{"id":673707,"date":"2025-10-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/?post_type=forum&#038;p=673707"},"modified":"2025-12-18T08:46:48","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T08:46:48","slug":"forum-playback-part-1","status":"publish","type":"forum","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/forum-2025\/forum-playback-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Forum Playback (part 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"<section id=\"673709\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"673709\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">1<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">INTRO<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/introducing-enterpriseam-forum-playback\/\">\r\n                            Introducing EnterpriseAM Forum Playback                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/introducing-enterpriseam-forum-playback\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/introducing-enterpriseam-forum-playback\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/introducing-enterpriseam-forum-playback\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=Introducing EnterpriseAM Forum Playback&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/introducing-enterpriseam-forum-playback\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/introducing-enterpriseam-forum-playback\/&title=Introducing EnterpriseAM Forum Playback\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Introducing+EnterpriseAM+Forum+Playback+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2025%2F10%2F16%2Fintroducing-enterpriseam-forum-playback%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/introducing-enterpriseam-forum-playback\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-673709\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-673709 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-intro tag-2025-enterpriseam-egypt-forum tag-enterpriseam_event2025 tag-intro wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-audio mb-0\"><audio controls preload=\"metadata\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/ent.news\/audio\/2025\/10\/.a7115d56-c20d-4f17-b394-850caee31e5b.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure><p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>Good morning, friends<\/strong>, and welcome to the first edition of EnterpriseAM Forum Playback, where we bring you highlights from our successful Enterprise Egypt Forum 2025, held on 7 October. It was a pleasure seeing so many of you there.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>In today\u2019s issue<\/strong>, we recap one of the forum\u2019s most <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/podcast\/forum-playback-where-and-how-will-we-live-work-in-2035\/\">thought-provoking panels<\/a>, Where and How Will We Live and Work in 2035? You can also listen to the full panel on our podcast. We\u2019re also featuring in today\u2019s issue some of the exclusive interviews we conducted on the sidelines of the forum.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/omny.fm\/shows\/enterpriseam-egypt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/741.jpg?ssl=1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/sponsor\/fed6c781-4a6a-4ee3-bdd4-f2adf69d1883.jpg?ssl=1\" \/><\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/2025-enterpriseam-egypt-forum\/\">2025 EnterpriseAM Egypt Forum<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/intro\/\">INTRO<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"673710\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"673710\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">2<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">PANEL DISCUSSION<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/where-and-how-will-we-live-and-work-in-2035\/\">\r\n                            Where (and how) will we live (and work) in 2035                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/where-and-how-will-we-live-and-work-in-2035\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/where-and-how-will-we-live-and-work-in-2035\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/where-and-how-will-we-live-and-work-in-2035\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=Where (and how) will we live (and work) in 2035&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/where-and-how-will-we-live-and-work-in-2035\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/where-and-how-will-we-live-and-work-in-2035\/&title=Where (and how) will we live (and work) in 2035\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Where+%28and+how%29+will+we+live+%28and+work%29+in+2035+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2025%2F10%2F16%2Fwhere-and-how-will-we-live-and-work-in-2035%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/where-and-how-will-we-live-and-work-in-2035\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/739.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"673711\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/where-and-how-will-we-live-and-work-in-2035\/739-jpg-15\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/739.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"739.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/739.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/739.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-673710\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-673710 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-panel-discussion tag-2025-enterpriseam-egypt-forum tag-enterpriseam_event2025 tag-panel-discussion wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-audio mb-0\"><audio controls preload=\"metadata\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/ent.news\/audio\/2025\/10\/.2b3501d3-4667-4144-933c-181aef1a105c.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>At this year\u2019s EnterpriseAM Egypt Forum \u2014 we invited a panel of real estate and <\/strong><strong>investment experts to put their futurist hats on and imagine how we will live and work 10 years from now.<\/strong> Marakez\u2019s Executive Vice Chairman Dasha Badrawi, Sawari Ventures\u2019 Founder and Chairman Ahmed El Alfi and Founder and CEO of Kamelizer and Angel Investment Studio Hanan Abdel Meguid, discussed and debated the impact of AI on jobs and how technological and lifestyle shifts are going to affect our communities and cities. The panelists drew on their experiences as the masterminds behind landmark mixed-use developments such as District 5 and the Greek Campus and innovative co-working spaces like Consoleya and Kamelizer.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Setting the stage: the trends that are likely to propel us forward. <\/strong>\u201cWe've seen the trend of the flight from the cities to the suburbs. It started with residential, then it moved to commercial \u2014 covering offices, retail and everything else,\u201d Badrawi said. A lot of changes in the laws governing residential and commercial areas have also taken place. However, the trend we\u2019re seeing very clearly now is the rise of mixed-use environments, Badrawi added, noting that District 5 has been at the forefront of combining the residential with retail and commercial spaces. This creates destinations where people can interact, walk and dwell. \u201cI think people will be looking for places where they can live, work, and collaborate, discounting the play part of it a little bit,\u201d El Alfi also agreed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Egyptians migrating back to their homeland as a viable option. <\/strong>Some of the highest quality talent are migrating from overseas back to Egypt, as it has become a \u201cvery viable option, competitive to the West and even the GCC,\u201d El Alfi said. \u201cThe depth of what we have here has become very attractive, and I think that's one of the things that we need to leverage\u201d.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>New generations are prioritizing quality of life and wellness in the workspace. <\/strong>Post-Covid, a very big societal shift has taken place, Abdel Meguid said. Wellness, health and work life balance became priorities. \u201cThis changed the way we look at work and living spaces,\u201d she said. \u201cI think the young generation are not just motivated by climbing a corporate ladder or money, it is about the quality of life and the quality of people that they interact with,\u201d Badrawi confirmed. \u201cThat's what informs our decisions now on creating future workspaces\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Building on these priorities: <\/strong>\u201cThat's what informs our decisions now on creating future workspaces,\u201d Badrawi added. An aesthetic shift is also transforming spaces, as we now want to bring the outdoors to indoors, as well as seeking to bring culture into the way we organize, work and live, Abdel Meguid said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Could AI wipe out jobs in the future?<\/strong> Organizations will flatten out and there will be delayering, Abdel Meguid said. There will be a change in the role of managers, and we\u2019ll learn how to manage AI agents. \u201cIt's a totally different kind of transformation,\u201d she said. \u201cIt will be a bit difficult in the short term and hopefully great in the longer term.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>\u201cI think it really is potentially either a threat or an assistant to all jobs, and whether some jobs are eliminated and they'll be replaced by things [AI] \u2014 that we can't foresee,\u201d<\/strong> Badrawi said. \u201cThe keyword is embrace, not resist change,\u201d said Abdel Meguid. For youth, this would be extremely fast, she noted.\u201cYoung people will have to be very quick to adapt,\u201d El Alfi doubled-down on this aspect.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>As for entry level jobs: <\/strong>\u201cEven the word junior and senior will be redefined because if entry level positions are much faster to adapt and have much higher capabilities to deliver, then the seniors would be the juniors,\u201d Abdel Meguid said. \u201cIt's a total redefinition phase for everything, even for what we call \u201cwork\u201d and what we call value creation,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Egypt\u2019s lag in the adoption of AI could be an advantage when it comes to job losses. <\/strong>\u201cThe lag that Egypt will have in implementing AI in the workspace is an opportunity to adjust and to fine tune the response, and to localize it,\u201d El Alfi said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Will robots replace manual labor? \u201c<\/strong>We'll need skilled craftsmen and we've got a lot of need for that,\u201d Badrawi said. \u201cWhere the cost of labor in the west is extremely high, maybe there is an economic case to have robots take on these tasks. But where the cost of labor is cheap, I can't see how the technology will be economically viable,\u201d he added. In comparison, El Alfi thinks robots are going to replace low end labor, including skilled craftsmen. \u201cThat may be one of the first jobs to go with robotics, which is in three to five years.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Physical workspaces will remain essential for human interconnection. <\/strong>\u201cAs we move forward with AI, I think people still need places to interact and I think that offices in mixed use environments will be the center of that activity,\u201d Badrawi said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Where are investors looking to pump their money in the coming years? <\/strong>Universities and educational institutions need to focus on deep science \u2014 semiconductors, biotech, physical products, El Alfi said, highlighting that degrees in the soft sciences will be less valuable going forward. \u201cAs we're looking for investments, those are kind of the areas where we're shifting our focus \u2014 how do we dig into those fields to find opportunities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Critical thinking and creativity as irreplaceable skills. <\/strong>\u201cAI is for speed, and humans are for interpretation and for context. The more that AI adoption takes place, the more value there is in art, creativity, interpretation, storytelling,\u201d Abdel Meguid said. \u201cFor all of this to be harnessed, you need workspaces to transform into ecosystems where different needs are met,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Multipurpose workspaces are the future. <\/strong>Spaces with neurodiversity, where you can have a quiet space, a collaborative space, a meeting space, as well as multi-generational spaces, are what developers need to focus on, Abdel Meguid said. Destination workspaces are in demand. \u201cI totally imagine that the workspace formulation will have all these concepts, and I call it \u201cdesign for choice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Flexibility is key<\/strong>. \u201cI think the hardest challenge in real estate is your ability to shift and change\u201d, El Alfi said. \u201cIt is really very difficult because you're working on a project that takes you three to seven years from start to delivery\u201d.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Downtowns will remain attractive destinations for both buyers and investors. <\/strong>\u201cDowntown Cairo has lots of amazing remnant spaces that you can redesign and repurpose,\u201d El Alfi said, highlighting the Greek Campus and Consoleya. It gives you more flexibility because in the suburbs, whoever's just built something recently is already married to that image and that business plan,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>The more the world goes digital, the more humans crave culture and human interactions. <\/strong>\u201cOur Downtown Cairo is so precious,\u201d said Abdel Meguid. \u201cOnce you taste this kind of vibe you create more, and people come with different kinds of experiences, and that's something from my perspective that will grow massively in the coming few years,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>An exciting future for Downtown Cairo<\/strong>. \u201cWe've seen downtowns degenerate and gentrify, and change from commercial to residential,\u201d Badrawi noted. \u201cI see downtown Cairo going through that process and becoming a destination for tourism and attracting more young couples or individuals rather than the suburbs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>What\u2019s next? <\/strong>\u201cI see myself continuously architecting and designing new types of workspaces that are blending work, life, culture, music, entertainment, and food,\u201d Abdel Meguid said. El Alfi hopes to be building cool places, as well as creating and supporting innovation in Cairo and in Egypt. \u201cThere are definitely exciting times ahead and I\u2019m encouraged by the rate of transformation that is being fueled by this AI revolution,\u201d said Badrawi, \u201chowever, the 10 year question is a difficult one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>The key message that came across from the panel:<\/strong> the only thing that is certain is that adaptability will be key in a world that may not be recognizable in 2035.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/04\/26\/where-and-how-will-we-live-work-in-2035\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tap or click here to read the panel\u2019s full transcript<\/a><\/strong><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/2025-enterpriseam-egypt-forum\/\">2025 EnterpriseAM Egypt Forum<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/panel-discussion\/\">PANEL DISCUSSION<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"673712\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"673712\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">3<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">A MESSAGE FROM ARKAN PALM<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/205-a-city-within-a-city-a-world-in-one-location\/\">\r\n                            205: a city within a city, a world in one location                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/205-a-city-within-a-city-a-world-in-one-location\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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Designed as a self-sustained masterplan, it integrates 12 distinct districts that create a luxurious ecosystem of branded high-rise living, business hubs, world-class hospitality (with Intercontinental Hotel Group), retail, and a fully integrated medical hub in West Cairo, including a state-of-the-art Al Safaa Hospital, alongside a unique 2 km central canal. This holistic approach ensures unparalleled convenience and functionality.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">The luxurious centerpiece is the <strong>205 Towers<\/strong>, three landmarks that are the tallest mixed-use structures in West Cairo. These towers house branded smart residences serviced by <strong>InterContinental Hotel<\/strong>, offering bespoke \u00e0 la carte services, exclusive private amenities, and views of the Giza Pyramids. Residents benefit from the ultimate assurance of top-tier operational excellence, with property management by Savills.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">Complementing this vertical icon is the <strong>Financial District<\/strong>, a 60,000 sqm hub, serving as West Cairo\u2019s definitive business address. With modern office buildings, the district is already home to leading institutions, including CIB, Banque Misr, Ebank, and Arab African Bank, creating a clustered financial ecosystem with unmatched visibility directly on the 26th of July Corridor. Through these flagship districts, 205 establishes a new benchmark for integrated luxury, hospitality, and corporate power in the region.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">Click <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/arkanpalm.com\/\" style=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a> to explore more about 205\u2019s towers, financial district, and integrated city vision. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<hr style=\"height:2px;border-width:0;color:gray;background-color:gray\">\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"673714\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">      \r\n<section id=\"advertiser\" class=\"enterprise-adv issue-section\">\r\n    <div class=\"issue-section__content\" style=\"flex-direction: column;\">\r\n  \r\n                <h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">\r\n                <span class=\"has-primary-color stk-highlight\">This publication is proudly sponsored by<\/span><\/h4>\r\n                \r\n\r\n                \r\n                <div class=\"wp-block-stackable-carousel alignwide stk-block-carousel stk--is-slide stk--infinite-scroll stk--arrows-justify-space-between stk--arrows-align-center stk-block stk-a38cfb2 sponsor-slider-container mb-0\" data-slides-to-show=\"3\" data-block-id=\"a38cfb2\"><style>.stk-a38cfb2 {--slides-to-show:3 !important;}.stk-a38cfb2 .stk-block-carousel__button{background:#00000099 !important;fill:#FFFFFF !important;border-radius:4px !important;}.stk-a38cfb2 .stk-block-carousel__button svg.ugb-custom-icon :is(g, path, rect, polygon, ellipse){fill:#FFFFFF !important;}<\/style>\r\n                <div 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src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/240923.png?ssl=1\">\r\n                <div class=\"overlay\"><\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"content\">\r\n                    <a draggable=\"false\" href=\"https:\/\/efghldg.com\/en\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"logo\" rel=\"noopener\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/27488.svg\" alt=\"\">\r\n                    <\/a>\r\n                    <span>Realize More<\/span>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n        \r\n            <div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-x1cutfb\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"x1cutfb\"><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-x1cutfb-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-x1cutfb-inner-blocks\">\r\n            <div 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class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-npb4863-inner-blocks\">\r\n            <div class=\"issue-sponsor-slide\">\r\n                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/240925.png?ssl=1\">\r\n                <div class=\"overlay\"><\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"content\">\r\n                    <a draggable=\"false\" href=\"https:\/\/weareinfinity.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"logo\" rel=\"noopener\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/27483.png?fit=300%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\">\r\n                    <\/a>\r\n                    <span>Powering with nature<\/span>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n        \r\n            <div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-p0bwl8c\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"p0bwl8c\"><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-p0bwl8c-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-p0bwl8c-inner-blocks\">\r\n            <div class=\"issue-sponsor-slide\">\r\n                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/240926.jpg?ssl=1\">\r\n                <div class=\"overlay\"><\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"content\">\r\n                    <a draggable=\"false\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qalaaholdings.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"logo\" rel=\"noopener\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/110691.svg\" alt=\"\">\r\n                    <\/a>\r\n                    <span>Driving growth<\/span>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n        <\/div><div class=\"stk-block-carousel__buttons\"><button class=\"stk-block-carousel__button stk-block-carousel__button__prev\" aria-label=\"Previous slide\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"fas\" data-icon=\"chevron-left\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chevron-left\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\"><path d=\"M34.52 239.03L228.87 44.69c9.37-9.37 24.57-9.37 33.94 0l22.67 22.67c9.36 9.36 9.37 24.52.04 33.9L131.49 256l154.02 154.75c9.34 9.38 9.32 24.54-.04 33.9l-22.67 22.67c-9.37 9.37-24.57 9.37-33.94 0L34.52 272.97c-9.37-9.37-9.37-24.57 0-33.94z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><button class=\"stk-block-carousel__button stk-block-carousel__button__next\" aria-label=\"Next slide\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"fas\" data-icon=\"chevron-right\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chevron-right\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\"><path d=\"M285.476 272.971L91.132 467.314c-9.373 9.373-24.569 9.373-33.941 0l-22.667-22.667c-9.357-9.357-9.375-24.522-.04-33.901L188.505 256 34.484 101.255c-9.335-9.379-9.317-24.544.04-33.901l22.667-22.667c9.373-9.373 24.569-9.373 33.941 0L285.475 239.03c9.373 9.372 9.373 24.568.001 33.941z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><\/div><div class=\"stk-block-carousel__dots\" role=\"list\" data-label=\"Slide %%d\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n<\/section> \r\n\r\n\n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"673715 advertiser\" class=\"issue-section enterprise-adv\">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                            \"\r\n            id=\"673715\">\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/673715\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-673715\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-673715 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-advertiser wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bdc.com.eg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/730.jpg?ssl=1\"><\/a><\/span><\/p><div class=\"grouped-tags\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<hr style=\"height:2px;border-width:0;color:gray;background-color:gray\">\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"673716\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"673716\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">4<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">ON THE SIDELINES<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/interview-with-hisham-akram-founder-and-director-of-granite-financial-holding\/\">\r\n                            Interview with Hisham Akram, founder and director of Granite Financial Holding                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n       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data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"768.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/768.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/768.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-673716\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-673716 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-on-the-sidelines tag-2025-enterpriseam-egypt-forum tag-enterpriseam_event2025 tag-on-the-sidelines wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-audio mb-0\"><audio controls preload=\"metadata\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/ent.news\/audio\/2025\/10\/.e763664d-abe2-423a-b438-c38c52006651.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>EnterpriseAM: <\/strong>So, what's new with Granite Financial Holding?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Hisham Akram: <\/strong>Well, everything is new about the company. We're basically launching Egypt's first digital money market account. The idea of the account is to have access to a money market fund, and there will be a direct sweep between the account and the fund. People will interact directly through the account, and their money would get swept into the fund whenever they want \u2014 whether they want to add money, top up their account, or redeem money, it gets redeemed from the fund seamlessly. The great thing about the app is that it will also allow for digital onboarding in less than three minutes, and for each transaction, whether adding or removing money, it will take less than one minute.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>E: <\/strong>If you were to start over and build a new business in a different sector, what would it be?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>HA:<\/strong> I think I would do the same thing. I think digital transformation is the name of moving forward. The traditional way of doing banking is old, focusing on this digital transformation is very interesting for us, especially in the asset management space. We can add new and innovative products that were otherwise not available in the Egyptian market, like the digital money market account, pension plans, and real estate investment trusts. Now there are a lot of regulations that support that, and we want to benefit from that.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>E: <\/strong>On a personal level, which asset class do you prefer to invest in at the moment?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>HA:<\/strong> I think being a portfolio manager, I believe in diversification \u2014 you need to have a bit of equity, a bit of debt, and also a bit of precious metals. They've been doing very well, particularly gold and real estate.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>E:<\/strong> Would you share with us which ones you\u2019re more leaning toward currently?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>HA:<\/strong> It's kind of tricky, but I think I prefer equity moving forward. Carry trades now, with the real interest rates in favor of the EGP, also look very interesting for those who are USD-denominated.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>E: <\/strong>What exchange rate are you penciling in for your 2026 budget?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>HA:<\/strong> I think the USD is going to be hovering around the EGP 48 mark\u2014maybe go up a little bit, maybe go down a little bit depending on the inflows of USD. Egypt has been doing well with that. We also depend on flows from tourism and the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal has not been doing very well over the past 12 months. Moving into '26-'27, I think it will make sense for the currency to depreciate a little bit further. This depreciation has been supporting exports and tourism and definitely reducing our import bill. So, I would expect anywhere between 48 and 50 for the 26-27 budget, or I'd like to see it around that mark.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>E: <\/strong>How do you plan to finance growth next year? Where do interest rates need to be for bank debt to be in that mix for you?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>HA:<\/strong> As far as Granite is concerned, we're going to be financing growth primarily through equity. We do not need debt, so this is not our main focus. It\u2019s going to be predominantly through equity. And I'd like to see interest rates come down, obviously.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>E: <\/strong>Has AI had any impact on hiring plans within your company?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>HA:<\/strong>Yes. We've been looking at AI closely. One of the areas we're exploring is customer service \u2014 responding to customer queries, maybe having AI-powered call centers or chatbots through WhatsApp. We\u2019re also looking at reporting to different agencies through AI. Obviously, there has to be human intervention, but the preparation and generation of reports will be powered by AI in the next twelve months.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>E: <\/strong>Has hiring gone up or down with your use of AI?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>HA:<\/strong> It has gone up in the areas where we need humans, and we\u2019re managing it very well in areas where AI can substitute. AI cannot replace good employees everywhere, but it can in certain activities. For instance, our tech team has been using AI to help with tech development and customer service. In certain areas, we\u2019re not going to spend too much money hiring people. Mind you, using AI is still expensive because the CAPEX to get AI operational is not cheap. But that\u2019s going to be the overall direction moving forward.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>E: <\/strong>Are you fundamentally optimistic, pessimistic, or neutral about the outlook for your industry in 2026?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>HA:<\/strong>Obviously, I'm very optimistic. Why? Because we're in that business. Moving forward, with the regulations now in place in the asset management space and the favorable economic environment \u2014 interest rates coming down, the currency stabilizing, and real GDP growth on the rise \u2014 I think it all works in favor of people working in capital markets, especially those deploying technology to support that direction.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/2025-enterpriseam-egypt-forum\/\">2025 EnterpriseAM Egypt Forum<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/on-the-sidelines\/\">ON THE SIDELINES<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"673718\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"673718\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">5<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">A MESSAGE FROM PFI<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/private-equity-as-the-engine-of-egypts-reform-agenda\/\">\r\n                            Private equity as the engine of Egypt\u2019s reform agenda                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/private-equity-as-the-engine-of-egypts-reform-agenda\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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This unique positioning strengthens Egypt\u2019s competitiveness and establishes it as a diversified, investment-ready economy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>With Egypt Post\u2019s 160-year legacy of trust as its foundation, PFI has evolved from a project management office into a fully-fledged private equity firm.<\/strong> This evolution reinforces our role as a strategic investor, acquiring, restructuring, and scaling companies that drive competitiveness, resilience, and inclusive growth. Guided by a clear mandate across strategic, operational, non-banking financial services, and logistics sectors, we deliver sustainable returns for our shareholders while generating measurable impact in line with Egypt\u2019s reform agenda.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">By combining disciplined capital deployment with institutional credibility, PFI stands as a trusted partner in shaping Egypt\u2019s growth story.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pfi.com.eg\/\" style=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">Click here to learn more about PFI<\/a><\/strong><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/2025-enterpriseam-egypt-forum\/\">2025 EnterpriseAM Egypt Forum<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/a-message-from-pfi\/\">A MESSAGE FROM PFI<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/post-for-investment\/\">Post for Investment<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"673720\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"673720\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">6<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">ON THE SIDELINES<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/interview-with-abdelaziz-abdel-nabi-ceo-and-co-founder-of-catalyst-partners\/\">\r\n                            Interview with AbdelAziz Abdel Nabi CEO and co-founder of Catalyst Partners                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/16\/interview-with-abdelaziz-abdel-nabi-ceo-and-co-founder-of-catalyst-partners\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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We just finished the acquisitions, from the SPAC perspective, of Catalyst Partners Holding and Qardy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>E: <\/strong>If you were to start over and build a new business in a different sector today, what would it be?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>AA:<\/strong> Honestly, I would redo everything the same, with more focus on technology, because I believe it's the future.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>E: <\/strong>On a personal level, which asset class do you prefer to invest in at the moment?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>AA:<\/strong>Anything that has to do with technology, as I mentioned, because basically technology is the future, and AI, and anything that can create a better future for the whole ecosystem.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>E: <\/strong>What exchange rate are you penciling in for your 2026 budget?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>AA:<\/strong>This is actually a very nice and interesting question. We believe that there are things that are doing well in the economy in Egypt. Basically, I would say in the range of 45 to 50. We hope it gets much better.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>E:<\/strong> How do you plan to finance growth in 2026, and where do interest rates need to be for bank debt to be in that mix for you?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>AA:<\/strong>As mentioned, we are the first SPAC, so basically we're listed on the stock market. And we hope that this will give us the ammunition and cash flow to be able to grow the business through the stock market. As for interest rates, we tend to have them in the range of 15% to 18%. Lower means better, but this is what we can see or base our budgets on.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>E: <\/strong>Has AI had any impact on your hiring plans within your company?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>AA:<\/strong>It made us smarter, quicker, and more agile. And we're looking forward to more expansion abroad. We already have a presence in Saudi Arabia. We're very proud to be there. And the more we have technology to bridge between countries, the easier and more agile it becomes to grow our business.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>E: <\/strong>Are you fundamentally optimistic, pessimistic, or neutral about the outlook for your industry in 2026 \u2014 and why?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>AA:<\/strong>I'm very optimistic. And I see what's happening now in the whole ecosystem \u2014 or the whole macro fundamentals \u2014 in Egypt has been doing very well for the past couple of years, and we're going to see the flourishing basically next year, in 2026 and 2027. We see many more things to grow and happen for the better.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/2025-enterpriseam-egypt-forum\/\">2025 EnterpriseAM Egypt Forum<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/catalyst-partners\/\">Catalyst Partners<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/on-the-sidelines\/\">ON THE SIDELINES<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":673708,"template":"","categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-673707","forum","type-forum","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","wpautop","entry"],"acf":{"mongo_id":"bd4c3883-1c80-4c26-9bf1-c96e31ddeff4","teaser":"","photo_url":"https:\/\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/771.jpg"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - 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