The art of remembering

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THE WEEK IN REVIEW

FinMin and EGX prepare to activate secondary market for sovereign sukuk

Good morning, friends, and happy weekend. It’s been a busy week both at home and in the global press, and we’re glad to catch a breather. This week, the EGX welcomed fresh new faces, FinMin moved to activate a secondary market for sovereign sukuk, and global stock markets took a hit. We’ve got the full rundown below.

With a number of holidays fast approaching, there will be plenty of moments we’ll want to immortalize — but how do we do that without sentencing our memories to solitary confinement in our phone galleries? In this week’s edition of The Enterprise Guide, we’re looking at ways you can safeguard your favorite memories, all while enjoying the moment.

🗞️ LAST WEEK IN 3 MINS-

DEBT WATCH-

The Finance Ministry and the EGX are preparing to activate a secondary market for sovereign sukuk after Egypt’s EGP 200 bn sovereign sukuk program saw softened demand. The move to shift sukuk from the primary market to open exchange trading is designed to maximize returns and attract fresh liquidity as Egypt’s Islamic finance market matures.

ECONOMY-

#1- The Madbouly government is planning to allocate nearly EGP 250 bn in the FY 2026-2027 budget to fund financing initiatives targeting the industrial, export, and tourism sectors. The move supports the government’s target of raising industry’s GDP contribution to 20% by 2030 and meeting its USD 145 bn export goal.

#2- Egypt saw its non-oil private sector slip back into the red for the first time in four months, but it’s not all bad news. Despite the country’s headline figure, output rose for the third consecutive month.

CAPITAL MARKETS-

The EGX30 got a facelift, with four constituents exiting the benchmark EGX30 index, replaced by four newcomers. Sidpec, Mopco, and Credit Agricole departed the index, alongside real estate player Madinet Masr. Taking their places are snacks giant Edita, Heliopolis Housing, Kima, and Orascom Investment Holding.

AND- The EGX30 index concluded January at a record high of 47.78k points, marking a sharp 14.2% monthly increase.

COMMODITIES-

The government has officially resumed sugar exports to help local producers clear a massive 1-mn-ton inventory surplus. With a 10-month strategic reserve in place and the beet harvest beginning, the decision to reverse the export ban after three years is designed to provide an immediate liquidity injection for state and private factories struggling with high overheads.

FINTECH-

The Central Bank of Egypt has officially launched its regulatory framework for software point-of-sale (soft POS) devices, allowing merchants to turn any NFC-enabled smartphone or tablet into a payment terminal. The move follows a two-year pilot phase that had restricted contactless payment transactions to EGP 600; that limit has now been lifted, allowing soft POSes to function par with dedicated hardware terminals.

AUTOMOTIVE-

Abou Ghaly Motors is now the official importer and distributor of Piaggio Group’s iconic Vespa, Piaggio, Aprilia, and Moto Guzzi brands in Egypt under an agreement inked between the two. The two companies confirmed future plans to localize the assembly of several models of the Italian brand in Egypt.

RETAIL-

Mobile phone prices jumped locally by as much as 20% this week in response to a 50% rise in the cost of local production inputs. Vivo prices are up by 17%, Oppo is up 15%, and Samsung is up by 5%).

🌍 AROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS-

It’s been a busy week in the global press, with a mixed bag of headlines dominating the digital front pages. In trade news, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that India would cut tariffs on a number of capital goods needed to process critical minerals. The move will allow India to reduce its dependence on China, incentivize local manufacturing of rare earths, and lower costs for exporters hit by US trade policies. A few days later, US President Donald Trump announced a trade agreement with India to cut tariffs from 50% to 18%. India would halt Russian oil purchases and buy over USD 500 bn of US energy, technology, agriculture, coal, and other products.

Dominating the business press, Elon Musk set a record for the largest merger in history when SpaceX acquired xAI, valuing the entities at USD 1.25 tn. The transaction unified Musk’s AI and space ambitions to “form the most ambitious, vertically integrated innovation engine on (and off) Earth.” The merger comes as SpaceX plans an IPO that could value it at over USD 1.5 tn.

AND- It was a rocky week for precious metals. Monday saw a crash — gold and silver prices plunged, sending shockwaves through global stock markets. The precious metals bounced back on Wednesday after a sell-off triggered by Anthropic’s latest AI model for lawyers sent global software stocks crashing. The selloff — which wiped about USD 1 tn off software stocks over the week — then prompted another precious metal crash on Thursday, with silver plunging 17% and gold dipping 3.5%.

ALSO- The Washington Post laid off nearly one-third of its work force, effectively eliminating its sports section, book department, and scaling back on a slew of foreign bureaus and coverage desks.

CLOSER TO HOME- the Rafah border between Egypt and the Gaza strip was reopened to allow movement between both countries. 50 patients, each accompanied by a maximum of two relatives, would be allowed to exit the strip daily.

Two days later, Israeli strikes on Gaza killed 19 Palestinians on Wednesday — most of whom were women and children. The attack came in response to an alleged ceasefire violation by Hamas, with Israel pledging to continue its strikes.

☀️ THE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND-

Craving some warmth? We’ll be getting plenty of sun this weekend in Cairo. Today, temperatures are set to peak at 25°C before cooling down to 16°C. Tomorrow will be slightly warmer, with a high of 26°C and a low of 18°C, according to our favorite weather app.

🎤 HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-

The Garden Market returns for your pre-Ramadan and Valentine’s shopping fix at East View Mall in New Cairo, running for two consecutive weekends. Expect a wide range of local brands and vendors — doors are open from 12pm to 11pm.

Catch Voices of the Century at The New Capital Opera House for a night of operatic arias and orchestral masterpieces tonight. Legendary Spanish operatic tenors José Carreras and Plácido Domingo alongside Greek Soprano Christina Poulitsi and Egypt’s very own Soprano Fatma Said will be taking to the stage for a special musical experience. The magical night concludes with an orchestra by Italian Maestro Francesco Ivan Ciampa. Tickets are available on Tazkarti.

Up for some pre-Ramadan shopping? Cairo Flea Market is hosting a special Ramadan edition at its new location Heliopolis’ Ghurnata Community Space tomorrow. Browse vintage finds, local treasures, and get an early dose of the Ramadan spirit before all the family gatherings kick off. Doors are open from 10am to 10pm.

🎤 HAPPENING NEXT WEEKEND-

A fan of animation art? Animatex, Egypt’s biggest animation event is coming to AUC Ewart Hall, taking place from Wednesday, 11 February to Sunday, 15 February. Now in its sixth year, the festival celebrates 90 years of Egyptian animation, screening 15 feature films and 200 short films selected from Arab and international submissions in the annual Animatex competition — plus a packed program of talks, workshops, and masterclasses. Tickets are available on Ticketsmarché.

Got a big appetite for Thai cuisine? The Thai Food Bazaar is back in Zamalek’s Al Horreya Garden this weekend and the next, with doors open from 12-8pm. Experience all the authentic flavors of Thailand including street food, cooking shows and live demos, and Thai drinks and sweet treats. Bring your friends and family and dig in.

Another live performance at the Grand Egyptian Museum? Count us in. This time, multi-platinum Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams is taking over GEM nights on Friday, 13 February with a setlist of his biggest hits. Tickets are available on Tazkarti.

How to save your special moments in 2026

📨 With Valentine’s Day, Ramadan, and Mother’s Day all approaching, we’ll all have our fair share of cherished moments with our loved ones; quiet nights-in gathered together, new experiences, and days we’ll want to look back on. In truth, memories have never been easier to store — yet it’s exactly this that makes them harder to savor and cherish.

From overflowing galleries to moments drowned in group chats, we tend to lose track of what matters most. Here are some ways you can safeguard your favorite memories, keep them close to heart, and bring them to life.

The first steps

We tend to experience the present as an anticipated memory, clinging to each and every singular moment by attempting to immortalize it through Instagram stories and Facebook posts. In our attempt to capture more, we retain less and lose track. So what’s the workaround?

#1- Declutter your phone: This weekend, if you find yourself with an hour to spare, go through your digital galleries. Scroll all the way up and make your way down, take note of significant events and your favorite moments, and group them in labeled albums you can easily find.

#2- Invite your loved ones to shared albums: Both Apple Photos and Google Photos allow groups of individuals to upload images and videos to albums accessible simultaneously by each member. By having each individual contribute to a collective album, you’re allowing yourself more time to savor the present, and affording yourself less pressure to single-handedly pull out your phone every few minutes.

Slow down

Overloading ourselves with photos hinders our ability to remember, according to a recent University of Würzburg study (pdf). While phones are unmatched in terms of accessibility and convenience, they might not produce the best depiction of the present moment. Offloading our memories to our phones may weaken our ability to recall certain details and reconstruct them, the research finds. By being mindful of the moments we capture, we can ensure our memories remain faithful to how we truly experienced them.

Interested in putting your phone down and going old-school? Here are a few options for your consideration.

#1- The MNDR 35 Film Camera: A simple-to-use gadget, MNDR’s reusable film camera is the kind of gadget that’s easy to carry around, fun to look at, and invites you to savor the present while capturing the moments that truly matter. The camera works with a variety of different film rolls and comes with built-in flash, so there’s no curfew on your memories.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can check out MNDR’s catalogue on their website.

#2- Instax Minis: Need a memory to take home? A polaroid camera will do the trick. Essentially requiring no action from you other than a point-and-shoot, Instax’s analog cameras are perfect for making sure your photos aren’t lost in a digital dark hole, with images printed instantly upon capture.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can browse through the different Instax cameras and supplies through the website.

#3- Xiaomi Portable: If decluttering your phone leaves you with photos you can’t help but feel like wanting in your hands, Xiaomi’s portable photo printer can make that happen in minutes. The wireless bluetooth printer seamlessly connects to your device, enabling you to print high-resolution color images straight from your gallery.

WHERE TO GET IT-You can find the gadget on Amazon.

Bringing memories to life

Speaking of holding your memories in your hands, there are plenty of ways to bring them to life right from the comfort of your couch. A slew of online and offline Egyptian businesses have made it their bread and butter to offer creative ways to display your media — these ones in particular caught our attention…

#1- Picskis: We’d wager that it’s been a while since you’ve picked up a physical photo book — that can change. Offering customizable photobooks and magazines filled with all your photos and mixed media, Picskis lets you keep your memories on a bookshelf. You can place your order through their website.

#2- Design Avenue: Need a few pictures framed but haven’t had the time to see it through? Design Avenue offers frame set customization, photo printing, and delivery. You can browse through their website for inspiration, and reach out through Instagram DMs for inquiries and orders.

#3- Maramzy: Not looking to frame photos but rather travel memorabilia? Egyptian lifestyle brand Maramzy offers a variety of glass wall frames that let you frame everything from plane tickets and concert wristbands to polaroids and post cards. You can find the frames on the brand’s website.

The Housemaid is a slow burn thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat

🎥 American director Paul Feig is best known for rom coms with a bit of action, but in The Housemaid, he veers completely off path. Based on Freida McFadden’s bestselling novel, Feig crafts a gripping thriller about a young woman whose misfortune leads her to work for a strange family.

The plot: Millie (Sydney Sweeney) is struggling with a troubled past; no family, no friends, and no place to call home. In her attempt to find a job, she finds what appears to be a perfect one — a live-in maid for the wealthy Winchesters in their massive estate in a quiet New York suburb. Nina (Amanda Seyfried), her husband Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), and her daughter Cece (Indiana Elle) appear to be quite normal on the surface — but they’re not.

Millie soon realizes that behind Nina’s amicable smile lies a wealth of anger, volatility, and violence. Andrew warns Millie that Nina has some mental health troubles that may lead to her harming herself or others. Desperate to keep a job, Millie shrugs it off. All’s well until she and Andrew begin falling for each other.

Our expectations weren’t high, but The Housemaid took us by surprise. Seyfried delivers one of her strongest performances to date, portraying Nina’s complexities so vividly that we’d argue she’s the reason behind the film’s success. Sklenar also steps out of his comfort zone, delivering his fair share of powerful scenes. While Sweeney’s performance wasn’t extraordinary, the award for worst performance eluded her, instead going to Michael Morrone, whose portrayal of the gardener, Enzo, was almost difficult to watch — thankfully, he wasn’t central to the plot.

Our verdict: The movie carries a suspenseful atmosphere reminiscent of ‘90s thrillers. Although it’s technically a slow burn, it never feels tedious. Even if seasoned viewers manage to predict the twist, it remains an entertaining experience. Feig succeeds in keeping the audience eager to see what happens next, with the final act delivering a shocking escalation. Into thrillers? You won’t want to miss out on this one.

WHERE TO WATCH IT- The film is screening at City Center Almaza, Alexandria, and Mall of Egypt’s Vox Cinemas, City Stars Cinema, Cima Arkan, and CFCM and D5’s Scene Cinema. Watch the trailer on YouTube (watch, runtime: 2:33)

The past that refuses to let go in Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go

📚 Can you take memory for granted? That is the question that Nobel Laureate Kazuo Ishiguro grapples with in his 2005 modern classic Never Let Me Go. A Man Booker Prize finalist, the novel has been hailed as a piece of literary fiction that is hard to forget, and harder not to be absolutely swept away by. Wrapped in what seems like a coming-of-age narrative, Never Let Me Go unravels as an understated sci-fi story that explores larger themes of death, morality, society, and the bizarre workings of memory.

The plot: Hailsham, an isolated British boarding school, is where the story’s narrator Kathy anchors the reader — and where her mind lingers until the age of 31. She is introduced as a “carer” who looks after “donors” — a job and concept that remains unclear for much of the story. Her present is shaped by memory, as she keeps returning to her time at Hailsham, in an attempt to examine her life in hindsight. She moves through scattered recollections of the school with her former closest friends Ruth and Tommy often at the center.

Questions pile up as more is revealed. The story blends gothic undertones and a warped sense of nostalgia. Kathy’s narrative fully embraces childhood whimsy, but paired with her uncomfortable retrospection, a dystopia slowly unfolds as readers start to realize that Hailsham is not a normal school.

Through a non-linear yet bizarrely coherent progression of events, Ishiguro constructs a brilliantly crafted story. The narrator tells her story in the simplest and most candid of ways, engrossing us in the microsociety of Hailsham with all its nuances — its light, atmospheric moments, as well as its darker, more unsettling ones. The story’s impact hits you slowly, and you’ll find yourself fully immersed and stunned as you turn the final page.

WHERE TO FIND IT- You can place a special order for the paperback version at The Bookspot, and keep an eye out on Diwan for a restock. In the meantime, you can also get the eBook on Amazon and Kobo.

EDNC’s newest all-day brasserie is a feast for the eyes

🍴 If the culinary scene has been missing some color, Lulu’s at New Cairo’s EDNC is here to make up for it. The newly minted eatery has been drawing attention with its vibrant, whimsical, and Instagrammable aesthetic. Doubling as an experience venue, Lulu’s checks all the boxes; the eatery hosts yoga sessions, holds a variety of talks, and — most importantly — serves good food.

Lulu’s playful exterior is contrasted by a well-curated, short, and sweet menu. Their one-page morning selection features hand-picked classics — done Lulu’s style. While most complimentary starters go unnoticed, Lulu’s fresh, fluffy, and sweet brioche was an exquisite palate primer as we perused the menu. The breakfast selection leaned more towards Mediterranean cuisine — think burrata, spinach, feta, pesto, avocado, and lemon pepper hollandaise as some of the recurring flavors.

We opted for the eggs royale and the turkey roll, and while we were hopeful the food would fill the gorgeous whimsical plates, we were unfortunately disappointed. We devoured the eggs royale in two bites — yes, it was mouth-wateringly delicious; but the portion size was underwhelming. The turkey roll came packed in the same buttery brioche we’d had earlier, and that’s when we knew we were about to taste greatness. Stuffed with fresh turkey, arugula, and sun-dried tomatoes, it was an explosion of flavor — but again, the portion size just didn’t cut it.

The silver lining of the sample size savories? We had plenty of room for dessert. Deeming it a “fun” pick, we decided to go for the cookie trompe l’oeil — not an actual cookie, but rather an illusion of one with vanilla ganache, chocolate cream, and salted caramel. A feast for the eyes it was, yet unfortunately not much more. The dessert looked heavenly, but the flavor could use a push towards the pearly gates.

Our verdict: Lulu’s is a gorgeous destination for a fun time with friends and loved ones. When it comes to actual sustenance, we found it a little hit or miss — but perhaps we’re the outliers here. Given the raving reviews, we can’t help but feel that another visit to the EDNC eatery will be in the cards for us — if only for the brioche.

WHERE TO FIND IT- Lulu’s is located at New Cairo’s EDNC. Reservations can be made through Instagram, and pick-up orders can be placed through their app.

💵 Per person: EGP 1k-1.5k

🪑 Outdoor seating: Yes

🍺 Alcohol: No

🦽 Accessibility friendly: Yes

Wesley Morris talks pop culture in Cannonball

👂 Care for a dose of pop culture critique? In The New York Times’ Cannonball, two-time Pulitzer recipient Wesley Morris zeroes in on — and drills into — all the latest hot topics dominating the cultural sphere, bringing his own cultural insight, humor, and charm to an otherwise crowded topic of discussion.

Whether it’s the latest hit show, a chart-topping album, or a culturally relevant political controversy, everything gets dissected on Cannonball. Morris leads interesting and analytical conversation, leaving little space for casual banter. What do Ryan Coogler’s Sinners and the Drake-Kendrick beef have in common? Morris has a theory on that. How is Beyoncé’s latest album a statement on the current state of America? Morris dissects that with a professor who teaches an entire class about the pop star.

One episode that caught our attention coincided with the centennial of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Given Morris wrote an introduction to one of its recently published editions, he had a lot to say alongside novelist Min Jin Lee and New York Times Book Review Editor Gilbert Cruz, picking apart the Jazz Age tragic classic and highlighting personal relationships with the novel across all different phases of their lives.

The trio broke down the re-readability of the book, the timelessness of its characters, and how Fitzgerald managed to address multiple heavy themes in one place. What could have easily been a dull conversation proved particularly riveting. Morris’ animated and friendly presence, combined with his confidence and experience, makes this episode — and every other one — all the more interesting and truly worth your time.

THE ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

🗓️ FEBRUARY

5-6 February (Thursday-Friday): Umm Kulthum Musical at Drama Hall, New Capital.

5-7 February (Thursday-Saturday): The Garden Market at East View Mall, New Cairo.

6 February (Friday): Voices of the Century at the Opera Hall in New Capital.

6 February (Friday): Cairo Marathon at Heliopolis, Merryland Park.

6-7 February (Friday-Saturday): Football Access Summit at Zed Park.

7 February (Saturday): Cairo Flea Market at Ghurnata Community Space, Heliopolis.

11-15 February (Wednesday-Sunday): Animatex at AUC Tahrir Square.

12-14 February (Thursday-Saturday): The Garden Market at East View Mall, New Cairo.

12-15 February (Thursday-Sunday): Thai Food Bazaar in Zamalek.

13 February (Friday): Bryan Adams at the GEM.

14 February (Saturday): Valentine’s Special – Saad El Oud at CJC 610.

14 February (Saturday): Mina Nader at Grand Tiba Theatre.

17 February (Tuesday): First day of Ramadan (TBD).

MARCH

20 March (Friday): Eid Al-Fitr (TBD).

APRIL

2 April (Thursday): Hany Shaker at Theatro Arkan.

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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FinMin and EGX prepare to activate secondary market for sovereign sukuk

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How to save your special moments in 2026

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The past that refuses to let go in Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go

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EDNC’s newest all-day brasserie is a feast for the eyes

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