Your guide to effective time management

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THE WEEK IN REVIEW

What to expect from the new budget

⏱️ Good morning, ladies and gents, and happy weekend. It’s been a long week, and we’ve got the rundown for you below. In today’s issue, we take a look at ways to manage your time like a pro, treat ourselves to some good ol’ Nashville-style fried chicken, and break down a horror movie that had our stomachs turning. That and much more.

Let’s jump right in…

🗞️ LAST WEEK IN 3 MINS-

BUDGET WATCH-

Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk presented the FY 2026/27 budget to the House of the Representatives, targeting EGP 4 tn in total revenue — up 29% y-o-y — and EGP 5.1 tn in expenditures, up almost 11%. An overall deficit of 4.9%, down from 6.1%, is projected at the end of the current fiscal year.

BANKING-

The National Bank of Egypt (NBE) and Banque Misr raised the interest rates they’re offering on three-year, fixed-interest certificates of deposit by 125 bps. NBE’s Platinum Certificate and Banque Misr’s Al Qimma Certificate will each offer monthly rates of 17.25%, up from 16%.

ECONOMY-

BMI cut its growth forecast for the Egyptian economy to 4.5% in the current fiscal year, down from 5.2% before the outbreak of the war in the Gulf. The updated forecast marks a 0.4 percentage point cut from the mid-March outlook.

REAL ESTATE-

#1- Talaat Moustafa Group announced plans to build a EGP 1.4 tn mixed-use city in New Cairo’s Madinaty, called The Spine. The project is expected to generate some EGP 1.7 tn in sales.

#2- The New Urban Communities Authority will penalize developers and individuals who’ve sat on plots they’ve been allocated, waiting for price appreciation instead of building.

DEBT WATCH-

Edita Food Industries lined up funding to finance expansion lines here at home and abroad. The EGX-listed snackmaker secured a EGP 600 mn, seven-year loan from Arab Bank Egypt to support its 2026 investment program.

AUTOMOTIVE-

Mansour Group’s MAC for Mobility Manufacturing secured a EGP 2.7 bn loan from Banque Misr to finance a vehicle assembly plant. The 126k sqm facility will begin operations in 1Q 2027, producing up to 50k sedans, SUVs, and microbuses per year in its first phase.

INVESTMENT WATCH-

Ora Developers is doubling down on expanding its flagship UAE project Bayn to 9.6 mn sqm, acquiring an additional 4.8 mn sqm of land from the UAE’s Modon Holding. The expansion sits within the Ghantoot region — a coastal corridor between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

NBFS-

Fintech giant Fawry is entering the ins. space after securing Financial Regulatory Authority approval for its new subsidiary, Fawry for Microins. The unit launches with a starting budget of EGP 60 mn, with Fawry holding a 90% stake.

EDUCATION-

The Onsi Sawiris School of Business at the American University in Cairo was named the top business school in Africa for the year by Paris-based global higher education ranking agency Eduniversal.

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🌍 AROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS-

US-Iran tensions persisted this week alongside growing concerns over the Strait of Hormuz. After last Friday’s short-lived de-escalation saw Iran announce the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, it closed it hours later in the face of tankers. Tehran pointed the finger at Washington for continuing to blockade its ports.

Over the weekend, five LNG tankers bound to cross the strait had to halt their voyages after Tehran issued warnings and two Indian-flagged vessels carrying crude oil were under fire while traversing the waterway. On Monday, the US seized an Iranian cargo ship for allegedly attempting to breach its naval blockade.

As Tehran pledged to strike back and said it would not take part in a second round of ceasefire talks, US President Donald Trump made the decision to extend the ceasefire on Wednesday, prompted by mediation from Pakistan and a lack of “unified proposal” by Iran’s government.

On Thursday, US forces attacked at least three Iranian-flagged tankers in Asian waters, signaling an active US naval blockade despite the reported ongoing ceasefire with Tehran. In the Strait of Hormuz, traffic halted after Tehran attacked three ships, escorting two of them into Iranian waters. The attacks do not constitute violations of the truce, since the vessels were not flying US or Israeli flags.

The ousting of US Navy Secretary John Phelan made headlines after Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced the news on X. The surprise departure comes amid leadership turmoil within the Pentagon and tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

IN TECH NEWS- After 15 years at the helm of Apple, Tim Cook is set to step down as CEO of the tech giant this coming September, transitioning into the role of executive chairman. Taking the reins is John Ternus, the senior vice president of hardware engineering and a 25-year veteran at the company.

AND- Amazon and Anthropic will spend over USD 100 bn on AI infrastructure over the next 10 years, as per a new agreement to secure up to 5 GW of new capacity for training and running Claude. Also, SpaceX gained the “right to acquire” AI startup Cursor for USD 60 bn, agreeing to pay USD 10 bn if it does not proceed with the transaction.

IN BUSINESS NEWS- Tesla’s 1Q results offered a mixed bag, with income topping analysts’ forecasts despite revenues falling short of expectations.

☀️ THE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND-

We’re in for a warm weekend in the capital, with temperatures in Cairo today peaking at 30°C, with a low of 19°C. Tomorrow will be a tad warmer, with a high of 32°C and a low of 20°C, according to our favorite weather app.

🎤 HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-

Comedian Omar El Gamal is set for his biggest Ain Gamal show in Cairo yet at Al Manara Theater tonight. The show promises a few surprises, sharp humor, and crowd-favorite jokes. Doors open at 7pm — tickets are available on Ticketsmarché.

If you’re overdue for some quality family time, the Grand Egyptian Museum is hosting another Family Weekend today and tomorrow. The spring-themed festival promises a variety of family activities, including hands-on craft workshops, outdoor activities, live acts, and a bustling food market. The event starts at 11am — you can book your tickets on Ticketsmarché.

🎤 HAPPENING NEXT WEEK-

CJC 610 is hosting a special night at Maadi riverside spot Tenaya, with iconic band Massar Egbari taking over on Wednesday, 29 April, alongside a performance by artist Menna Hussein. Expect alternative Arab sounds, rock, and jazz. Doors open at 8pm — tickets are available here.

Are these… Amarein? Nope, that’s just Amr Diab. Fans of El Hadaba, you’ll be pleased to know that the iconic Egyptian pop star will be taking the stage at the American University in Cairo’s football field on Friday, 1 May to belt out a series of his signature hits. Whether you’re an Al Leila enthusiast or a Wayah die-hard, you’ll be in for a treat. The concert starts at 8pm, and tickets can be purchased through Tazkarti.

How to stay on top of your time

⌛ Time management remains a real test for many of us. While we’ve all come to understand its value, it’s easy to fall behind — with to-do lists piling up and workloads quietly growing. Here are a few tried-and-true tips, along with updated techniques, to help you manage your work day well and keep your schedule in check.

Before diving into the practicalities, let’s quickly revisit why time management is such a vital skill — one we can’t seem to hear enough about, whether you’re in the workforce grind or making your way through higher education. Beyond the obvious — that time management is key to maximum productivity and meeting deadlines — having a solid handle on your time can work wonders for your overall well-being.

Effectively mastering your time is strongly linked to better mental health. Research shows it can reduce stress and anxiety while enhancing emotional resilience, whereas poor time management is often linked to a higher risk of burnout and mental exhaustion. Feeling like you don’t have enough time to complete tasks, often referred to as time poverty, can further contribute to worsened mental health, emotional well-being, and overall life satisfaction. Strong time management habits foster a greater sense of control and help prevent feelings of overwhelm, guilt, and chronic stress.

Tips and tricks

#1- Start early: Nothing derails time management quite like procrastination, so never underestimate the power of getting a head start on your tasks. Constantly delaying getting started on your tasks is a hard habit to break. Look into why you feel inclined to procrastinate — do you find certain tasks too overwhelming? Too boring? Possibly, too easy? Consider ways you can overcome these thought patterns.

#2- Prioritize and make a to-do list: Part of managing our time well is categorising tasks between high-priority and low-priority goals. Once you’ve made a list of all your tasks for the day and tracked your priorities, it’s best to Eat the Frog — aka start on your biggest task first thing in your workday. Getting the most urgent and important tasks out of the way assures you’re being as productive as possible.

#3- Notice when you’re most alert and plan accordingly: Creating a to-do list and planning a schedule is the easy part — actually sticking to it is where things get tricky. You need to account for the nature of your energy levels and map out a schedule that accommodates that. An often overlooked but vital time management strategy is noting the time of day when you’re most focused and awake and saving cognitively demanding tasks for those peak windows.

#4- Plan for interruptions and breaks: Following a schedule is easier said than done — things rarely go as smoothly as planned. The trick is to plan with interruptions in mind — whether a meeting runs overtime, Wi-Fi acts up, or tasks take longer than expected. It’s best not to cram your schedule and leave some breathing room in your day where small disruptions don’t throw everything off. Most importantly, plan for frequent breaks — at the end of the day, we’re not machines — and research heavily supports the value of microbreaks at work.

#5- Avoid multitasking: While multitasking can feel productive, research has shown that our brains aren’t actually cut out for juggling multiple tasks at once. Ideally, single-tasking is the way to go, seeing as it allows you to give each task the full attention it needs without constantly disengaging and shifting your focus. It also ensures fewer mistakes and better output in the long run.

Tools and techniques

When all else fails, turning to tried-and-true techniques can make managing your time a whole lot easier. We’ve rounded up a few apps and online tools that can help you fend off distractions and stay on track — because if used right, technology should make our lives easier, not busier.

#1- Time boxing: If you’re struggling to figure out how long it takes you to finish tasks, time boxing is one way to help you use your time more intentionally. Time boxing works by dividing your time into “boxes” designated for each part of a task. It helps you break down large tasks into smaller parts with time limits and breaks in between. Ideally, each time box shouldn’t last more than three hours.

#2- The Pomodoro method: The Pomodoro technique is famous for a reason. It’s simple, effective, and surprisingly works. The method involves a basic kitchen timer which you set to 25 minutes and work uninterrupted on a single task. Once time is up, you take a 5-minute break, repeat three more times, and take a longer 30-minute break.

#3- The Pareto Principle: The Pareto Principle, often referred to as the 80/20 rule, works opposite to the Eat the Frog method mentioned above. Instead of starting your day with the heavier task, you start by getting the easier tasks out of the way — you spend 20% of your time on 80% of your work. You can then spend the remaining 80% of your time on the harder 20% of your work. However you choose to tackle your heavy lifting, the Eat the Frog method and the Pareto Principle can help you stay on top of your time.

#4- The Eisenhower Matrix: The Eisenhower Matrix is another way to set your priorities straight through four distinct categories — urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and not urgent and not important. This method helps guide you on what tasks to do first, schedule for later, delegate to others (if possible), or delete entirely.

#5- Apps and online tools:

Asana has a time tracking feature that keeps track of individual or team tasks;
Toggl is a similar platform that tracks time and can build custom reports for maximum productivity;
Clockify is another time tracking software that allows you to log work hours on a time sheet;
RescueTime helps you track your time by generating timesheets without manual input — it tracks your hours based on your tasks and projects;
StayFocused is a browser extension that blocks time-wasting websites based on your customizations to increase your focus and cut off distractions.

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Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is gore galore

🎥 We went into Lee Cronin’s The Mummy blind — no trailer watched, no synopses read, and no reviews encountered. It was the best choice we’d made that day. Written and directed by horror veteran filmmaker Lee Cronin, The Mummy eschews the Indiana Jones-esque plots of its franchise predecessors in favor of a fresh, gruesome, and visceral 135-minute long horror epic that will have you glued to your screens, one eye closed, the other barely open.

The film starts off in Aswan, Egypt with an Egyptian family driving home to find their pet bird dead. Taking it as a sign that something is amiss with the guest downstairs, the parents (Omar El Saeidi and Hayat Kamille) then take a trip to their cellar, unearthing a tomb where a mummy seems to have awoken. It doesn’t end well.

Meanwhile, back in Cairo, Charlie (Jack Reynor), a news producer, and his wife Larissa (Laia Costa), a nurse, alongside their children Seb and Katie, are getting ready to move back to the US after Charlie lands a job in NYC. When Katie heads over to the garden to play with her dolls, she’s kidnapped by Hayat Kamille’s character. A trip to the Zamalek police station ends with the parents accused of harming their own daughter, but detective Dalia Zaki (May Calamawy) won’t let this go easy. Eight years later, Katie is found — but she’s not the same.

What we liked: At no point during its runtime did we know what was going to happen — and we enjoyed being kept on our toes. Lee Cronin’s refusal to follow in the footsteps of the franchise lent it a fresh feel, and one that was incredibly gripping. In terms of production and cinematography, the film excelled on both fronts. Acting performances were commendable, particularly Natalie Grace’s (who played the teenage Katie) and May Calamawy’s.

If you’re into gore, you’ll be in for a treat — if you’re not, you might want to sit this one out. The film is relentless in its quest to make the viewer uncomfortable. Certain scenes were so visceral to the point where some people were walking out before the third act, which is a shame, because the third act won a round of applause from those who were brave enough to stay.

What we didn’t like: A little research would have gone a long way. For a movie taking place mostly in Egypt, the choice of locations did very little to convince us — actual Egyptians — that was the case. A scene in the “Eastern Desert” showed a rainforest, what was supposed to be Cairo looked like a South American town, and the Zamalek police station looked a little like the Metropolitan Museum. The “Egyptian” characters spoke in an awkward, broken, and often Khaliji-sounding dialect, with the Egyptian-Palestinian Calamawy faring better, but not perfect.

Our verdict: We haven’t been this impacted by a movie in quite some time, and for that alone we’d say it’s worth your time. Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is a horror that truly shook us — and we don’t scare easy. If you can stomach the gore and ignore the awkward Arabic and the baseless Pharaonic lore, we’d say give this a go. Just don’t plan on having dinner before.

WHERE TO WATCH- Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is screening at Vox Cinemas at City Center Almaza, Mall of Egypt, and Mall of Alexandria, as well as D5 and CFCM’s Scene Cinema, and City Stars Cinema. Watch the trailer on YouTube (watch, runtime: 2:27).

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Howlin’ Birds perfects the fried chicken game

🍗 Dreaming of that perfectly crisp, golden piece of fried chicken? Plenty can satisfy the craving, but few hit quite like Howlin’ Birds. The last few years saw the Maadi-born fried chicken spot spread its wings across Cairo, quickly becoming a go-to for OG Nashville-style fried chicken.

Fried chicken doesn’t need much — and neither does the menu. Howlin’ Birds keeps things tight, offering a menu with a handful of scrumptious options — from their signature Boojy style to the Sando, wrap & roll, honey drip, and chick fil-a-style picks — with spicy levels ranging from country to howlin’ hot. They also serve up 3-12 piece tenders or wings and whole, half, or quarter chicken portions. Whatever you decide to go for, each meal comes complete with a rotating mix of the essentials: coleslaw, pickles, chick fil-a sauce, coke, and toasted bread.

What did we order? We went for the tenders Sando sandwich meal, half a bird, and the Boojy style sandwich. Each piece delivered the perfect crunch and mouthwatering flavor — safe to say, our fried chicken cravings were more than satisfied. We went for the classic and curly fries — which tasted as good as french fries can get — but next time, we would happily opt for the more indulgent offerings like the cheese, sando, or messy fries (a return visit is already on our calendar). Our only gripe — the meals did take a little longer than expected to come out of the kitchen.

What else stood out? The D5 branch we went to takes on a modern, American-style fast-food aesthetic that feels a cut above the usual. The signature pops of red and the white tiled walls kept things on brand, rounding out the perfectly messy, glove-on dining experience that comfort food like this calls for. If you’re in the mood to splurge a little more than usual on guaranteed finger-licking fried chicken, Howlin’ Birds is calling your name.

WHERE TO FIND IT- Howlin’ Birds has branches in New Cairo’s District 5 and The Driive, Poly Park Plaza in 6th October, and Ivory Business Park in Sheikh Zayed. You can also order in through Talabat.

💵 Per person: EGP 400 - 600

🪑 Outdoor seating: Yes

🍺 Alcohol: No

🦽 Accessibility friendly: Yes

Apex Legends offers infinite gameplay… if you can afford it

🎮 In 2019, Respawn Entertainment did the unthinkable, they shadow-dropped a AAA battle royale game with zero prior marketing — Apex L egends. Seven years later, however, the game that redefined movement shooters is fighting its hardest battle yet — one against its own greed.

To understand Apex, you have to understand its DNA. Born from the ashes of a cancelled Titanfall 3, it took the momentum-based gunplay of that cult classic and stripped away the defining feature: the giant mechs. It was a gamble that paid off. By fusing the “hero shooter” mechanics of Overwatch with the battle royale format, it offered something fresh: a tactical, squad-based experience where movement was king and pinging a location was a revolutionary act of communication.

Off to a good start: At first, Respawn was hailed as the good guy of the industry. The monetization felt remarkably respectful. The Battle Pass was a one-time investment for the dedicated; if you completed it, you earned enough Apex Coins to buy the next season’s pass at no cost — a generous infinite loop that rewarded loyalty. Loot boxes (Apex Packs) existed, but they were strictly cosmetic. It felt like a meritocracy: you couldn’t buy skill, and looking cool was just a bonus for supporting the devs.

The descent into pay-to-W: Somewhere along the line, the script flipped. The infinite loop of value was strangled by a new, aggressive monetization strategy. The turning point came with the introduction of collection events — limited-time windows where acquiring a single “heirloom” melee weapon could cost upwards of USD 160.

Fortune favors the paying player: Players began noticing that certain paid weapon skins offered better stats than the default models, granting a competitive advantage to paying players. The grind to unlock new, meta-defining Legends became an impossibility for casual players. The message became clear: grinding is no longer enough, pay up.

The current state of the game: In 2026, Apex Legends exists in a strange limbo. It is too big to fail, yet too broken to dominate. The recent “Season 28” update has attempted to earn back trust, but for many, the shift from player-friendly to money-hungry was unfixable. That said, it remains the best-feeling shooter on the market — if you can afford to keep up.

💯 Rating: 80/100 (Current State), 95/100 (At Peak).

⌛ Hours of gameplay: Infinite.

🔁 Replay value: 8/10 — The gunplay is still unmatched, even if the economy is broken.

👾 Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2.

💵 Price: At no cost to start, heavy monetization as the game progresses.

Lessons from the world’s most successful people with Tim Ferriss

👂 Got a knack for business, investing, and their intersection with personal growth? The Tim Ferriss Show is likely already on your radar. Hosted by American entrepreneur, investor, and author Tim Ferriss, the chart-topping podcast brings on world-class performers from a wide range of fields to break down their habits, mindsets, and strategies, and distils them into practical takeaways that listeners can apply to both their professional and personal lives.

A closer look: Beyond the interviews with icons in finance, sports, self-improvement, and more, Ferriss often releases solo episodes where he dives deep into specific topics or answers fan questions. One standout episode that caught our attention was titled The AI Tsunami, where listener inquiries sparked a fascinating discussion on the rise of artificial intelligence, courage as a learnable skill, and several insightful book recommendations.

What we liked: Ferriss excels at digging into granular details and personal anecdotes that rarely surface in traditional interviews. He consistently steers conversations toward concrete takeaways — whether it’s a guest’s morning routine, time management tactics, or the specific books that shaped their path. That focus on actionable insights is what makes the podcast incredibly valuable for anyone looking to optimize their life.

What we didn’t like: The show’s biggest hurdle is its sheer length. While the extended runtime — often stretching from one to three hours — allows for in-depth conversations, it can also lead to listener fatigue. On top of that, the frequent and often lengthy ad breaks can feel disruptive — we found ourselves reaching for the skip button more than once to get past repetitive ad segments.

WHERE TO LISTEN- You can tune in on Apple Podcasts | Anghami | Spotify.

THE ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

🗓️ APRIL

7 April - 8 June (Tuesday-Monday): Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience at District 5 by Marakez in New Cairo.

16 April - 30 June (Thursday-Tuesday): Early bird registration for The Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon.

23-25 April (Thursday-Saturday): Arkan’s Farmers' Market at Arkan Plaza, Sheikh Zayed.

24 April (Friday): Daylight saving time begins.

24 April (Friday): Medhat Saleh at Ewart Memorial Hall, AUC Tahrir Square.

24 April (Friday): Ain Gamal at Al Manara Main Hall.

24 April (Friday): Marwan Pablo at Music Arena in Antoniads, Alexandria.

24-25 April (Friday-Saturday): GEM Family Weekend at the Grand Egyptian Museum.

25 April (Saturday): Sinai Liberation Day.

27 April - 2 May (Monday-Saturday): Alexandria Short Film Festival.

29 April (Wednesday): El Leila El Kebira at Boom Room, Madinaty.

29 April (Wednesday): Massar Egbari & Menna Hussein at Tenaya, Maadi.

30 April (Thursday): International Jazz Day at Theatro Arkan.

30 April (Thursday): The Goats at El Rihany Theater.

MAY

1 May (Friday): Labor Day.

1 May (Friday): El Hekaya: Amr Diab at AUC Football Field.

1-2 May (Friday-Saturday): Cotzl’s Step Into the Light bazaar at Al Horreya Garden, Zamalek.

2-5 May (Saturday-Tuesday): Empower Her Art Forum (EHAF) at the Grand Egyptian Museum.

7-9 May (Thursday-Saturday): Sandbox Festival in El Gouna.

7-10 May (Thursday-Sunday): ASEEL Egyptian Horse Festival at the Armed Forces Equestrian Club, Nasr City.

8-9 May (Friday-Saturday): Mina Nader Interactive Comedy Show at Ewart Memorial Hall, AUC Tahrir.

9 May (Saturday): Cairo Vintage Souq at Al Zohriya Garden, Zamalek.

9 May (Saturday): The Marketers League at The Grand Egyptian Museum.

15 May (Friday): Angham at El Arena.

15 May (Friday): Amr Selim at Theatro Arkan.

16 May (Saturday): Bazet Menny with Waleed Moghazy at Theatro Arkan.

22 May (Friday): Adam Port at Salah El Din Citadel.

26 May (Tuesday): Arafat’s Day.

26 May (Tuesday): Andrea Bocelli at the City of Arts and Culture in the New Administrative Capital.

27-30 May (Wednesday-Saturday): Matsagharonash at Theatro Arkan.

27-29 May (Wednesday-Friday): Eid El Adha (TBC).

JUNE

16 June (Tuesday): Islamic New Year.

30 June (Tuesday): June 30th Revolution.

JULY

1 July - 2 November (Wednesday-Monday): General registration for The Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon.

23 July (Thursday): July 23rd Revolution 1952.

24 July (Friday): Adriatique at the North Coast.

AUGUST

21 August (Friday): Black Coffee at Cubix North Coast.

25 August (Thursday): Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday.

OCTOBER

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

6 October (Tuesday): Armed Forces Day.

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

NOVEMBER

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

DECEMBER

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

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