The final sprint, pt. 3

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THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Egypt’s GDP grows 5.3% in 1Q FY 2025-2026

Good morning, friends, and a very happy Friday to you all. After the busier-than-usual week, we’re happy to wind down and enjoy the mild weather. But resting doesn’t mean lack of progress…

Most people wait until New Year’s to commit to improving their lives. But those with entrepreneurial mindsets know that 4Q offers the chance to charge into the new year. This week’s guide is the final of a series that will serve as your roadmap to the new year. Instead of just surviving the last month of the year, why not transform your life?

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-

The economy grew 5.3% in the first quarter of FY 2025-2026, up from 3.5% in the same period of the previous fiscal year, The Planning Ministry said in a statement. Real GDP reached EGP 2.34 tn, rising 4.9% y-o-y. The economic expansion was led by non-oil manufacturing and ICT, both of which grew 14.5%. Tourism rose 13.8%, while financial intermediation increased 10.2%. The Suez Canal also recovered, growing 8.6% — its first positive reading since the second quarter of FY 2023-2024, after a year and a half of geopolitical tensions.

DEBT WATCH-

IMF visit scheduled for 1-12 December: The IMF mission that will carry out the combined fifth and sixth reviews of of the country’s USD 8 bn extended fund facility program and the first review of the resilience and sustainability facility will be in town between 1-12 December, Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly announced.

MANUFACTURING-

Elsewedy and China’s CJN to establish a USD 1 bn phosphate chemicals complex: China’s phosphate chemicals firm Kunming Chuan Jin Nuo Chemical Co. (CJN) and Elsewedy Industrial Development will develop a USD 1 bn phosphate-based chemical industrial complex in the Sokhna Industrial Zone’s Sokhna 360 industrial city, according to a cabinet statement. The complex is expected to be one of the largest of its kind in the Middle East.

PRIVATIZATION WATCH-

The government is set to offer five to seven new potential investments in the capital’s historic core to the private sector next year, a senior government official told EnterpriseAM. The move comes as part of the government’s efforts to revive the heart of Cairo and transform it into a commercial and tourist hub.

ENERGY-

#1- Another big-ticket wind project is in the works, with Alcazar Energy Partners having inked a share sale and purchase agreement with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy to jointly develop, construct, and operate the 500 MW NIAT wind project in Egypt, Alcazar said in a statement.

#2- The Oil Ministry and the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) signed an MoU to develop a liquefied natural gas (LNG) station in Port Said, according to a statement. The station will liquefy, store, and supply LNG to canal tugboats and ferries, replacing conventional fuels.

M&A WATCH-

AD Ports Group acquired PIF-owned Saudi Egyptian Investment Company’s entire 19.3% stake in Alexandria Container and Cargo Handling Company in a transaction valued at EGP 13.24 bn, the Abu Dhabi wealth fund ADQ-owned ports operator said.

TAX-

The Finance Ministry is mulling amendments to the application mechanism of the property transfer tax, with the aim of easing the tax burden on individuals who frequently sell properties, by introducing a flat 2.5% tax rate and applying it only to the first three or four property transactions, a senior government official told EnterpriseAM.

AND- The Finance Ministry will soon begin to take inventory of real estate assets as part of the government’s proposed amendments to the Property Tax Law

HOSPITALITY-

#1- El Gouna announced the pre-launch of La Maison Bleue Residences, a set of serviced boutique residences that will be built next to the existing La Maison Bleue boutique hotel that has recently been awarded a Michelin Key. The project is expected to open its doors within two years.

LOGISTICS-

Egypt is gearing up for the return of ships to the Suez Canal with a USD 1 bn plan to build bunkering stations, two government sources told EnterpriseAM. The plan includes fixed stations along the canal, in addition to floating bunkering barges capable of refueling Suezmax vessels — the largest of vessels that can still make the transit — each of which will be developed in partnership with the private sector, we were told.

🌍 AROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS-

US President Donald Trump labeled several Muslim Brotherhood branches — including those in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan — as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists, according to a White House executive order issued Monday. The order says it “sets in motion a process by which certain chapters … shall be considered for designation” under US counterterrorism laws, citing what it describes as a “transnational network” whose activities “threaten the security of American civilians.” (Reuters | Bloomberg | France 24)

ALSO IN DC- A gunman shot and critically wounded two National Guard members, a few blocks from the White House. Following the incident, the US halted the processing of all immigration requests from Afghanistan. “We must now re-examine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan […] and we must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here,” Trump said. (Axios | BBC | CNN | New York Times)

IN DIPLOMACY NEWS- A-US backed peace framework won Ukraine’s backing after a few days of intense negotiations, with “only a few remaining points of disagreement,” according to US President Trump. The amended proposal is unlikely to appeal to Moscow, which seems uncompromising on its goals to solidify territorial gains and slash Ukraine’s military within an inch of its life. (CNN | Reuters | CNBC)

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD- Hong Kong’s worst residential fire in decades killed over 55 and left hundreds more missing. The police arrested three people from a construction company that was carrying out maintenance work on the building. (Reuters | CNN | Financial Times)

AND- A group of military officers announced a coup in Guinea-Bissau. The military coup came just one day before the results of the country’s presidential elections were to be announced. (BBC | Bloomberg | Reuters)

CLOSER TO HOME- A high-profile strike by Israel on Beirut — the first in months — killed militant group Hezbollah’s acting military chief of staff Haytham Ali Tabatabai. Five civilians were killed and 28 others were injured. (Washington Post | Reuters)

MEANWHILE- Pope Leo XIV heads to Lebanon and Turkey. The pope’s six-day Middle East tour, now underway, marks his first foreign trip since his election in May. The American pope is set to meet with religious leaders in both countries, as well as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. (Associated Press | CNN | New York Times | Washington Post)

OVER IN THE BUSINESS PRESS- Warner Bros received bids from Netflix, Paramount Skydance, and Comcast as the company mulls a sale of its business after rejecting a nearly USD 60 bn bid from Paramount Skydance earlier. Netflix and Comcast are eyeing its film and TV library, while Paramount Skydance is looking to take over the entire business. (Reuters | Bloomberg | New York Times)

☀️ THE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND-

We’re in for a sunny weekend, with temperatures reaching a high of 26°C today before cooling down to 17°C. On Saturday, we’ll be in for a cool night, with temperatures dropping to 13°C after peaking at 26°C, according to our favorite weather app.

🎤 HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-

What’s buzzing over at Al Horreya Garden? Egypt’s Honey Festival runs from Thursday, 27 November to Sunday, 30 November. The event promises top-quality pure honey, bringing together honey producers, sellers, and buyers. You can register through the form in their Instagram bio.

Theatro Arkan is setting us up for a laughing fit this month with its new Comedy Gang Festival at The Golden Theatre. Running two nights a week and closing off tomorrow and on Saturday, 29 November, the festival brings together 56 of our favorite standup comedians with plenty of surprises and special guests in store. You can grab your tickets on Ticketsmarché.

Up for a quick adventure to Ain El Sokhna? Brought to you by TriFactory, the first ever IL Monte Galala Adventure Festival is taking place on Friday, 28 November at Ain El Sokhna’s IL Monte Galala. The festival features Ascent’s annual regional bouldering competition, fun workshops, and great food courtesy of the Grill Setup. Registration is open now and closes on Sunday, 23 November — you can secure your spot on TriFactory’s website.

The Pyramids Echo Festival is hosting a ‘Gala for Egyptian Stars under the Pyramids’ on Friday, 28 November at the Pyramids Panorama Theater. The special night features some of Egypt’s best performers including Amira and Mariam Abouzahra, Ashraf Seweilam, Gala El Hadidi, Sindy Mohamed, and Ragaa Eldin. You can get your tickets on Tazkarti.

The Winter Music Festival is back for another night at Madinaty’s Open Air Mall on Friday, 28 November. The lineup this time around is full of energy, featuring hip hop talents Mond, Shehab, and Tommyy. You can find tickets on Ticketsmarché.

Comedian Omar El Gamal is back for more with his special show Ain Gamal Vol.53 at Theatro Arkan on Friday, 28 November. The night promises laughter and a special reveal for the next chapter of the series. You can get your tickets on Ticketsmarché.

Egypt Fashion Week returns to Coterie building and Consoleya from Friday, 28 November to Sunday, 30 November. Join the front-row seat and watch runway looks designed by eight academic partners including faculty and their students. Expect a lineup of talks and panel discussions on craftsmanship, design education, finance, and sustainability. You can get your tickets on Ticketsmarché.

The Regional Sustainable Development Forum returns from Saturday, 29 November to Sunday, 30 November at Heliopolis University For Sustainable Development. Bringing together experts, government entities, private sector cooperations, social leaders, academic institutions, and NGOs, the event aims to pave the way for sustainable development in the region through collaborative work and sharing insights. Be part of the movement and join in for informative talks, panels, and workshops — tickets are available on Ticketsmarché.

Using 4Q for personal growth: Part 3

🏅 While most people wind down and wait for January to make changes, savvy business-minded people know that 4Q is a chance to finish strong and create momentum that carries into the new year. Instead of just surviving through the holidays, you have the option to thrive through the intentional transformation of your personal life.

WHY THE FINAL QUARTER WORKS-

Why not wait until January? There’s something powerful about aligning our goals with nature’s rhythms. Just as trees prepare for winter by sending energy to their roots, 4Q is perfect for deepening our foundation and preparing for growth. Research shows that 90 days is the optimal timeframe for creating lasting change. It’s long enough to build real habits, but short enough to maintain focus and motivation. Unlike annual resolutions that feel overwhelming and distant, quarterly planning feels achievable and immediate.

Your success during this time will depend on three key principles: Consistency over perfection — small daily actions that compound into major transformations; flexibility within structure — adapting the plan to your life while maintaining the core framework; and progress over perfection — celebrating small victories and learning from setbacks.

We designed this guide to be your companion for the last 90 days of 2025. Each month has had a specific theme and focus, and each week a new phase.

If you missed the first 60 days, it’s not too late to start now. Parts one and two can be found on our website.

PART 3: THE FINAL SPRINT (DAYS 61–90)-

THEME: FINISHING STRONG

December is your final sprint — the culmination of your 90-day transformation. This is when your October foundation and November momentum come together to create breakthrough results before the new year. The challenge is maintaining laser focus while navigating holiday obligations and year-end demands.

#1- WEEK 9: DECEMBER LAUNCH-

December may require more sophisticated focus and energy management as competing priorities intensify. It’s important to balance meaningful participation with protection of your goals and energy.

Priority protection involves fiercely guarding your three major goals during the holiday season — schedule non-negotiable time for progress on your most important objectives; say no to non-essential holiday celebrations that would derail your December 31st vision; use the clarity of limited time to make strategic choices about where to invest your energy.

Energy optimization becomes crucial as daylight decreases and social obligations increase. Use your peak energy hours for goal-related activities. Schedule routine tasks during natural low-energy periods. Build in recovery time between high-intensity social or work commitments.

Holiday season as skill practice provides chances to apply everything you’ve learned — use family gatherings to practice communication skills; apply stress management techniques during busy shopping or party periods; demonstrate financial discipline during the expensive holiday season.

Selective engagement means choosing holiday activities that align with your values and relationship goals while declining those that don’t serve your priorities. Quality over quantity in both gift-giving and event attendance. Focus on creating meaningful experiences rather than perfect celebrations.

Boundary maintenance requires clear communication about your availability and priorities. Prepare responses for additional commitments that might arise. Protect your daily routines and weekly planning time as non-negotiable appointments with yourself.

#2- WEEK 10: INTEGRATION AND ACCELERATION-

With 21 days remaining, it’s time to focus on cementing the changes that will continue beyond December 31st, and ensure the skills you’ve developed become permanent capabilities rather than temporary improvements.

Habit integration involves connecting new practices to existing routines so they become automatic. Create environmental supports that make good choices easier. Build flexibility into your systems so they survive schedule changes and life disruptions.

System optimization means simplifying anything that’s become too complex during your learning phase. Automate what you can to reduce daily decision fatigue. Focus on what’s working and prepare to maintain it beyond your 90-day intensive.

Daily application of your focus skill in various contexts to build confidence and automaticity. Integration with your work, relationships, and personal goals so the skill becomes part of who you are. Planning for continued development beyond December 31st.

#3- WEEK 11: PRE-HOLIDAY PUSH-

Use the week before major holidays to complete important objectives and prepare for holiday disruptions, while still using this pre-holiday time for meaningful connections.

Goal completion involves pushing hard on your three major goals while you still have focused time available. Complete projects and objectives that can be finished before holiday interruptions. Document progress and achievements for your December 31st review.

Holiday preparation includes organizing your environment for holiday success, preparing systems that will maintain your progress during family visits or travel, and setting up accountability measures that work during disrupted schedules.

Quality time with important people in your life is equally important. Focus on presence and appreciation rather than perfect gift-giving or entertainment. Express your gratitude and appreciation for the support you’ve received over your transformational period, strengthening bonds that will sustain the foundation for continued growth.

#4- WEEK 12: HOLIDAY WEEK MAINTENANCE-

The week between Christmas and New Year’s typically involves disrupted routines and family obligations. Your strategy should focus on maintenance rather than acceleration.

Care habit protection involves maintaining simplified versions of your most important daily practices. Use any quiet moments for reflection and planning rather than complete disengagement from your goals. Apply the skills you’ve developed to navigate family dynamics and holiday stress.

Strategic rest and renewal can happen during holiday downtime. Catch up on your sleep and recovery from your 90-day effort. Use that quiet time for reflection on your transformation and preliminary planning for 2026.

#5- WEEK 13: COMPLETION AND TRANSITION-

Your last few days should focus on completion, celebration, and transition planning.

Goal completion involves finishing any remaining objectives that can be completed before year-end — documenting all progress and achievements from your 90-day transformation, and celebrating specific wins and milestones reached during your intensive period

Transition preparation includes reviewing lessons learned from your 90-day experience, planning how to maintain momentum into the new year, and setting up systems and accountability for continued growth beyond your intensive period.

The Wicked sequel changed us — for good

🎥 Every day more wicked. Starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as G(a)linda, American director Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: For Good has finally hit the big screen in theatres all over Egypt and the world. The highly-anticipated sequel to the 2024 USD 759 mn blockbuster saw us running to the nearest IMAX hall clad in our finest green (or pink) garb, and two-and-a-half hours later, we were changed — who could say if for the better, but certainly for good.

We’re back in Oz, 12 turns of the tide following the events of Wicked. A year after Elphaba and Glinda belted out Defying Gravity in the skies of Emerald City, audiences watch as Oz falls into disarray; propaganda in full force, animals enslaved. The Wizard’s (Jeff Goldblum) ambitious yellow brick road project is in the works, forcibly executed by scores of Ozian animals who have now lost their ability to speak. Elphaba — now hailed the Wicked Witch of the West — swoops in to their rescue, setting the animals free and once more eluding Ozians on their witchhunt.

Others are good but she’s the good…liest? A lot can change in a year, and certainly has. Glinda has become the city’s poster child for all things good — Elphaba’s antithesis — Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) is now the captain of a special force tasked with capturing the witch, and Nessarose (Marissa Bode), Elphaba’s sister, has become the governor after her father’s death and her sister’s disappearance. Yet, not all is as it seems. Deep down, our cast of characters know the truth about what happened with the Wizard, yet everyone has a part to dutifully play. As Elphaba’s attempts to restore justice fail, she comes to the realization that indeed no good deed goes unpunished.

The film hit the ground running, having already established all backstories, plots, and characters. Elphaba is set on her mission to expose the Wizard and save Oz, faced with the lies of both the Wizard and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). The sequel shows how truth can be twisted, how an entire people could be deceived, and what it means to sit idle as injustice takes root.

Dorothy enters stage right. The second act sees the iconic Wizard of Oz protagonist finally make an appearance. The question of who was to play her — stepping in Judy Garland’s metaphorical ruby red slippers — was one on everyone’s lips. The answer left audiences speechless, but not for the reasons you’d expect.

For Good doubles down on everything that made Wicked wickedly good. The cinematography and visual effects initially retain the hallmark color palette of the first film, yet soon things takes a dark turn — both literally and figuratively. As the movie progresses, colors begin to fade, and darkness takes hold. This transition, complemented by the darkness in the second act soundtrack’s lyrics, adds depth to the sequel. Certain scenes, too, unfold in a way reminiscent of body-horror thrillers — but that’s all we’ll divulge for now.

Let’s talk music: The original Wicked soundtrack undeniably reigns supreme, yet For Good’s sonic undertakings definitely put up a fight. The second act featured all the iconic songs from the original Broadway production. Cynthia Erivo’s rendition of No Good Deed was the uncontested highlight of the musical, more so than the popular finale song, For Good, and we’d argue stands on the same pedestal as Defying Gravity.

Our only qualm with the sequel: Despite running for a little under two-and-a-half-hours, Wicked: For Good felt somewhat rushed. While we understand the creative choice to focus efforts and attention on Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship, we would have appreciated more time dedicated to the journey of the Kansas-hailing 12-year-old. This might be an unpopular opinion, but Wicked could have benefited from being a trilogy.

That said, Wicked: For Good was a wonderful success. It’s often noted that the second act of the original Broadway production doesn’t quite match the momentum of the first, but Wicked: For Good deftly navigates this challenge to deliver a finale that feels just as propulsive as its predecessor. The ending was more than satisfactory, with everyone getting just what they deserve — the good and the bad.

WHERE TO WATCH IT- You can catch Wicked: For Good at Vox Cinemas at Mall of Egypt, Alexandria, and City Center Almaza. The film is also screening at CFCM and D5’s Scene Cinemas, City Stars Cinema, P90 Cinema, and Cima Arkan. Watch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:46).

A reminder that life is a gift to be treasured

📚 No life without death. Irish novelist Maggie O’Farrell, the author of Hamnet, The Marriage Portrait, and seven other bestsellers, is one of our age’s most brilliant wordsmiths — given her range and lyrical diversity, one would imagine she had lived several lifetimes. In her 2017 memoir, I Am, I Am, I Am, that idea appears not to be too farfetched, as the author recounts 17 near-death experiences that left her born anew, one way or another.

Memoirs tend to be self-serving, but O’Farrell’s is anything but. Agonizingly honest, viscerally human, and linguistically electric, O’Farrell’s memoir dissects the idea of life — what it means to take it for granted, and what it means to see it almost taken away from you time and again. Over 300 pages and 17 chapters, told not in chronological order but rather in a way that traces O’Farrell’s physical body and the memories every tissue holds, the author presents a series of tales that feed into one’s fears — what if everything that could go wrong does? What happens after?

“Neck” reads the chapter title, a medical illustration in tow. At the age of 18, O’Farrell is walking alone when she realizes the man in her periphery doesn’t seem to be going away. Moments later, she instinctively realizes she is facing imminent danger, narrowly escaping. The chapter sees the encounter narrated in detail, extrapolating the incident to discuss police ambivalence, the constant belittling of women’s concerns, and what happens when victims are not believed. O’Farrell had escaped that night, yet that very man would come to murder a 22-year-old woman days later.

So goes the rest of the memoir — each chapter a slow and steady dissection of a singular moment in O’Farrell’s life in which death came knocking, only to walk away empty-handed. These brushes are not exclusively her own, with some attributed to her chronically-ill daughter, for whom this memoir was written. O’Farrell’s life, to the reader, at times may seem incomprehensible — how does one go through so much and still manage to walk away enlivened? How can hope remain alive in the face of death? These are questions to which the answers are inferred between the lines, traced by a woman’s — a mother’s — braving of one storm after another.

“It is the strangest sensation, not being able to move. It is not a heavy feeling, as you might imagine, but light.” I Am, I Am, I Am is one of our favorite memoirs for a variety of reasons, prime amongst them being O’Farrell’s vulnerability, her willingness to admit to her own shortcomings, and her unfiltered confessions. The memoir also goes beyond personal admittances and deftly tackles a variety of timely topics and issues in a manner only a seasoned writer like O’Farrell can accomplish.

Gripping and awe-inspiring, the memoir is one that — despite its length — will prove a quick read. The Women’s Prize for Fiction laureate proves that sometimes life can indeed sometimes be stranger than fiction, that beautiful things can exist in the crevices of those which are not, and that life is a mercurial thing, never to be taken for granted.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can find the paperback version at Diwan and Aseer El Kotob. The eBook is also available on Amazon.

We got a taste of El Gouna — and we can’t wait to go back for seconds

🍛 Over the years, El Gouna Red Sea has become a year-round destination synonymous with culinary finesse, fusion cuisine, and seaside fine dining. It was only natural that the town would celebrate its 35th anniversary with a one-of-a-kind gastronomic festival that spotlights its ethos — ethical, local, and sustainable.

Lucky number 35: Marking the launch of Taste El Gouna — the town’s newly-minted gastronomy platform brought to life in partnership with Flavor Republic — El Gouna celebrated 35 years with 35 Flavors of El Gouna: a weekend spotlighting the intersection between storytelling, sustainability, and the culinary arts in partnership between El Gouna Red Sea and Atelier Norbert Niederkofler Temporary.

Featuring a roster of Michelin-starred chefs, spearheaded by Chef Norbert Niederkofler of 3-Michelin-starred and Green-starred Atelier Moessmer, the weekend unfolded across the town’s marinas, restaurants, and shores through a variety of dinners, brunches, and masterclasses that showcased locally sourced ingredients from El Gouna, the Red Sea, and Egypt as a whole — proving that being truly sustainable isn’t as hard as one might be inclined to believe.

The chefs: Joining Chef Niederkofler were Michellen-starred chefs Himanshu Saini from Dubai’s Tresind Studio, Daniel Hadida and Eric Robertson from Canada’s Pearl Morissette, and Fabrizio Mellino from Italy’s Quattro Passi. Joining the Michelin-starred culinary artists were rising stars Ariel Hagen from Tuscany’s Saporium, Atelier Moessmer’s Tamara Rigo, Sara Aqel from Jordan’s Dara Dining, and Turki Bin Hallabi from across the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia. Not to forget the beverage alchemists — the weekend’s celebrations could not have been complete without Copenhagen’s Mattia Spedicato and Italy’s Federico Balzarin.

“The idea behind Cook the Mountain is essentially being very respectful to nature and the environment, and thinking for the future,” Chef Niederkofler told EnterpriseAM. While guests were in for a treat, the chefs were in for a challenge. The four-day showcase gave the culinary artists a blank canvas… with a caveat: all ingredients had to be locally sourced, seasonal, and ensure zero waste — an approach that followed in the footsteps of The Ethical Chef, Niederkofler’s, Cook the Mountain philosophy, adapted to the Red Sea. The result? Utterly fascinating.

It all started with a special dinner at the Abu Tig Marina, where an island rose to welcome scores of guests and chefs. The chefs were paired, each duo — and one trio — occupying one of the culinary stations dotted throughout the marina island. The seating arrangement saw high tables spread throughout, seemingly sending one message: move around, talk, and watch magic happen. The stations allowed guests to witness the chefs in action, from preparation to garnishing, all whilst conversation flowed. This would come to set the tone for what the rest of the weekend was all about — community, conversation, and storytelling through the culinary arts.

Conversations there were, seeing as we could not stop raving about the dishes. The dinner at Abu Tig saw a smorgasbord of innovative bites that hit all the marks and then some. Chefs Fabrizio Mellino and Sara Aqel presented a hummus and sujuk tart — a savory appetizer disguised in the form of dessert — Chefs Himanshu Saini and Ariel Hagan wowed the crowd with a ‘aish baladi and trout batarekh ceviche — an almost-alchemical combination one would hitherto never dare to dream of.

Chefs Niederkoflet and Turki Bin Hallabi presented some interesting protein choices in the form of camel shawarma and quail with dukkah, with the former — in our humble opinion — being the star of the evening. Chefs Robertson, Hadida, and Rigo sought inspiration from the seas, presenting a sea bass with dried pears, and a king mackerel with sour cream, prickly ash, and rhubarb.

Incredible as all the dishes were, it soon became clear that this was no ordinary dinner — it was a chance to share one’s love of food with other discerning gourmands. Guests lingered by the stations, sharing stories with chefs and one another, in a rare showcase of community that often goes unencountered in typical fine dining settings. The band played and guests swayed, and the night soon ended, leaving us to rest before our next excursion: Brunch at The Smokery Beach, where some of our favorite dishes of the weekend were served.

When one thinks of okra and cauliflower in Egypt, one might imagine tomato-sauce-laden stews — Chef Bin Hallabi, however, broke from the mold. The Saudi chef presented a palate-envigorating dish of grilled okra and cauliflower, diced atop a bed of tahini. Refreshingly fresh with an interesting crisp texture, the dish was one we didn’t just go back for seconds for, but for thirds.

As we moved along the stations lined across the shore, we tried Chef Hagen’s ‘areesh cheese pasta, aqel’s grilled prawns with Egyptian spices and lemon sauce, and ended our culinary excursion with Chef Rigo’s signature sweet treat: a burnt lemon meringue, served inside a half lemon laid atop a bed of Himalayan salt. Accompanying the dessert was a fresh waffle biscuit, which offset the acidity of the lemon.

Rigo’s dessert best encapsulated the theme of 35 Flavors of El Gouna, particularly when it came to zero waste cooking. The Italian chef utilized every aspect of the lemon; from its shell to its juice. The self-proclaimed Daughter of the Dolomites made her love for nature clear with her dessert: “Growing up surrounded by mountains and untouched nature impacted me profoundly, particularly in regards to how I feel about produce,” Rigo told us. “If you have a piece of fruit, there’s not much more you can add to it, it’s just naturally beautiful,” she added.

The brunch, we would argue, was perhaps one of the more prominent highlights of the weekend. In broad daylight, by the beach, 35 Flavors of El Gouna demonstrated Taste El Gouna’s great potential, and what we hope to see more of in the coming editions set to take place in the seaside town annually. Once more, it was a community-centric affair, with culinary excellence at both the forefront and the background. As the sun began to set, the night paved the way for the Flagship Dinner at Botanica, a newly-minted pioneering hydroponic restaurant where sustainability is core. There, the upcoming La Maison Bleue Residences (LMBR) were announced. The seated dinner saw the Michelin-starred chefs and the rising stars cater to every craving, doubling down on everything they had thus far presented.

A fitting finale: The final dinner of 35 Flavors of El Gouna took us all the way back to Abu Tig, where Villa Coconut opened its doors to a special showcase by the rising stars. Seafood was a prominent theme, interpreted differently by each of the chefs. Bin Hallabi’s catch of the day was enthroned in a shrine of tamarind and dukkah, Aqel’s fillet was shrouded in vine leaves — offering a taste at once familiar and foreign to Egyptian palates — and Hagen’s salad, filled with chickpeas, black eyed peas, prawn, and Egyptian curry, had guests standing in lines for second and third helpings. Rigo, once more, ended the evening with a sweet symphony in the form of a fresh date tart with spiced anise toffee and homegrown citrus jam.

Were we to review every dish, we would be here for hours, so we’ll just say this — and risk hyperbole: every single offering throughout the length of the weekend was culinary perfection actualized. 35 Flavors of El Gouna — the inaugural edition of Taste El Gouna — was a success, to say the least, having us (and most guests, we’re sure) counting down the minutes to the next edition.

Further supplementing the coastal town’s culinary scene, the platform, we believe, is set to transform the Red Sea destination into a globally-renowned culinary terminus, much like how El Gouna International Film Festival gently placed the town on the global cultural map. As Chef Rigo told us: “There’s so much more potential [in Egypt], because there’s so much to be done.”

While 35 Flavors of El Gouna has now concluded, we would urge you not to miss the second iteration of Taste El Gouna next year… and it’s never too early to start cleansing your palate.

THE ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

🗓️ NOVEMBER

6-29 November (Thursday-Saturday): Comedy Gang Festival at Theatro Gallery.

11 November – 6 December (Tuesday-Saturday): Forever is Now at the Great Pyramids of Giza.

21-29 November (Friday-Saturday): Cairo Design Week.

24-30 November (Monday-Sunday): Pyramids Echo Festival at the Pyramids Panorama Theater.

27-30 November (Thursday-Sunday): Egypt’s Honey Festival at Al Horreya Garden.

28 November (Friday): Winter Music Festival at Madinaty’s Open Air Mall.

28 November (Friday): Gala for Egyptian Stars at the Pyramids Panorama Theater.

28 November (Friday): IL Monte Galala Adventure Festival by the TriFactory.

28-30 (Friday-Sunday): Egypt Fashion Week at Coterie building and Consoleya.

29-30 November (Saturday-Sunday): The Regional Sustainable Development Forum at Heliopolis University For Sustainable Development.

30 November (Sunday): Alaa El Sheikh at Boom Room.

DECEMBER

1 December (Monday): Angham at the Pyramids.

4 December (Thursday): Hauser at The Grand Egyptian Museum.

5 December (Friday): Between the Strange and the Prevailing by Dr. Khaled Ghattass at Theatro Arkan.

5 December (Friday): Tul8te at El Malahy Arena.

7-15 December (Sunday-Monday): El Moristan at AUC Falaki Mainstage Theater.

12 December (Friday): Brian McKnight at The Grand Egyptian Museum.

12-13 December (Friday-Saturday): Pyramids Echo Festival encore at New Opera House.

13 December (Saturday): Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon by The TriFactory.

19 December (Friday): DJ Tiësto at the Giza Plateau.

20 December (Saturday): Ibrahim Maalouf at Concert Hall, New Capital.

December: Al Rawi Awards submissions open.

2026

JANUARY

7 January (Wednesday): Coptic Christmas Day.

25 January (Sunday): January 25th Revolution / National Police Day.

30 January (Friday): Cairo Marathon normal registration ends.

FEBRUARY

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

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

MARCH

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

APRIL

13 April (Monday): Sham El Nessim.

25 April (Saturday): Sinai Liberation Day.

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