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Egypt eyes USD 3-4 bn by year-end in renewed post-Eid privatization push
EGP-pegged loans | Sugar import ban extended | Real estate prices on the rise.
Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Post-Eid plans
Good morning, folks. We’re closing out our last Ramadan issue with a look at upcoming privatization plans coming after Eid. At least 20 enterprises are lined up for exits or IPOs, a welcome respite from squeezed Suez Canal revenues and hot money flights.
Today at a Glance
Podcasts
Morning Drive is your daily download of the essential headlines shaping Egypt. Hosted by ‘Synthetic Salma’ — an AI-powered version of Executive Editor Salma El-Saeed.
PlaylistListen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Investment Watch
M&A Watch
Explore EnterpriseAM for your industry
A close look at key activities driving headlines across industries
Privatization Watch
Gabal El Zeit deal nears finish line with USD 416 mn valuation
Final signatures are expected later this month
Egypt moves iconic state hotels under Sovereign Fund of Egypt
Good morning friends, and happy first Friday of Ramadan. It’s been a calmer-than-usual week in the press, and we’ve got the full…
Newsmakers
Sokna CEO Ahmed Gaballah on why hospitals and others are now seeking out the startup rather than the other way around
Over seven years, we estimate we’ve helped around 1 mn people inside and outside Egypt
My Morning Routine
Chambers and Partners is out with its 2026 list of Egypt’s top arbitration litigators
Youssef + Partners’ Karim Youssef was awarded the top title of Star Individual
Spotlight
Regulation
Legislation Watch
Parliament moves to shield healthcare and research from nuclear fee hikes
Amendments create a clearer distinction between commercial nuclear ventures and…
Regulation Watch
El Sisi shuffles central bank board, appointing three new subject-matter experts
Sherif Kamel, Ali Faramawy retain seats for another year
Cabinet Watch
Garghoub is now a Special Economic Zone — here is what that means for investors
Plus: A major overhaul at GOEIC to slash customs times
Ittihadiya
El Sisi, Trump meet up on the sidelines of Davos
Egypt accepted an invitation from the US to join the…
Startup Watch
Bahrain’s Beban eyes Egypt launch with equity crowdfunding model
Mohamed Aboulnaga’s Foras AI raises stake as Beban seeks FRA approval
Meet our founders of the week: Knot Technologies’ Ahmed Abdalla and Hussein ElBendak
Knot is building its AI-native ticketing and access control infrastructure out of Egypt for…
Meet Tribe founder Roba El Gindy
“Tribe is the village that it takes to raise a child”
Industries
Banking
Egypt continues to issue LCs as usual
LCs continue to be processed — albeit after closer inspection…
Finance
Insuring the boom: The missing piece of the AI infrastructure puzzle
Possible disruptions, coupled with a lack of ins. coverage, is…
Capital Markets
Risk-off mode triggers a strategic pivot for EGX portfolio managers
Al Ahly Pharos is now advising clients to “hold incremental…
Fintech
CBE greenlights full rollout of soft POS, turning smartphones into payment terminals
Following a two-year pilot phase that had restricted contactless payment…
Climate
Oriental Weavers counts carbon to clear new green trade hurdles
Plus: Valmore Holding sees revenues rise 24% y-o-y in 2025
Automotive
Industry Ministry pushes for 100k vehicles a year and 60% local content in an auto industry reboot
Proposed incentives include performance-based bonuses, extended support for EVs, and…
Commodities
Hormuz Strait closure leaves gap in global fertilizer market — and also cuts off the gas we need to fill it
Egypt already producing 7-8 mn tons of nitrogenous fertilizers each…
Tech
Renergy Group Partners floats USD 1 bn data center in Sinai
Good morning, friends, and welcome to the last workday of…
Energy
Egypt moves to shrink oil arrears to USD 1.2 bn by end of June
The country wants to prevent arrears from piling up again,…
Infrastructure
Egypt inks USD 296.5 mn locomotive overhaul deal with Canada’s APD
The 12-year contract covers 55 locomotives currently in service and…
Manufacturing
The second phase of industrial financing program is here with bigger caps + new KPIs
The second phase of the program will see borrowing limits…
Mining
Crowded trades reverse as metals plunge and USD gains
The gold and silver rout raised concerns over momentum-driven markets
Tuesday, 17 March 2026
Good afternoon, friends, and welcome back.
Still unsure where to go for your first post-Ramadan breakfast this weekend? We might have a few ideas. Also in today’s issue: We break down why Ab w Laken didn’t land and list the footie fixtures on our radar tonight.
Today at a Glance
Friday, 13 March 2026
Good morning, friends, and happy weekend.
With Eid just around the corner, this week’s edition of The Enterprise Guide is all about how to spend it. Also in today’s edition: We revisit a 1960s classic rom-com, recommend several books on Iran’s history, politics, and people, check out Mazeej Balad’s suhoor experience, and more.
