The D-CAF guide is your dose of culture

1

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Humanitarian aid should be heading to Gaza from Egypt + We want to increase our loan from the IMF

Good morning, friends, and — as always — happy Friday to us all. This week has been jam-packed with news about the regional conflict and the updates that frequent our news feed daily. Meanwhile, economic and debt updates have also dominated the local front, too along with a side of privatization news.

Cultural events have always been a refuge when traveling out of town is out of season. This weekend, we have the guide for the cultural event of the year, The Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival, where you can sample the best of what Egypt and the world has to offer when it comes to theater, performance art, video installation, music and dance, alongside a myriad of workshops.

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

LAST WEEK IN 3 MINS-

Israel’s siege of Gaza dominated headlines at home and around the world for the second week as the human toll of its assault on the strip intensified. On the economic front, we saw a handful of potential loan agreements as well as a few developments stemming from our FX crunch.

THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT WAS THE BIG STORY OF THE WEEK-

As many as 500 people were killed on Tuesday after Israel bombed a hospital in Gaza, Palestinian health authorities said. Israel blamed the attack on Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The Israeli military claims the blast was the result of a rocket fired by PIJ that failed after launching.

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi accused Israel of being responsible in a statement that condemned “in the strongest terms this deliberate bombing.”

Egypt condemned Israel’s displacement of Gazans: Our Foreign Ministry denounced Israel’s order that some 1 mn Palestinians in Gaza leave their homes as a “grave violation” of international law. El Sisi rejected calls by Israel and Western nations to allow Gazans into Egypt, saying that Palestinians should remain on their land.

An “unprecedented human catastrophe” is taking place in Gaza nearly two weeks into Israel’s siege, the head of the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, Philippe Lazzarini, said earlier this week. Thousands of people are without shelter, with an estimated 1 mn people displaced by the conflict.

Aid could enter Gaza as early as today: Egypt may be able to open the Rafah border crossing into Gaza to allow the delivery of “limited” humanitarian aid as of today, US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday. Israel has imposed a total blockade on the strip, triggering a shortage of water and food and leaving hospitals on the verge of collapse.

Jordan canceled its planned four-way summit in Amman that aimed to bring together the leaders of Jordan, Egypt, the US and the Palestinian Authority due to Washington’s stance on the war. Jordan’s King Abdullah instead made his way to Cairo, where he met with El Sisi yesterday.

HERE AT HOME, THERE WERE ALSO PLENTY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS-

#1- The government is looking to expand its IMF loan program and is reportedly in talks with the IMF to raise its USD 3 bn loan program to more than USD 5 bn.

#2- The IMF expects our budget deficit to increase to 10.7% of GDP this year from an estimated 4.6% the previous year. The IMF had projected a 9.2% deficit this fiscal year in its previous forecast in April.

#3- Banks in Egypt began imposing strict new instructions from the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) on credit card use for FX transactions at home and abroad. Credit card holders will now only be allowed to spend the equivalent of EGP 7,750 per month in Egypt. Individuals wanting to use their cards abroad will need to contact their banks and provide proof they’re planning to travel before card issuers allow a more generous limit.

#4- Standard Chartered sees no devaluation or changes to interest rates before the end of this year: The bank thinks that Egypt will not see further devaluations of the EGP or changes in interest rates until the end of the year.

WE ALSO HAD A GOOD SERVING OF DEBT NEWS-

#1- Egypt closed its maiden panda bond issuance in China this week with a CNY 3.5 bn (USD 478.7 mn) issuance. The three-year securities were priced at a 3.51% annual rate, lower than the yield on USD-denominated debt. The proceeds will be used to finance the country’s sustainable development goals.

#2- The government expects to borrow at least USD 1.5 bn between now and the end of the year: Planned borrowing includes the USD 500 mn issuances of CNY-denominated bonds and JPY-denominated bonds in November.

…and wants to secure as much as USD 3 bn in fresh debt financing by the end of the fiscal year through bond issuances and international loans, a senior Finance Ministry official told us. The fresh funds will help bolster the budget and help the country meet any emergency financing needs.

#3- EBRD could be directing USD 325 mn to local SMEs and green projects… The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is considering lending USD 325 mn to four local banks for on-lending to local SMEs and green projects before the end of 2023.

…and up to EUR 165 mn to upgrade the country’s electricity transmission grid. The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is also considering providing a sovereign loan of up to EUR 165 mn for on-lending to the state-owned Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC).

#4- IFC to help finance our MSMEs: The International Financial Corporation (IFC) will provide state-owned Banque Misr with a USD 234 mn loan for on-lending to privately-owned micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), with half of the loan earmarked for women-led businesses.

#5- El Sewedy copper unit lands EBRD loan: Elsewedy Electric subsidiary United Metals Company (UMC) will receive a USD 50 mn loan from the EBRD to finance its working capital. The loan will help UMC’s hard-currency working capital needs, supporting its ability to import important raw materials like copper cathodes.

AS WELL AS A PRIVATIZATION UPDATE-

Shell and China’s North Petroleum want a piece of Wataniya: Shell Oil has reportedly teamed up with an unnamed investor owned by the Saudi government to target a stake in the military-owned filling station operator Wataniya. China’s North Petroleum also submitted an offer. The Sovereign Fund of Egypt is working to sell at least 10% — and potentially as much as 100% — of Wataniya as part of the state’s privatization program.

Six companies are now reportedly in the running: Taqa Arabia, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), and Saudi firm Petromin have all reportedly submitted offers for the Wataniya stake. Bids reportedly range between USD 250 mn and USD 280 mn.

AND A BIG INVESTMENT TICKET-

#1- Chinese companies could invest as much as USD 15.5 bn in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) after a series of agreements were signed at China’s Belt and Road Forum.

#2- West Qantara could see USD 101.3 mn in textile investments: The SCZone and a number of Chinese companies signed agreements to establish textile projects worth a combined USD 101.3 mn in investment in the West Qantara Industrial Zone.

#3- China’s largest cable manufacturer to expand SCZone factory: Chinese cable manufacturer Hengtong will invest USD 18 mn to expand its factory in the TEDA zone. The company will add 21k sqm to its factory in the Chinese industrial zone — almost four times its current size — allowing it to produce up to 2 mn km of cables a year.

M&A WATCH-

Dice’s founding family is set to increase its share of the company to c. 80%: Founders of EGX-listed clothing company Dice Sports and Casual Wear offered to purchase more than 838 mn of its shares — 46.9% of the company — at EGP 0.65 per share, putting the total acquisition value at EGP 544.8 mn.

SUEZ CANAL-

The SCA is hiking transit fees next year: Starting 15 January 2024, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) will hike transit fees by 15% for a number of different vessel types including oil tankers, LNG and LPG carriers, and container ships.

LEGISLATION-

The House was back in session this week and signed off on a raft of new bills that include:

Amendments to the Income Tax Act that would raise the tax exemption threshold by 25% to EGP 45k from EGP 36k.
A draft bill that amends the 2022 law t o raise the exceptional cost of living allowance to EGP 600 for all state employees and doubles an exceptional grant for pensioners to EGP 600.
A bill that would let Prime Minister Madbouly extend the expat car-for-FX initiative for three months.

ELECTIONS 2023-

The presidential election is going to be a four-person race after Republican People’s Party leader Hazem Omar submitted his running papers. Omar joins President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Farid Zahran (Social Democratic Party), and Abdel-Sanad Yamama (Al Wafd) in the race.

WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT WEEK-

Daylight saving time ends on Thursday, 26 October. The government introduced daylight saving time earlier this year following a seven year hiatus in a bid to conserve energy.

Deadline for bidding in a tender for five solar plants on the north coast ends on Friday, 27 October. The Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) earlier this year extended the bidding deadline on the tender to construct five concentrated solar power (CSP) plants to power water desalination plants upon the request of the bidding companies.

The El Gouna Film Festival kicks off on Friday, 27 October and wraps on Thursday, 2 November. The festival was initially slated to take place this week.

Check out our full calendar on the web for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events, national holidays and news triggers.

YOUR MOST CLICKED LINKS-

We all shared a specific mood with the ongoing developments in the region — r-rated as it may have been. (Instagram reel)
This post from X (also not for young ears) capturing a demonstration downtown earned plenty of attention. (X video)
The National Dialogue’s statement calling for mass protests in front of the Unknown Soldier’s monument in Nasr City was widely viewed. (National Dialogue statement)
Many of you were interested in Herro Mustafa Garg’s assignment as our new US ambassador. (State Department statement)
The CBE’s announcement on the new credit card limits was also a big read for many of you. (CBE statement)

AROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS-

Biden’s support for Israel’s claim that the bombing at a Gaza hospital was a result of “friendly fire” dominated coverage by western news outlets. US President Joe Biden during his visit to Tel Aviv publicly supported Israel’s claim that the cause of the explosion at the Ahli Al Arabi hospital on Tuesday, which took the lives of c. 500 people, came from “an errant rocket fired by a terrorist group in Gaza.”

And scattered protests cropped up across the region: Protests in Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Bahrain, Egypt and the occupied West Bank — are raising concerns that the brutal assault on Gaza could widen conflict in the region.

☀️ THE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND- Today will continue to be sunny reaching a high of 31°C in the daytime and dipping to a cooler 23°C in the evening. Tomorrow will be slightly cloudy, with a high of 30°C in the day and cooling off to 21°C at night, shares our favorite weather app.

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-

Dust off your windbreakers this weekend at Room Art Space in Garden City for theirBack to the nineties event with performances of your favorite Arabic 90s songs on tonight from 8pm. Get your tickets at the branch or from this link.

Music enthusiasts, this one’s for you: The annual Cairo International Jazz Festival is happening at AUC’s Tahrir campus from Thursday, 26 October to Friday, 3 November. For more information contact them on their page.

The Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-Caf) has kicked off and will continue until Sunday, 5 November. The festival is taking place in several places and art centers in the downtown area. You can check the events and buy the tickets through D-CAF’s website.

HAPPENING NEXT WEEKEND-

We’ve got you covered this Halloween:Cairo Jazz Club is hosting a Haunted Mansion night of eeriness and hit tunes on Friday, 27 October. Costumes are mandatory and you can reserve your spot on their Facebook page.

Get your spook on at KMT House’s Creepy Carnival on Saturday, 28 October from 10 am-10pm. Get your tickets from Ticketsmall.

NOT HAPPENING NEXT WEEK-

The 6th Edition of the El Gouna Film Festival has been postponed until the conditions in Palestine settle, according to a statement shared on the festival’s Instagram page.

Tickle your artistic bone with our guide on the DCAF festival that promises to take over wust el balad

Flex your culture bone this month as the Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) returns with a packed schedule of international acts. Expect three weeks of workshops, music, dance, performances, panel discussions, and installations that will be coloring downtown Cairo in a festival that any resident should not miss.

WHAT IS D-CAF- Born from The Arab Arts Focus (AAF) with the belief that “arts and culture act as a vehicle for positive social impact” this annual event has been going on since 2012, and is the largest international arts festival in the country.

IT AIN’T CANNES- The festival aims to challenge traditional audience-performer relationships, break disciplinary boundaries, and offer new perspectives on the world. By consistently producing and programming the festival, D-CAF aims to create exchanges between local audiences, artists, and international professionals, and contribute to the local arts and culture scene.

IT’S ALL ABOUT WUST EL BALAD- The festival takes place in various unconventional spaces, including historic buildings in downtown Cairo, to highlight the area’s cultural significance. D-CAF also focuses on promoting accessibility to the arts, reaching diverse audiences, and providing opportunities for Egyptian artists to collaborate with international counterparts.

PRO TIPS-

#1-DON’T DRIVE… orat least carpool to avoid any hassle in your journey. We strongly suggest that you Uber, or use the metro.

#2- POST-EVENT RECOMMENDS- You will likely get peckish, so we recommend some downtown favorites. For quick grub go to the historic Café Riche ; for one of the best pizza’s in the city visit CaiRoma. Fancy a more sit-down situation, go for Eish + Malh. Le Grillon is another legacy restaurant, and if you expect to pack a crowd, visit the Greek Club or Carol.

DISCLAIMER- The festival is packed with performances to choose from, below is just a list of our recommendations. To get the full program, visit this link to see their full guide.

DATES- Everyday until Monday, 6 November with Weekdays from 5-10pm and Weekends from 12-1am.

FEES- Most events have no charge but some events require registration prior to attending.

EVENTS:

PERFORMING ARTS-

Theater + Dance:

#1-The Discreet Charm of the Pillars of Society: Director Ahmed El Attar explores the concept of family in his trilogy of plays. In this play he focuses on two wealthy and powerful families, one from Syria and the other from Sweden. These families initially disapprove of their children’s marriage, but they find common ground when a business opportunity arises. El Attar uses witty and intense dialogue in Arabic, Swedish, and English to raise the question of what price people are willing to pay for success in a chaotic world.

WHEN- Thursday, 2 November till Saturday, 4 November.

TIME- Thursday at 8:30pm, Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 8pm.

WHERE-Falaki Theatre.

PRICE TAG- EGP 300.

Blink and You’ll Miss Us fuses poetry and film together. This mixed film installation Is a series of short films made by filmmakers from Afghanistan and Canada. The films feature poems by Aria Aber and were shot in Kabul and Toronto in October 2020. Each filmmaker was given one stanza of the poem at a time, and they had only 18 hours to create their film in response. This project is an international conversation and a collaboration between different artists.

WHEN- Everyday from Tuesday, 17 October till Tuesday, 23 October.

TIME- Weekdays 5-10pm and Weekends 2-10pm.

WHERE-Kodak Passageway.

PRICE TAG-No charge.

Bird: Sofiane Ouissi, a Tunisian dancer and choreographer, forms a special bond with pigeons. He doesn’t try to control or tame them, but lets the encounter happen naturally. In BIRD, a performance he created with Selma Ouissi, they invite the audience to think about existence, creation, and connection. They explore how we can simply be present together in a shared space. They want to understand what this coexistence will lead to and how it will affect our bodies and states of being. They also want to discover how they can create a dance that incorporates this unique connection with the birds.

WHEN- Saturday, 4 November and Sunday, 5 November.

TIME- Saturday at 3pm and Sunday at 5pm.

WHERE-The Factory.

PRICE TAG-EGP 100.

The Waterproofed Artist is a dance with a story in Venice.Representing Morocco Younes Atbane will perform an interactive dance that explores the power dynamics in the global art scene. It takes place in 2048, during the 72nd edition of the famous Venice Biennale, where countries compete for cultural dominance. However, the city of Venice starts sinking, and the artists and their artworks are forced to float on the water. This event leads to a critical examination of the art world. The performance will debut at D-CAF.

WHEN- Thursday, 2 November and Friday, 3 November.

TIME- Thursday at 7pm and Friday at 9pm.

WHERE-Rawabet Art Space.

PRICE TAG-EGP 100.

The Woman Who Dwelt in the House Before Me: Recounts the story of a woman’s life in an apartment in the city: Where loneliness, alcoholism roam rampant and throw in the struggles with menopause into the mix. However, another woman, who used to live in the same apartment, watches and judges the narrator with sarcasm and a strong sense of morality. Their strange interactions create a deeply emotional performance. Directed by Henri Jules Julien the story is based on a collection of poems by Syrian poet Rasha Omran. Three female voices bring the poems to life: Omran performs in Arabic, actress Nanda Mohammad performs in French, and improviser Isabelle Duthoit sings in a unique “wordless language”.

WHEN-Thursday, 19 October.

TIME- 8pm.

WHERE-Rawabet Art Space.

PRICE TAG-EGP 150.

MUSIC-

Music night is an international fusion of voices. A diverse set filled with soul-stirring melodies as four remarkable artists from the Czech Republic, Sudan, Syria and Egypt fuse their diverse musical talents. Ridina Ahmedová (Czech Republic), Hayaa Almweil (Syria) and El Kontessa (Egypt) will showcase their exceptional synergy, co-curated by the visionary minds of Simsara and Donia Wael.

WHEN- Friday, 3 November.

TIME- 10pm-1am.

WHERE-The Warehouse.

PRICE TAG- EGP 300.

The Infinite Hip-Hop Song Live bring back original hip-hop. This performance has been captivating audiences worldwide since its premiere a year ago at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Musician Hassan Khan draws upon a colossal reservoir of distinctive beats, melodies, bass lines, and vocal units to culminate into ten distinctively composed songs, each harmoniously enhanced with the enchanting verses of eleven diverse rappers. After successful shows at VEGA in Copenhagen, Hamburger Bahnhof in Berlin, and the Sonic Shaman Festival in Taipei, this groundbreaking performance is now set to make its Egyptian stage debut at D-CAF. This show will also mark Khan’s first performance in the country since 2018, making it a highly anticipated event for hip-hop fans in Egypt.

WHEN- Saturday, 21 October.

TIME- 8pm.

WHERE-Rawabet Art Space.

PRICE TAG- EGP 200.

NEW MEDIA & VISUAL ARTS-

Baalbekis an interactive art installation based on a painting. Andrea Sztovánovits and Gergely Álmos have created an interactive art installation based on the pioneering Hungarian artist Csontváry painting “Baalbek” that represents the transition between heaven, earth, and humanity. The painting is divided into three parts: One showing a busy city, another is a temple connecting earth and sky, and the last shows the sky representing the divine world. People can control the projected image of Csontváry’s painting by changing the perspective, colors, and light effects. The immersive experience is accompanied by sounds like a sandstorm, a muezzin’s voice, city noises, and bells. Each sound represents one of the three parts of the painting.

WHEN- Everyday from Tuesday, 17 October till Tuesday, 23 October.

TIME- Weekdays 5-10pm and Weekends 2-10pm.

WHERE- Kodak Passageway .

PRICE TAG- No charge.

How Am I Here?: Many Syrians who have left their home country still have conflicting feelings about returning, unsure if it is something they truly desire or just another terrifying experience. In this performance piece Mey Seifan explores these emotions using virtual reality, AI, and carefully planned enactments of dreams. The performance delves into her dreams that inspired the piece, including written accounts and recollections. It also includes additional content such as comments from individuals, tutorials on lucid dreaming, and using art to express trauma. The performance concludes with a musical journey through a dream, performed by singer Shadi Ali.

WHEN-Everyday from Friday, 3 November till Sunday, 5 November.

TIME-2-10pm

WHERE-The Factory.

PRICE TAG- No charge.

SPECIAL EVENTS-

Drink Your Milk is a collection of animated poems about our bodies and voices. This performance is the fruit of six artists’ collaboration which discusses autonomy and will have its first showing in the Arab world at D-CAF. The project was created by Golden Hour Productions, a group that aims to create meaningful events through collaboration.

WHEN- Everyday from Tuesday, 17 October till Tuesday, 23 October.

TIME- Weekdays 5-10pm and on weekends 2-10pm.

WHERE-Kodak passageway.

PRICE TAG- No charge.

Interactive Audiovisual Installation Workshop: This workshop, hosted by Andrea Sztovánovits representing Hungary, teaches participants how to navigate technological progress and use them to share their story on a global scale. The workshop is open to adults interested in audiovisual art and covers topics like sound, visuals, technology, and the artistic process.

WHEN- Friday, 20 October and Saturday, 21 October.

TIME- 12-4pm.

WHERE-Studio Emad Eddin.

PRICE TAG-Needs registration.

Killers of the Flower Moon is worth the hype + Diala is bringing our city even more of the Lebanese flavors we ♥️

? AT THE MOVIES-

Killers of the Flower Moon (trailer: runtime 2:23) is directed by Martin Scorcese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Robert De Niro alongside some of the industry’s best talents has hit Egyptian cinemas. The fuss surrounding the film is warranted: It addresses an unusual case of native American exploitation, uses narrative elements such as voice overs, actual excerpts from the FBI investigation, and a coda that presents the events of a film as a 1950s true crime radio show with a live audience with Scorcese himself making a cameo that underscored his dedication to this cause.

Based on the book by DavidGrann, the events of the film are set in 1920 Oklahoma, and it nobly tells the true tale of the Osage murders that were uninvestigated. This Native American tribe grew wealthy as their land was oil rich and granted them headrights: Ownership of the land and the ability to use the wealth propagated from this oil. Almost in retaliation, non-natives used methods to control this wealth: The Osage cannot drive, must attend church, and cannot withdraw their own money without non-native permission. But some money-hungry non-native members of the community took it a step further: Marry their women, kill them off to inherit their wealth, and then marry more of them to get more land under their control. And repeat.

Aside from DiCaprio’s transformation into Ernest Burkhart, Mollie Burkhart (Lily Gladstone) is another one to watch. Her near stoic face, posture, transition to Osage language were captivating on the big screen. Robert De Niro’s version of William “King” Hale was as expected, he brought nothing new to the table, but it could not have been played by anyone else but him. Honorable mentions go to John Lithgow and Brenden Fraser who had minimal amount of screentime but their role as lawyers turned the film into a more stage-y performance.

PRO TIP- Arrive on time: The film is three hours and 26 minutes long, and will begin without any trailers in the cinema. Also, expect two, short, five minute intermissions as opposed to one longer ten minute intermission in the middle of the film.

WHERE TO WATCH- The film debuted in Egypt on Wednesday and is playing in VOX Cinemas, Zamalek Cinema, and Golden Stars Cinema.

Dumb Money (trailer: runtime 3:04) is not your typical poor v rich story.Based on real events and “The Antisocial Network,” a book by Ben Mezrich — the films opens with its recollection of the 2020 and January 2021 crisis, where a group of small investors, led by a nerdy YouTuber and Reddit user Keith Gill (Paulo Dano) aka Roaring Kitty, invested a large amount of money and caused a frenzy around the struggling video game store chain GameStop. His relatable tale connected with the masses and actions caused a spike in the stock value, the repercussions of which led to massive backlash for several hedge funds. The incident was read as a retaliation against the unethical practice of short-selling, where a trader bets on a business’ decline. It also symbolized the opening up of the stock market, which was previously controlled by the extremely wealthy and privileged.

The mostly young ensemble cast work together very nicely. Paul Dano as the lovable, your-next-door-neighbor-couch-potato/geek who strikes gold felt genuine and relatable. Meanwhile, his deadbeat brother Kevin (Pete Davidson), who spends most of his time ridiculing his brother’s life or delivering pizzas, added to the film’s humor. The supporting cast: Gabe Poltkin (Seth Rogan), a stressed Wall Street player, and Vled Tenev (Sebastian Stan), the treacherous CEO of Robinhood, and finally, following up from her recent blockbuster movie Barbie, is America Ferrera as a single mom — nurse Jenny, who goes along with Gill’s hunch, delivered a captivating performances that seamlessly blended emotion, talent, and depth.

Pace and complex finance jargon were the concern. Some parts of the film were too stretched and the film would have benefitted from breaking down some stock market terminology and information as many might find it difficult to understand. Nevertheless, the film immortalized the GameStop stock story and is memorable — just make sure you take a buddy who works in the finance industry along with you.

WHERE TO WATCH- The film is playing in Renaissance Cinema (Madinaty), Vox Cinema, Plaza CineComfort Cinema, Golf City Cinema and Zawya.

? FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

Islamic Cairo in Maps: Finding the Monuments. Hailed as an “exceptionally ‘user friendly’ ” guidebook by the Midwest Book Review, this new volume by Yasser M. Ayad was recently published by the AUC Press. Within its 100 pages or so, you will find 77 maps and 22 photos depicting some of Cairo’s most iconic sites from Islamic Cairo. While an exhaustive volume is a gargantuan task, the author has nonetheless completed a heroic feat by providing us with information about a selection of over 700 historic monuments that were erected over the years. In addition to the beautiful imagery, you will also find background information including dates, locations, and historical contexts to fully grasp the beauty of one aspect of Egypt’s heritage.

Stepping away from the pharaohs: While countless tourists mainly gravitate towards Egypt because of its ancient civilization every year, this guidebook serves as a reminder that there’s more to see in this city in more recent centuries. While the illustrious pharaohs’ legacy will forever remain an undeniable source of pride, it is worthwhile to also be acquainted with other displays and embodiments of culture, art, and faith all in one. This volume does a fantastic job introducing this aspect of our history to the world.

WHERE TO FIND IT- AUC bookstores, Diwan bookstores or online.

? HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

Diala, located in New Cairo’s Nox Mall, offers all-day dining based on your preference. Whether you’re a breakfast person or prefer to indulge your taste buds later in the day, Diala is there to cater to you. The menu features all of our all-time favorites ranging from tabbouleh and fattoush which were fresh and tangy, to a wide range of manaeesh — kofta, lahm b ajeen, chicken, cheese — among others. As meat lovers, we liked the Mwardet soujok which is a new addition to the menu and Sfiha baalbakeya. If you feel like playing it safe or want something on the lighter side, the grills are always a good idea.The half boneless chicken was a tender and a satisfying choice without having to venture too far out into other menu items.

Indulging our sweet tooth: If calories are none of your concern, then perhaps opt for one of Diala’s special desserts. The winning one for us was the Diala knafeh, made with the chef’s homemade cream stuffed in knafeh rolls dipped in pistachio. Need we say more?

? Per person: EGP 600-800

? Outdoor seating: Yes

? Alcohol: No

? Accessibility friendly: Yes

Theories are still coming out in this docuseries over how the MH370 disappeared

MH370: The Lost Flight, isone of the greatest aviation mysteries of all time. A three-part investigative docu-series produced by Vice Studios the narrative delves into the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. It tackles the daunting challenge of exploring this tragic event while attempting to unravel the enigma behind the vanishing of a passenger jet carrying 239 people. On March 8, 2014, MH370 vanished in less than an hour after departing from Kuala Lumpur International Airport on its way to Beijing Capital International Airport. The incident left behind no tangible clues or evidence, leaving the world perplexed as to what transpired during this routine flight. The series included expert analysis, reconstructed scenes to present a clear narrative, and a mix of interviews with the victims’ surviving family members, journalists, and civilians.

Theories explaining the reasons behind the incident. The first episode of the series titled “The Pilot” presents the widely accepted narrative that the plane, piloted by Zaharie Ahmad Shah, made a deliberate turn and flew for several hours before ultimately crashing into the southern Indian Ocean. This theory suggests that Zaharie depressurized the cabin, resulting in the death of everyone on board. On the other hand, subsequent episodes of the series explore alternative theories proposed by different individuals, including the possibility of a hijacking or the plane being shot down by the US military.

WHERE TO WATCH- You will find the docu-series on Netflix.

Debunk the myths associated with aging

Chasing Life takes on one of humanity’s most unnerving topics: Aging. While our mortality is an immutable fact of life, it remains that most of us are scared — or at least uncomfortable — when broaching the topic. Chasing Life’s host, CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, approaches these issues with wisdom and maturity and helps us accept our universal fate. Because the truth is, we are getting old. But that doesn’t need to be a terrifying process of decay. Instead, we can find ways to improve our wellbeing, feel good from the inside out, and enjoy a decent quality of life. By inviting friends, family, and medical experts along to discuss how we grow old, Dr. Sanjay Gupta offers us food for thought to approach our minds and bodies in different, healthier ways.

Is Age Really Just a Number?In this episode published last June, Dr. Sanjay makes things personal by hosting his parents to discuss their views on aging as they enjoy their 70s. Not only do they debunk myths about aging by discussing their new hobbies — like playing bridge, singing karaoke, traveling and making new friends — they also discuss how old age is not synonymous with crankiness, constant aches and pains, or low quality sleep. In another segment of the episode, Dr. Gupta explains the science behind this along with Yale Professor Becca Levy who details how the very way we approach and approach our age can have physical ramifications on our physical health.

WHERE TO LISTEN- You can tune into Dr. Gupta’s show on any of the following platforms: CNN audio, Apple podcasts, Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify and more.

THE ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

7-21 October (Saturday-Tuesday): Illustration workshop with Keem The Kid at Cocoon Cultural Center.

12 October-5 November: D-CAF (Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival), Downtown, Cairo.

20 October (Friday): Back to the nineties at Room Art Space in Garden City.

26 October (Thursday): “Lab or Horrors” Adult night at Kidzania.

27 October (Friday): Haunted Mansion night at Cairo Jazz Club.

28 October (Saturday): Creepy Carnival at KMT House.

26 October - 3 November (Thursday-Friday): The 15th Annual Cairo International Jazz Festival at AUC’s Tahrir campus.

28 October (Saturday): DJs Kygo, Tiësto, Kung and Frank Walker concert, Giza Pyramids.

NOVEMBER

5-6 November (Sunday-Monday): The Russian Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra concerts, Cairo Opera House, Zamalek.

7 November (Tuesday): The Russian Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra concert, Sayed Darwish Theatre.

10 November (Friday): Tamer Ashour’s concert, Zed Park Sheikh Zayed.

11 November (Saturday): El Gouna Half Marathon 2023, El Gouna.

11 November (Saturday): Russell Peters stand-up comedy show, The Marquee Theatre, Cairo Festival City Mall.

15-24 November (Wednesday-Friday): Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF).

25 November (Saturday): Masr El Gedida Carnival at Maryland.

EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE

2023: The inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum.

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

2024

JANUARY

7 January (Sunday): Coptic Christmas.

25 January (Thursday): Revolution Day.

APRIL

6 April (Saturday): Coptic Easter.

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

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

MAY

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

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.

Sections

About

Privacy & Support

Get EnterpriseAM daily