Here's what we're tracking today
IMF Board approves our fifth and sixth reviews
EGP slides on Iran war talk | Localization incentives expand | CBE ups growth forecasts.
Thursday, 26 February 2026
Happy Thursday!
Good morning, friends. We bring the first full workweek of Ramadan to a close with news that the IMF approved the fifth and sixth reviews of our USD 8 bn loan program, putting a USD 2.3 bn disbursement within our eyesight.

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.
Listen 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
Egypt moves iconic state hotels under Sovereign Fund of Egypt
Good morning friends, and happy first Friday of Ramadan. It’s…
Egypt to centralize historic hotels under Sovereign Fund of Egypt
The full plan is expected to be finalized before the end of the first half of the year.
Newsmakers
Sokna CEO Ahmed Gaballah on the startup’s cemetery project
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
Central Bank of Egypt raises growth forecasts, but keeping the lid on inflation remains top monetary priority
The upgrade comes on the back of “anticipated contributions from…
Finance
Retail investors are reshaping Wall Street’s power balance
Individual traders logged USD 5.4 tn in activity last year…
Capital Markets
Beltone Holding rolls out private equity platform
The platform will be led by Beltone Venture Capital CEO…
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
EGP slides amid talk of incoming US attack on Iran
Good morning, friends. We bring the first full workweek of…
Automotive
Local assembly grew in 2025, but still lagged behind imported vehicle sales
Sales of vehicles imported whole rose 12.1 percentage points faster…
Commodities
Gov’t opens sugar export taps for first time in three years to drain 1 mn ton glut
The current abundance “negates any feasibility of continuing the export…
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
Gov’t expands list of industrial activities eligible for investment incentives
The new decree links incentives to geographic zones, with 30-50%…
Mining
USD rebound sends gold crashing
The gold and silver rout raised concerns over momentum-driven markets
Thursday, 26 February 2026
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and congratulations on making it to the weekend.
It’s been a slow week in the press, and this afternoon is no exception. In today’s issue, we break down the Ramadan season’s commercials and take a look at one of the month’s most polarizing series.

Today at a Glance

Friday, 27 February 2026
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and happy weekend.
It’s been a lighter-than-usual week in the press, and we’ve got the full rundown for you. In this week’s edition of The Enterprise Guide, we’re listing trusted channels through which you can donate towards Ramadan boxes, or buy and distribute them yourself.

