentless highlight reel that never shows anyone’s downtime, making your rest feel contaminated with shame and inadequacy.

So to your brain, being “always on” isn’t a bug — it’s a feature. And let’s be real, it’s what got you where you are. So acknowledging you need rest hits hard when you’ve spent years linking your identity to your achievements. That nagging guilt when you’re not producing tangible results? It’s the same drive that propelled your career now working against you. The real cost isn’t just the Sunday scaries — it’s the diminishing returns on your efforts that lead straight to burnout.

THE HIGH-PERFORMANCE REST MODEL

But the fix isn’t to abandon your ambition — it’s to reframe rest as performance optimization.

#1- Understand the science: Creative work requires periods of intense focus followed by rest. Research shows that someone constantly drawing on creative abilities can be productive for no more than six hours a day. The kicker? Working more doesn’t make you better at your job… A 2016 study found no relation between workaholism and job performance. A study from the year before and one from 2020 confirmed these findings, showing that people logging excessive working hours received similar performance scores to colleagues who didn’t put in as much effort.

#2- Take a look at our history: Your career is a marathon, not a sprint, and every elite marathoner knows that recovery determines performance. Fancy yourself more of an academic? Charles Darwin, who published 19 books in his lifetime including The Origin of Species, only worked three 90-minute periods daily. Silicon Valley consultant Alex Soojung-Kim Pang writes that the most innovative companies are discovering that by switching to four-day weeks, they can protect time for undistracted work while giving people more time for recovery. The results ? Increased productivity, improved recruitment and retention, less burnout, and more sustainable performance.

HOW TO START RESTING LIKE A PRO

#1- Get a productive hobby: Channel your achievement drive into non-work wins. Building something tangible satisfied that need for progress without the pressure. Whether it’s learning to draw, or trying to hit a personal record at the gym, the key is visible progress that feeds your achievement needs without triggering work anxiety.

#2- Master a skill sport: Skill sports offer another productive outlet. Golf combines strategic thinking with physical precision. Rock climbing combines problem-solving with physical challenge. Martial arts build discipline with clear progression paths. Cycling offers endurance goals with measurable improvement. Finding something that provides clear metrics and advancement without career pressure will satisfy your competitive drive in a healthy direction.

#3- Strategic gaming: Not big on sports? Gaming engages your analytical mind safely. Chess offers pure strategy without real-world consequences. Poker builds risk assessment and psychological skills. Complex video games, strategy games, and even fantasy sports provide analysis and competition without the stakes. Board game nights add a social element into strategic thinking. Your competitive drive gets an outlet that actually helps rather than hinders recovery.

#4- Deep work and productive meditation: Cal Newport’s research on “deep work” shows that to master hard things quickly, you must focus intensely without distraction. But here’s the paradox: To maintain this capacity for deep work, you need deep rest. Newport himself practices “productive meditation” — using physically occupied but mentally free time (walking, jogging, driving) to focus attention on a single well-defined professional problem. This active rest helps solve complex challenges while giving your brain a break from forced concentration.

If Black Mirror crashed a rom-com

? Director Christopher Langdon’s latest thriller Drop is about a nightmare of a first date. The premise is deceptively simple — Violet (Meghann Fahy of The White Lotus fame), a therapist and survivor of domestic abuse, finally ventures back into dating with the seemingly perfect Henry (Brandon Sklenar) at an upscale Chicago restaurant. Their evening takes a sinister turn when anonymous messages start arriving via “DigiDrop” — a fictional AirDrop stand-in — threatening her family unless she follows increasingly dangerous instructions.

What makes Drop work is its commitment to efficiency. Landon, known for his playful horror-comedies Happy Death Day and Freaky, strips away his usual humor to deliver something more grounded and immediate. The film understands its limitations — primarily confined to a single restaurant location — and turns them into strengths. Every glance at a phone screen, every patron illuminated by their device, becomes a potential threat.

The film’s visual language maintains a sleek momentum that matches the swipe-and-scroll era. The aesthetic feels both contemporary and classical, drawing clear inspiration from confined-space thrillers while updating the formula for the smartphone generation. The plot mechanics do grow increasingly convoluted as the film progresses, and the entire scheme may — at the end — seem unnecessarily complex for its outcome. But Drop wisely doesn’t pause long enough for that to sink in. Like the best B-movie thrillers, it prioritizes momentum over logic, understanding that audience engagement matters more than airtight plotting.

The film also touches on deeper themes without belaboring them. Violet’s status as an abuse survivor adds weight to her predicament — she’s once again trapped by violence, forced to perform compliance for survival. The script wisely doesn’t overplay this parallel, trusting Fahy to convey these layers through performance rather than dialogue.

Drop won’t revolutionize the genre, and it doesn’t aspire to. And in an era of bloated franchises and overwrought prestige pictures, there’s something refreshing about that. It knows exactly what it wants to be — a swift, stylish thriller that wrings maximum tension from minimum resources. Those seeking a tight, well-crafted diversion that makes clever use of contemporary technology while honoring classic thriller traditions, Drop hits the target.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can watch Drop at VOX Cinemas at City Center Almaza and Mall of Egypt, and Scene Cinemas at Cairo Festival City and District 5. You can find the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:49).

The crowning jewel of Elif Shafak’s work

? Turkish author Elif Shafak constructs two interwoven narratives in this philosophical novel, connecting contemporary US with 13th century Persia through questions of divine love and spiritual transformation. Often mistaken for a romance novel, the title is misleading. The Forty Rules of Love explores divine and universal love rather than romantic attachment. Shafak examines spirituality, fate, and the practice of letting go.

Ella Rubinstein, forty and dissatisfied with her suburban life, takes a position reading manuscripts for a literary agent. Her first assignment: a novel by Aziz Zahara depicting the relationship between Shams of Tabriz and the legendary poet Rumi in medieval Persia. The manuscript follows Shams’s search for Rumi and their subsequent spiritual partnership.

Mirrored connections: As Ella absorbs the story of Sufi mysticism and poetry, she experiences an internal shift. Her email correspondence with author Aziz develops in unexpected ways, paralleling the spiritual bond between the historical figures she’s reading about.

Shafak moves between historical and contemporary settings without jarring transitions. The dual storylines progress through unexpected developments while maintaining a contemplative tone that readers find both calming and thought-provoking.

The forty rules: Each chapter presents one of Shams’s rules. These philosophical principles address both religious and secular readers, offering perspectives on love, life, and human connection that transcend specific belief systems.

WHERE TO FIND IT- The Forty Rules of Love is available at Diwan and Shorouk Bookstores.

Salon Caracas sets a high standard… with a high ceiling to match

? When it comes to Lebanese cuisine, you can’t go wrong with Villa Caracas — and their Salon is no different. With one branch in Walk of Cairo and another that has recently opened its doors in New Cairo’s District 5, Salon Caracas is Villa Caracas’ younger sibling — and it’s living up to the family name.

Expectations were high, and so was the literal ceiling. We paid a visit to the District 5 branch and immediately felt at ease. The artisanal café’s indoor space would fool you upon first glance — the ceilings are high enough that for a moment, you’d think you’re outside. The generous natural lighting perfectly sets you up for a meal that is equally delightful.

The menu doesn’t miss. All sorts of Lebanese classics make an appearance — we’re talking makloubes, man’ouches, batata harre, Lebanese grills, and everything one would expect to be served at a Beiruti grandmother’s family gathering. The options are aplenty, though not overwhelming. Craving a taste of authenticity, we went for a few classics ourselves.

Salon Caracas served — in more ways than one. The Lebanese fatteh immediately caught our attention, and we paired it with a classic hummus dip, batata harre, wara’ enab, and fattoush. For safe measures, we also ordered a plate of shish tawook — and while we might have overestimated our appetites, nothing went back to the kitchen.

Word of advice: don’t miss out on the fatteh kofta karaz. There’s a perfect balance of flavors in the fatteh that only an authentic Lebanese destination like Caracas can muster up — it’s soft, creamy, light, and yet incredibly filling. The cherry sauce perfectly offsets the acidity of the yoghurt, and it ends up feeling like a match made in heaven. The hummus wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, but it got the job done.

The cherry sauce might have stolen the show, but the wara’ ‘enab was the stage-setter. The appetizers were quick to manifest on our table, and were devoured even faster. The fattoush was as fresh as it gets, and the same could be said for the batata harre as far as heat is concerned. For the picky eaters amongst us, the shish tawook and the accompanying fries proved satisfactory — tender and familiar, though we’d recommend fatteh over it.

It wasn’t just the food that left an impression, however. Service at Salon Caracas was quick, and the servers made an effort to make you laugh — and no, not in the cliché sort of way. So next time you find yourself walking around District 5, we’d definitely recommend passing by Salon Caracas for a visit that will likely linger.

? Per person: EGP 500-600

? Outdoor seating: Yes

? Alcohol: No

? Accessibility friendly: Yes

Medieval meets metal

? The Doom Slayer is back, and he’s brought a shield to a demon fight. If that sounds jarring for a franchise built on constant motion and evasive maneuvers, that’s exactly the point. Doom: The Dark Ages (DTDA) represents id Software’s most daring reimagining of their legendary shooter yet, and while it won’t please everyone, it succeeds in creating something genuinely fresh while maintaining the series’ signature brutality.

Stand your ground: The heart of DTDA’s transformation lies in its new shield mechanics. Where previous Doom games taught you to dance around enemy attacks like a caffeinated hummingbird, DTDA encourages you to plant your feet and face danger head-on. It’s a change that initially feels foreign, but once the system clicks, it’s surprisingly intuitive.

Your shield isn’t just a defensive tool — it’s practically a Swiss Army knife of destruction. Beyond blocking standard attacks and deflecting green-tinted projectiles back at enemies, you can rev up its saw-toothed edge and hurl it Captain America-style to buzzsaw through crowds, or pin larger demons in place.

A heavier metal: Everything about DTDA feels weightier than its predecessors. Your footsteps thunder across battlefields, landings from high jumps create visible shockwaves, and the removal of double jumps grounds you in a way that takes adjustment. This isn’t the nimble fighter jet of Doom Eternal — it’s a heavily armored tank, and the game is designed around that philosophy.

Level design follows suit, favoring massive open battlefields over the vertical playgrounds. You’ll face literal armies of demons across sprawling war zones, with encounters that genuinely feel like medieval sieges. While PC players accustomed to Eternal’s demanding verticality might find this approach less technically challenging, there’s something undeniably fun about standing your ground against hundreds of demons pouring across a hellish battlefield.

Between battles, the game surprises with its strongest story effort yet. This prequel explores the war between humanity’s Sentinels and Hell’s forces with actual character development and political intrigue. Don’t worry — you can still skip the cutscenes and get back to demon-slaying. But for the first time in Doom history, you might actually want to pay attention to what’s happening.

Here’s where things get weird: DTDA plays noticeably differently depending on your platform of choice. Unlike its predecessors, this feels designed with consoles in mind first. The wider arenas, streamlined weapon systems, and generous parry windows all point to a game built around controller limitations, then ported to PC rather than vice versa. For console players this is fantastic news — DTDA offers the most comfortable and accessible Doom experience yet. PC players may find it less demanding than Eternal’s keyboard gymnastics, though the trade-off is a combat system that’s more about timing and positioning than pure mechanical skill. It’s not necessarily better or worse, just different.

? Rating: 9/10 on Steam, 9/10 on IGN.

⌛ Hours of gameplay: TBD.

? Replay value: TBD.

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

? Price: USD 49.99 for the standard edition and USD 69.99 for the premium edition on Steam, and USD 69.99 for the standard edition and USD 99.99 for the premium edition on Playstation and Xbox.

The world’s most infamous maritime tragedy

? What really happened on the Titanic? Noiser’s award winning Titanic: Ship of Dreams brings the story of the world’s most infamous ship to life. The podcast takes listeners aboard the legendary vessel, following its fateful journey from Southampton’s bustling docks, across the vast Atlantic, to its tragic end in ice waters.

Like an audiobook about a real life occurrence. English actor Paul McGann masterfully narrates the series, grounding each scene with precise timestamps, locations, and atmospheric descriptions. His commanding voice is accompanied by a talented cast bringing the ship’s passengers and crew to life. This isn’t your typical documentary — it’s time travel through sound. You’ll find yourself walking the decks alongside real people who lived, loved, and lost on that historic voyage.

When disaster struck: The episode Save Our Souls plunges listeners into the chaos following the iceberg collision. Experience the raw terror and disbelief that gripped the ship during that first crucial hour. Follow wireless operators Philips and Bride as they desperately signal for help, while passengers refuse to accept the unthinkable truth: the unsinkable Titanic is going down.

True stories from those who survived: Unlike the fictional Jack and Rose from director James Cameron’s 1997 film, these narratives come from actual survivor testimonies. McGann brings personal connection to the project — his own great-uncle worked as a trimmer in the Titanic’s engine room and lived to tell the tale. Through meticulous research and first-hand accounts, the podcast illuminates lesser-known aspects of the disaster that claimed over 1.5k lives.

WHERE TO LISTEN - You can find Titanic: Ship of Dreams on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

THE ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

8-18 May (Thursday-Sunday): Cairo Photo Week in Downtown Cairo and District 5.

16 May (Friday): Angham at the Cairo Opera House.

16 May (Friday): Ehab Tawfik at CJC 610.

16 May (Friday): Dr. Alfons at Storia Katameya Heights.

16 May (Friday): Amr Diab at the American University in Cairo.

20 May (Tuesday): Mustafa the Poet at MUST Opera House.

20 May (Tuesday): Cairo Comedy Club at CJC 610.

21-31 May (Wednesday-Saturday): Disney On Ice at Cairo International Stadium.

21 May (Wednesday): Gaby Bishara at Boom Room.

22 May (Thursday): Tetrat w Zekrayat at Theatro Arkan.

23 May (Friday): Project Meem at Cairo Festival City.

23 May (Friday): Redbull Jukebox at Taj City.

26 May (Monday): Michael Bublé at New Administrative Capital.

28 May (Wednesday): Jadalat CJC610.

29 May (Thursday): Omar Khairat at the Cairo Opera House.

30 May (Friday): Adam Port at the New Administrative Capital’s Green River.

30 May (Friday): Sharmoofers at Boom Room.

30-31 May (Friday-Saturday): Dalida: Bint Shoubra at The Theatre.

31 May (Saturday): AUC Alumni Folklore Group at Theatro Arkan.

JUNE

6 June (Friday): 50 Years of AC/DC concert.

7-8 June (Saturday-Sunday): Makadi Heights Music Festival at The Haus, Makadi Heights.

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

OCTOBER

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

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

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Egypt’s inflation rises again in April to sit at 13.9%

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