The history of Moulid celebrations

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THE WEEK IN REVIEW

S&P holds Egypt’s Emerging Markets ranking + banks can now verify you without a branch visit

☀️ Good morning, friends, and happy long weekend. We’re feeling a little nostalgic today, so we’re taking you along on a trip down memory lane. We’re tracing a thousand years of El Moulid El Nabawy sweets and the economy behind them. We also revisited Spectra, Cairo’s beloved early 2000s family dining hotspot, to see how it holds up in 2026. And for anyone counting down to GTA VI, we went back to Vice City to see how the original still fares.

Elsewhere in today’s issue: a new Insidious film if you’re in the mood to be scared, and a tribute to the late, great Dolly Parton.

But first, your weekly recap…

🗞️ LAST WEEK IN 3 MINS-

ECONOMY-

S&P Dow Jones Indices has decided not to downgrade Egypt, confirming the country will keep its Emerging Markets status. The announcement, dated 20 August, closed out a review that started in June, when S&P proposed downgrading Egypt to Frontier Market status, a lower tier with less global investment money tracking it.

BANKING-

The Central Bank of Egypt’s board has approved rules governing the eKYC identity system, which electronically identifies and verifies bank customers, letting banks verify customer identities digitally rather than in person. Governor Hassan Abdalla said the system lets customers open accounts and access banking products entirely through digital channels — no branch visit required.

CAPITAL MARKETS-

The EGX’s listing committee fined roughly 50 companies a combined EGP 1.04 mn last week for missing financial statement deadlines. This marks the latest in a run of decisions this summer that have penalized the same names, session after session, without any of them producing their numbers.

INDUSTRY-

The government has broken ground on the USD 658 mn Abu Tartour phosphoric acid complex in New Valley governorate, moving the long-delayed project from contractor selection to construction. The ministry describes the project as the country’s first industrial complex to produce phosphoric acid from local phosphate ore.

INVESTMENT-

In a bid on a government tender, tech giant Huawei is offering to export roughly 1.4k of its newest Ascend 950-series chips for an AI training cloud in Egypt, plus 600 more (either 950s or the earlier 910B) to run two inference clusters. The end users are government, spanning military, security, and surveillance functions — the documents lay out a 12-month build. US government officials called Silicon Valley to mount a rival bid. The State Department is said to have approached Nvidia, AMD, and Microsoft about putting together an American consortium to bid against Huawei after officials saw the Chinese offer.

This comes as the Communications Ministry targets EGP 115.4 bn in private and foreign investment in the ICT sector in FY 2026/27, accounting for 83.1% of the EGP 138.9 bn in total investment targeted for the sector. The focus on private capital follows a sharp cut in public ICT investment, which fell to EGP 13 bn in FY 2025/26 from EGP 85 bn a year earlier.

AND- Nasdaq-listed, Dubai-based mobility startup Swvl Holdings has entered into a definitive agreement for a USD 13 mn private placement priced at the market under Nasdaq rules. The round is led by Coefficient LP, a Houston-based investment firm backed by the Sawiris family, which is putting in USD 10 mn and will become Swvl's largest institutional shareholder upon closing. An existing shareholder is contributing the remaining USD 3 mn.

ALSO- Saudi Gold Refinery has applied directly under its own name for exploration licenses in the 260 blocks the Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ministry opened for bidding in the Eastern Desert. The company plans to self-finance exploration and aims to secure the mining license and start gold production before 2030, targeting over five blocks near Al Baramiya, south of Marsa Alam, where geological surveys show high gold concentrations.

ENERGY-

The Julius Nyerere hydropower dam, a USD 2.9-3 bn project on Tanzania’s Rufiji River, was formally inaugurated this week. Built for Tanesco, Tanzania’s state electricity utility, by a consortium of Elsewedy Electric and Arab Contractors, the dam holds back a 34 bn cbm reservoir and generates roughly 2.1 GW, enough to supply more than 60 mn Tanzanians.

AND- The Oil Ministry is stepping up its upstream push, with Minister Karim Badawi holding separate talks with Greece’s Energean and UAE’s Adnoc Drilling on expanding gas investment and launching a broader drilling program.

The Chinese takeover with Ankush Arora: When Chinese cars first appeared in Egypt around a decade ago, they were met with backlash. Now, they’re everywhere. Why? And how?

On this episode of Making It, Ankush Arora, CEO of Al Mansour Automotive Group, joins Patrick to break down how this happened, and why the pace of adoption is accelerating.

Listen to the episode on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Anghami | YouTube

Sign up to our newsletter to get Making It in your inbox.

🌍 AROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS-

This week’s headlines were dominated by Washington’s pivot from bombing Iran to strangling it — a sweeping new sanctions package targeting 60-plus entities globally, secondary sanctions threatening Iran’s trade partners with expulsion from the USD system, and a simultaneous trade war with Canada that went from threat to reality overnight. Here’s the rundown.

With direct negotiations abandoned, the US launched Operation Economic Outcast — sanctioning more than 60 entities, individuals, and vessels globally and warning Iran’s trade partners to sever ties or be cut off from the USD-based financial system. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called it “economic D-Day.” Iran’s Economy Minister said Tehran was fully prepared for the measures; the IRGC warned it would strike US vital interests and energy chokepoints if Iranian infrastructure is threatened. China called the sanctions a move that would further intensify tensions. Pakistan, meanwhile, said it had made “significant progress” in talks with Tehran on the war and wider regional tensions — the only diplomatic signal pointing in a different direction.

CLOSER TO HOME- The US removed Syria from its state sponsors of terrorism list after 47 years — lifting what Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the final major barrier to private investment and Syria’s reintegration into the global economy. Washington simultaneously removed Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, formerly Al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, from its global terrorist organizations list.

ON TRADE- The US-Canada trade war escalated sharply after last-minute talks collapsed over last weekend, triggering a new round of 50% US tariffs on USD 20 bn worth of Canadian goods — roughly 5% of Canada’s total exports to the US. Ottawa fired back with retaliatory tariffs on US steel, electronics, and other products. Trump separately threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian cars to 50% by 1 January and lock existing steel levies at the same rate.

IN THE BUSINESS PRESS- The cost of AI infrastructure keeps climbing: soaring memory chip prices are driving up server costs by more than 15% for systems powered by Nvidia’s flagship processors, with increases set to hit clients shipping early next year. Alibaba is looking to raise up to USD 10.2 bn via share placement to fund AI investment, capitalizing on a Chinese tech market surge that has pushed valuations to record highs.

IN TECH NEWS- Anthropic is expected to inform investors that its total addressable market exceeds USD 30 tn, surpassing the USD 28.5 tn projection set by Elon Musk’s rocketmaker.

The EnterpriseAM Egypt Forum is back — and we’re devoting the full day to the singular set of questions on everyone’s mind: What does AI actually mean for your company, your people, your economy, your own job — and your kids’ future?

Every session on stage answers one question: “So, what do I actually do about it?”

Join us on 5 October in Cairo. Seats are limited and attendance is by invitation only.

Request your invitation here.

☀️ THE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND-

This weekend brings the heat. Today brings a high of 39°C and a warm low of 26°C in Cairo. On Friday, things cool down with temperatures set to peak at a sunny 37°C before dropping to a cloudy 26°C overnight. Saturday brings another sunny high of 36°C and a low of 24°C.

If you’re still having fun on the North Coast, expect humid conditions today and on Friday, with highs of 33°C and overnight lows of 25°C on both days. Saturday will peak at 32°C before dropping to 25°C overnight, according to our favorite weather app.

🎤 HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-

Jordanian Arab-rock band Jadal is heading to Alexandria as part of Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s 23rd International Summer Festival. The band will take the stage at the BA’s Open Air Theater tonight for an evening of its beloved blend of Arabic rock and indie sounds. The concert begins at 8:30pm — tickets are available through Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s website.

Haven’t had enough of the Sahel concerts? Pop mainstay Hamaki is making his way to the North Coast tomorrow, taking the stage at Porto Grande in New Alamein for a big season-ending night. Gates open at 7pm, with the concert kicking off at 10:30pm — Book your tickets through TicketsMarché.

Egyptian pop icon Ehab Tawfik is bringing a dose of ‘90s nostalgia to the North Coast. The singer will take the stage at Premiere Show at North Coast Square, Porto Golf tomorrow, for a late-night trip down memory lane packed with the unmistakable sounds many of us grew up listening to. The concert begins at 11:30pm — tickets are available through TicketsMarché.

🎤 HAPPENING LATER-

Movie lovers, it’s your lucky day. Touring international film festival MedFest Egypt is returning to AUC Tahrir Square for a five-day run from Thursday, 10 September to Monday, 14 September. This year’s program, themed “Beyond the Scene,” packs in film screenings, conversations, and workshops. You can choose between the Full Pass, which includes workshop registration, or the Festival Supporter Platinum or Gold Badge, all available through TicketsMarché. Workshop spots are limited, so hurry and secure your spot.

Lebanese comedy sensation John Achkar is landing in Egypt on Saturday, 26 September as part of his ongoing global tour: Feena Nehke?. The stand-up comedian is taking the stage at Theatro Arkan with a more personal Arabic-language special. Tickets are available on TicketsMarché — you can get tickets for the early show kicking off at 6:30pm here and the late show at 9:30pm here.

Tracing the history (and economics) of El Moulid El Nabawy celebrations

🎎 Come every year, in the weeks preceding the 12th of Rabi’ El Awel, Cairo’s confectionaries, streets, and markets fill up with sweets designed and sold for exactly one occasion: El Moulid El Nabawy. Simsimiyas, Foulias, Hommosias, Malban, Ladida, Nougats, all displayed in everything from paper bags sold by street vendors near El Ataba for under EGP 100, to fancy, lacquered gift boxes at patisseries such as Salé Sucré, La Poire, Abu Auf, and more, that run for EGP thousands. Surrounding all of the elaborate displays are armies of dolls, originally cast from sugar, increasingly made of plastic as of late.

The tradition has held steady for as long as anyone living can remember. But how long, exactly, have we been doing this, how much do we collectively spend to satisfy our nagging sweet teeth, and what can we learn from the tradition?

💡 EnterpriseAM Weekend’s The Spend: You already know where to eat, what to wear, and where to stay. The Spend tells you what’s behind all of it — the market dynamics, the business models, and the economics that determine what lands on your plate, in your wardrobe, and on your household budget.

A thousand years in the making

Moulid as we know it in Om el Donia began with the Fatimids — the caliphate that ruled Egypt from 969 to 1171 CE. Before the Fatamids, celebrations were limited to religious ceremonies. The Fatimids introduced public celebrations, street decorations, Sufi singing, and — perhaps most importantly — sweet treats overflowing with sugar.

The first documented evidence of organized sugar confectionery tied to the Mouled comes from the medieval Egyptian historian Taqiuddin Ahmad Maqrizi, who recorded that the annual celebration was formalized in 517 AH (1123-1124 CE), under the Fatimid Caliph Al Amir. At Dar Al Fetra, a Fatimid-era royal kitchen, over 20 tons of Candy would be wrapped and arranged, distributed to the people throughout the day.

Like many state-sanctioned celebrations, the Fatimids used this to buy the public’s goodwill. The Mamluks followed through with similar celebrations — though they they added a few embellishments of their own. Since then, we’ve been celebrating Moulid pretty much the same way every year. Downtown Cairo’s streets are filled with vendors, family workshops working tirelessly to cater to both Cairenes and villagers from far and wide.

We’re a nation with a sweet tooth

Sweets are to Egyptians what oxygen is to life. Om el Donia’s confectionary market was estimated at EGP 62 bn in 2023, growing at 4-5% y-o-y., with sugar-based confectionery, dates, and traditional sweets such as basbousa and halawa dominating. The Moulid adds a concentrated seasonal spike to that already-intense market. While no numbers exist to isolate what percentage of annual confectionary consumption is attributable to Moulid purchases, the demand is self-evident.

Why sweets in particular? The association between sugar and celebration runs deep in Egyptian culture. The Fatimids understood that generosity expressed through food — shared, consumed together — is more durable than any other form. When a product becomes inseparable from a ceremony, its demand becomes inseparable from the ceremony too. Halawet el moulid is not purchased because it’s the finest confectionery in the market, but because it has been for a thousand years.

The economy-end of the market — street vendors at El Ataba and El Sayeda Zeinab, open-air tables with bulk simsimiya and fouleya — still operates the same way it always has: weight-priced, variety-packed, affordable. A kilo of mixed Halawet el Moulid runs approximately EGP 220 at El Ataba. The entry point for boxed sweets this year started around EGP 110-175 for standard sets.

On the other end, the market has traveled a path similar to Kahk El Eid — from commodity product to giftable experience. Moulid boxes now come in curated presentations, premium gift sets combining eastern sweets with imported nuts, and luxury editions from patisseries like Salé Sucré that serve a market for whom the halawa is secondary to the presentation.

…And despite sugar prices dropping, the Moulid sweets remain on an upward trajectory. Sugar prices declined to around EGP 21,500/ton from a peak of EGP 26,000/ton just a month earlier, prices for branded Moulid sweets rose by up to 53% compared to last year. Positioning costs are now a new ingredient, baked into the package.

What Simsimiyas can teach us about the way we do business

The Fatimid caliphs, for all their political instincts, were, unknowingly, executing a near-perfect product strategy. They took a ceremony that existed, attached a tangible, shareable product to it, distributed it at scale to establish the habit, and built in enough spectacle to make the experience memorable. One thousand years later, the habit hasn’t been broken. If your product can establish itself as a non-negotiable part of a ceremony — rather than a discretionary addition to it — you’ve achieved something a marketing budget alone cannot. Kahk owns Eid El Fitr. Konafa owns Ramadan. Halawet el mouled owns the 12th of Rabi' El Awel.

Insidious: Out of the Further brings nightmares home

🎥 Have you ever wondered why certain horror franchises manage to stick around for decades? That is precisely the question Insidious: Out of the Further attempts to answer. Serving as the sixth installment in the long-running franchise, the film aims for a fresh start with a new family confronting the terrors of the underworld, delivering a dose of dread that calls back to the iconic universe launched 16 years ago.

The plot: Gemma (Amelia Eve) is a young mother raising her daughter Maya (Island Austin) in the very same house weighed down by memories of her own troubled childhood. Gemma discovers her ability to cross over into The Further — the realm of lost souls that has anchored the franchise since its inception. Her ordeal goes beyond simply reaching that bleak dimension; it escalates when she realizes she can drag its horrifying inhabitants back into her reality, shattering the barrier between realms once the demons catch on to her powers.

What we liked: The film delivers on its core promise to genuinely terrify audiences, with several sequences pulling off jumpscares in fresh, creative ways — if you already dread visits to the dentist, this film will certainly amplify that fear. The technical elements, including makeup, costume design, and score, are all well executed. On the performance front, Eve and Austin shine, grounding the narrative with a convincing, nuanced portrayal of a mother-daughter bond. Additionally, the return of psychic Elise (the brilliant Lin Shaye) as a spirit trapped within The Further offers a welcome nod to the franchise’s roots.

Great scares, but how is the story? The film stumbles by overcomplicating a simple premise that previously worked well across earlier installments, bogging the narrative down in endless details that leave events feeling disjointed. It lays the groundwork for emotional depth around intergenerational trauma and complex mother-child dynamics, only to abandon those themes later without a satisfying resolution. While Jacob Chase takes over the directorial reins — following the evolution of the series from James Wan to Patrick Wilson — this chapter manages, if cautiously, to recapture the spine-chilling atmosphere that put the original films on the horror map a decade ago.

Our verdict: If you’re looking for an enjoyable, high-adrenaline horror ride without worrying too much about plot depth, this installment gets the job done. It delivers inventive scares that make it easy to overlook its core narrative flaws for a fun, thrilling night out with friends. However, be warned: The film isn’t for the faint of heart, packing plenty of gore and jump scares.

WHERE TO WATCH- Catch the film at VOX Cinemas at City Center Almaza, Mall of Egypt, and City Center Alexandria. The film is also screening at Stars Cinema (City Stars), Scene Cinema (Cairo Festival City and District 5), and Premiere Cinemas (Cima Arkan and P90). Watch the trailer on YouTube (Watch, runtime: 2:33).

Does early 2000s family dining destination Spectra still hold its own in 2026?

🍴 Craving a taste of nostalgia? Newly-minted dining establishments are a dime a dozen; from Italian and American cuisines to Lebanese and Thai, Cairo’s culinary scene has never been more alive. But what of the good ol’ oldies that still welcome their patrons in 2026? This week, we paid Heliopolis’ Spectra a visit to see how it still fares this many years later.

For years and years throughout the early 2000s, a select number of dining establishments laid claim to the scene (and our Friday afternoon plans) — Spectra was one of them. Yet the international eatery — most popularly frequented in its City Stars branch — was more than just another restaurant. For generations of Egyptians, it was a weekend rite-of-passage; post-Galaxy cinema family dinners, late night friend rendezvous, and mid-shopping sustenance provider. As the years passed, Spectra began to fade, yet it still holds strong, with its branches serving up loyal patrons to this day.

Its menu is still as prolific as ever, with the classics we’ve tried time and again still taking up space (and a few more interesting additions added throughout the years). You’ll still find their classic onion soup, their generous Jumbo Combo appetizer platter, their signature country fried chicken, and a slew of other main dishes, steak cuts, appetizers, and desserts — yes, that still includes their age-old brownies on ice. The menu spans more pages that we could count, and the options pretty much cover everything but the kitchen sink.

Spectra is a jack of all trades… but is it a master of at least one of them? We decided to order dishes that, once upon a time, we had fallen in love with: The country fried chicken — ordered with a side of bolognese pasta — the chicken tacos, and the fried mushrooms with a side of blue cheese sauce. Everything landed on our table fast and smokin’ hot. One thing we’re glad to report: the portions are just as generous as they were 15 years ago, if more.

What we liked… and didn’t: If you love your sporting club’s classic pasta and pane, Spectra will get the job done. The Cairene restaurant has stuck to their recipes; food still tastes the same as it did during its peak, but that proves a double-edged sword: while the familiarity satiated our nostalgia and then some, it soon became pretty clear that Spectra falls behind its modern-day counterparts. At its best, Spectra’s food feels home-cooked with love; at its not-so-best, it feels outdated.

The country fried chicken and the pasta were the stand-outs — after all, they’re the Spectra headliner. The fried mushrooms could have been fresher, with the mushrooms feeling a bit watery. The tacos, however, were a disappointment: a bit soggy, limp, and lacking in flavor in terms of seasoning.

The verdict: In its refusal to veer from its identity, Spectra has created a time capsule, one that still delivers the flavors and selections that have earned it its patrons’ love — but it has also fallen behind. In 2026, Spectra offers good quality, homey food that — at least to us — brought back fond memories. The service is on point, and the portions are incredible. But if you’re looking for a meal that will blow your mind, you won’t find it there.

WHERE TO FIND IT- Spectra has branches all over Egypt. You can also order through Talabat.

💡 Curious to see how other classic Cairene establishments still fare in 2026? Check out our other reviews in the series: Cortigiano, Roastery, and Le Chantilly.

💵 Per person: EGP 700-800

🪑 Outdoor seating: Yes

🍺 Alcohol: No

🦽 Accessibility friendly: Yes

Revisiting Rockstar’s 2002 hit GTA Vice City ahead of the much anticipated GTA VI

🎮 On November 19, Rockstar Games will be ending an awfully long wait that mns of gamers around the world have had to endure when GTA VI finally drops. When players kick off their questline, they’ll find themselves back in familiar territory: Vice City, first explored by Rockstar Games in 2002 in one of the most-beloved (second only to San Andreas) iterations of the franchise. We decided to take a trip down memory lane and see how well the OG Vice City holds up in the big year of 2026.

A look back: Set in a fictionalized Miami circa 1986, it was the second fully 3D entry in the GTA series and built on the commercial and critical momentum of GTA III. It sold over 17.5 mn copies on PS2 alone, making it one of the best-selling games of its generation, and its synthesis of 80s aesthetics, a radio soundtrack spanning new wave, metal, and hip-hop, and a more narrative-driven structure than its predecessor made it a cultural touchstone that outlasted the console cycle it was born on.

A 10th anniversary mobile port was released in December 2012 for iOS and Android — the one we played for this review — bringing the game to a new generation with updated visuals and controls. In 2021, Rockstar released GTA: The Trilogy — The Definitive Edition, a remastered collection that included Vice City alongside GTA III and San Andreas, featuring rebuilt lighting, updated models, and modernized controls — though the release was somewhat criticized for the visual changes that many fans felt were inconsistent with the originals.

The plot: The player controls Tommy Vercetti, a mobster released after serving 15 years in prison for the Forelli crime family, who is sent to Vice City by his boss Sonny Forelli to oversee a drug trade. The trade goes haywire, leaving Tommy without the money or the drugs and owing a significant debt to Sonny. What follows is Tommy’s climb through Vice City’s criminal underbelly — working with lawyers, arms dealers, producers, and gang leaders — as he recovers the money, identifies who set him up, and establishes himself as a power in the city.

What still hits the same: The game’s storytelling still surpasses that of many modern games over two decades later; dialogue discourages cut-scene skips, world-building is on point for its era, and there are enough twists and turns to keep the game interesting without falling into “shoot and run” territory. There is severe nostalgia baked into the very fabric of the game, and one that made the entire playing experience all the more enjoyable. There are plenty of side quests, fun easter eggs, and lots of ways to cause chaos — a much needed catharsis after a busy week in the office.

Where the game shows its cracks: Off the bat, the graphics — but we knew that going in. Vice City’s shoddy graphics, however, add to its charm in our opinion. The limited map — compared to San Andreas, IV, and V — can get a little restricting at times, but not so much for the casual player.

The verdict: Vice City may be old and its graphics outdated, but it remains — 22 years later — an enjoyable gaming experience that still holds its own against the giants. We’ve waited too long for GTA VI, and now that we’re less than 90 days away from release, Vice City gave us much to distract ourselves with, especially as we look forward to a colossal, high-res version of the map that shaped much of our gaming upbringing.

💯 Rating: 95/100 on Metacritic; 9.2/10 on IMDB.

⌛ Hours of gameplay: 20 hours to beat the main storyline. Unlimited open-world gameplay.

🔁 Replay value: 8/10.

👾 Platforms: PS, PC, Mobile (available on the app store).

💵 Price: EGP 249.99 for mobile; USD 59.99 as part of the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition set on the Playstation store.

The country queen who built an empire on songs and kindness

🎧 The music world — nay, the whole world — lost a generational icon earlier this week. Dolly Parton, the rhinestone-clad, big-haired, sharp-witted Tennessee girl who turned heartbreak into an art form and generosity into a lifelong habit, died in Nashville on Tuesday, 25 August, at 80 years-old following a brief battle with cancer, but surrounded by loved ones, her team confirmed.

It’s difficult to know where to begin with Dolly. Perhaps with “Jolene,” the pleading, almost painfully vulnerable song she wrote in 1973, or “9 to 5,” the working-woman anthem that somehow made office drudgery sound glamorous, or “I Will Always Love You,” which Parton wrote and recorded herself before Whitney Houston transformed it into one of the biggest songs in pop history with The Bodyguard. Parton had actually protected the song’s publishing rights after turning down Elvis Presley, who wanted to record it, a decision that would later prove extraordinarily consequential when Houston’s version became a global phenomenon.

But Dolly’s legacy was never confined to the recording studio. She built Dollywood, became a Country Music Hall of Fame and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and founded Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in 1995, inspired by her father’s inability to read. The program has since delivered more than 300 mn books to children. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she donated USD 1 mn toward vaccine research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, helping support work that contributed to Moderna’s vaccine development.

And because apparently 3k songs, more than 100 mn records sold, 10 Grammys and a theme park were not quite enough of a legacy, Parton also left the world one final musical mystery. A song she recorded for posterity was sealed inside a “Dream Box” at her Dollywood resort, to be opened on her 100th birthday, 19 January 2046. One of her final projects was a feature on a country reimagining of Sabrina Carpenter’s hit Please, Please, Please in 2024.

While viral reports claimed that Miley Cyrus is set to inherit Parton’s entire music catalog, publishing rights, properties, farms and charitable foundations, there is currently no verifiable information confirming those claims. Dolly’s bond with her goddaughter Miley Cyrus was just as personal as it was musical. The pair’s relationship grew from Parton’s close friendship with Miley’s father, Billy Ray Cyrus, whom she met after the success of his 1992 hit “Achy Breaky Heart” and later toured with. What is clear is that Parton remained a mentor and beloved family figure to Cyrus throughout her life, even going so far as to guest star on Cyrus’s hit Disney series Hannah Montana as “Aunt Dolly,” which is how the younger generations were introduced to the country star.

Even America’s flags are coming down for her. President Donald Trump ordered US flags at the White House, federal buildings, military installations, vessels and diplomatic facilities to fly at half-staff until sunset on 1 September. Fans gathered outside Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame on Tuesday evening to mourn a woman whose music somehow belonged to everyone.

For generations, Dolly Parton gave us songs to cry to, songs to dance to, songs to survive the workday to and, occasionally, songs to remind us that heartbreak can still sound beautiful. Her legacy is measured in records sold and books delivered, in awards and theme-park visitors, but also in something much harder to quantify: the number of people who grew up with Dolly’s voice in their homes. The world has lost Dolly. Thankfully, Dolly left us the soundtrack.

WHERE TO LISTEN- Jolene, alongside Dolly Parton’s larger catalogue, can all be found on Apple Music, Anghami, Spotify, and YouTube.

THE ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

🗓️ AUGUST

1 August - September 15 (Saturday-Tuesday): El Alamein Book Fair.

20-29 August (Thursday-Saturday): Leila Assal at Theatro Arkan.

27 August (Thursday): Official holiday in observance of Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday.

27 August (Thursday): Jadal at Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

28 August (Friday): Ramy Sabry at Tiatro Romano, Marina 2, Al Alamein.

28 August (Friday): Hamaki at Porto Grande New Alamein.

29 August (Saturday): Jadal at El Sawy Culturewheel, Nile University, Sheikh Zayed.

30 August (Sunday): Tamer Ashour at Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

SEPTEMBER

4 September (Friday): Ehab Tawfik at Premiere Show, Golf Porto.

4 September (Friday): Abyusif and Shehab at Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria.

4 September (Friday): The High Five: In & Out Vol.3 at Al Anfoushy Cultural Palace, Alexandria.

4 September (Friday): El Leila El Kebeera at Teatro 90.

6-9 September (Sunday-Wednesday): Khayal Mareed at Theatro Arkan.

10 September (Thursday): Adonis at Teatro 90.

11 September (Friday): Ahmed Hassan at El Anfoushy Cultural Palace, Alexandria.

11 September (Friday): Tablet El Sitt at Port Said Culture Center.

10-14 September (Saturday-Monday): MedFest Egypt at AUC Tahrir Square.

12 September (Saturday): Ice Warrior Challenge at Ski Egypt, Mall of Egypt.

18 September (Friday): Haifa Wehbe at Kiki’s Beach Bar, North Coast.

18 September (Friday): Aida El Ayoubi at Ewart Memorial Hall, AUC Tahrir Square.

22 September (Tuesday): Shawn Chidiac at CJC 610.

26 September (Saturday): John Achkar’s Feena Nehke at Theatro Arkan.

OCTOBER

1-3 October (Thursday-Saturday): Oliver season 3 by Fabrica at Teatro 90.

1-4 October (Thursday-Sunday): She Arts festival across Cairo and Alexandria.

6 October (Tuesday): Armed Forces Day.

11 October - 8 November (Sunday-Sunday): Cairo International Art District by Art D’Egypte at Downtown Cairo.

15-23 October (Thursday-Friday): El Gouna Film Festival.

16-17 October (Friday-Saturday): Egypt Coffee Festival at Common Grounds in Obour.

17 October (Saturday): Konnect Summit at The Greek Campus, El Tahrir St.

24 October (Saturday): Blue 25th Anniversary Tour at New Capital.

28-31 October (Wednesday-Saturday): Egypt’s Cheese Festival at Al Horreya Garden, Zamalek.

NOVEMBER

5 November (Thursday): Gala De Danza at the Grand Egyptian Museum.

2-7 November (Monday-Saturday): Barbara O’Neill Wellness Journey at Sheraton Miramar Resort, El Gouna.

11-20 November (Wednesday-Friday): Cairo International Film Festival.

13-14 November (Friday-Saturday): Max Amini at St. Regis, New Capital.

19-28 November (Thursday-Saturday): Cairo Design Week.

21 November (Saturday): El Gouna Half Marathon.

28 November (Saturday): Shakira at the Pyramids of Giza.

DECEMBER

4 December (Friday): Ghostly Kisses at Zed Park, Sheikh Zayed.

11-12 December (Friday-Saturday): The Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon at the Pyramids of Giza.

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