Egypt has recorded a sustained decline in births from 2018 through 2025, according to data from the Ministry of Health’s digital birth and death registration system, now in use across more than 5,000 healthcare facilities nationwide. Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said the downward trend reflects the impact of national family planning and reproductive health programmes, alongside expanded service coverage and rising public awareness of responsible and planned childbirth. Despite the overall decline in births, the data showed that caesarean deliveries remain exceptionally high, accounting for around 80% of all births nationwide in 2025. Rates exceeded 90% in Kafr El-Sheikh, Port Said and Gharbeya, while Matrouh and South Sinai recorded the lowest levels, at below 60%. Deputy Health Minister Amr Kandil said Egypt’s population increase in 2025 amounted to approximately 1.34 million people, underscoring that controlling population growth remains a key pillar of the country’s sustainable development strategy.

Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance, affirmed the Ministry’s continued commitment to strengthening the capabilities of Egyptian students at leading international universities. He highlighted ongoing efforts to expand local and international training programmes and increase access to advanced initiatives across a wide range of disciplines. The Minister stressed the Ministry’s keenness to deepen its partnership with Harvard University as part of a strategic approach to investing in young leadership and enhancing their global competitiveness. Since 2009, the Ministry of Finance has fully supported 59 students who successfully met Harvard’s admission requirements and enrolled in master’s programmes in public administration, public health, education, and design. The specialised master’s programmes offered are closely aligned with Egypt’s development plans and national priorities.

The visit aims to deepen collaboration between India and Egypt and explore new opportunities for joint ventures, technology transfer, and capacity-building across the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. The delegation includes senior representatives from India’s pharmaceutical industry and is focused on opportunities in generics, biosimilars, and vaccines—areas in which India has established global leadership. Egypt’s pharmaceutical market, projected to grow from $5.1bn in 2024-25 to $5.7bn in 2025-26, presents significant potential for strategic partnerships and investment. Ambassador Reddy highlighted the growing momentum in India-Egypt pharmaceutical relations, stating: “India has long been a trusted partner in the global pharmaceutical industry, and Egypt’s dynamic healthcare sector offers an ideal platform for deeper collaboration. The visit also marks the launch of new initiatives designed to stimulate investment, promote knowledge exchange, and drive innovation in the healthcare sector.

Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has approved 53 decisions issued by the Board of Directors of the Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority (MRMIA) relating to the issuance and renewal of mining exploration and exploitation licences during the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025. The approvals follow recommendations from a specialised committee formed by ministerial decree to review applications for mineral exploration and exploitation licences. According to the ministry, the decisions include the issuance of 11 exploration licences for minerals such as vein feldspar, calcite, vermiculite, wadi feldspar, magnetite, iron oxide and talc. In addition, 15 exploitation licences were issued for minerals including fluorite, iron oxide and phosphate, while 26 exploitation licences were renewed for phosphate, wadi feldspar, iron oxide, glass sand and vein feldspar. These include phosphate fertilisers (phosphate), glass manufacturing (glass sand), ceramics (feldspar), cement (iron oxide), and other downstream industries that rely on minerals such as talc, vermiculite and magnetite.

Artificial intelligence and digital assets were at the centre of talks between Prime Investment Group and global technology leaders during CES 2026 in Las Vegas. On the sidelines of the world’s largest technology exhibition, Tamer Wagih, Chairperson of Egypt-based Prime Investment, held a series of high-level meetings with senior executives from leading global technology companies, including Jensen Huang, Founder and CEO of NVIDIA, and Michael Saylor, Founder and Chairperson of MicroStrategy. During the meeting, Wagih reaffirmed Prime Investment Group’s commitment to artificial intelligence, announcing plans to double the group’s AI-related investments in 2026. He said the move reflects the group’s strong conviction in AI’s central role in shaping the future of business and the global economy. The meetings form part of Prime Investment Group’s broader strategy to stay aligned with global technological and economic transformations, while strengthening its presence in high-growth, high-impact sectors in the years ahead.

Egypt has declared the Grand Egyptian Museum carbon neutral, marking the first time carbon footprint accounting has been applied to a national mega project, officials said on Sunday—an important milestone in the country’s push toward green development. Awad described the step as unprecedented among Egypt’s national projects and said it reflects presidential directives to integrate environmental and climate considerations into the planning and implementation of major developments. She added that the initiative aligns with Egypt Vision 2030 and the National Climate Change Strategy 2050. Achieving carbon neutrality at the Grand Egyptian Museum demonstrates Egypt’s ability to deliver world-class cultural landmarks that meet international sustainability standards, Awad said. Ahmed Ghoneim, Chief Executive of the Grand Egyptian Museum Authority, said the verified report confirms the museum’s commitment to managing major events using robust emissions measurement methodologies, while linking heritage preservation with environmental protection.

Egypt’s National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) will launch a “Safe Child Unit” in six governorates as an initial phase to provide integrated support for children facing physical and psychological violence. The initiative, discussed during a meeting of the Standing Committee for Health and Population on Sunday, aims to establish a comprehensive care system that includes psychological support, social services, and medical referrals. “The Safe Child Unit will specialise in providing comprehensive and integrated care for children and their families, particularly those who have been subjected to any form of psychological or physical violence,” al-Sonbati said. Al-Dorry noted that the unit represents a qualitative addition to the national child protection system, designed to enhance recovery and social reintegration for victims of abuse. Wael Abdel-Razek, Secretary-General of the NCCM, confirmed that the project will begin in six provinces as a model for future nationwide expansion.

Egypt has accused Israel of using its unilateral recognition of Somaliland to advance “illegal schemes” aimed at the forced displacement of Palestinians and deepening divisions in the Gaza Strip. The Foreign Minister reaffirmed Egypt’s categorical rejection of any unilateral actions aimed at imposing an illegitimate fait accompli. Regarding Gaza, Abdelatty called for the immediate implementation of the second phase of a United States-backed peace plan to ensure a permanent ceasefire and a total Israeli withdrawal. During consultations with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Abdelatty discussed the need for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2803. In separate talks with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya, Abdelatty addressed the ongoing crisis in Yemen.

The first project, developed by Norway’s Scatec, involves the construction of a massive solar power plant in Minya governorate named Energy Valley, or Valley of Sustainable Energy, supported by a battery energy storage system. The second project, developed by China’s Sungrow, entails the establishment of a factory in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) to manufacture energy storage batteries. A portion of the factory’s output will be supplied to the Energy Valley project in Minya. Both projects are being implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy and the General Authority for the SCZONE. The Energy Valley project is described as one of the world’s largest integrated clean energy ventures and the first in the region to provide stable, clean electricity 24 hours a day at a competitive tariff.

Arady Misr for Planning and Development, a PropTech company specialising in land intelligence and digital real estate solutions, has officially launched AradyMisr.com, Egypt’s first fully integrated digital platform dedicated exclusively to the trading of land assets. The platform leverages artificial intelligence, interactive mapping and geospatial analytics to digitise land listings and enable transparent buying, selling and leasing of land across Egypt. The Developers Room aggregates land opportunities nationwide, including privately owned plots, government-affiliated land and assets held by major corporations and institutions. “This feature functions as a centralised land marketplace—effectively a clearinghouse for land opportunities in Egypt,” El-Tahhan added. A substantial share of transactions—particularly in agricultural land—continues to take place outside formal channels, underscoring the need for a centralised digital platform to enhance transparency, governance and market efficiency.

The Association of Real Estate Developers (arD) has released its first annual report reviewing the performance of Egypt’s real estate market in 2025 and outlining expectations and policy recommendations for 2026. According to the report, 2025 should not be viewed as a year of slowdown but rather as a period of “repositioning” for the real estate sector. He added that the continued momentum in the tourism sector, especially with the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, has acted as a key catalyst for investor interest and tourism-related real estate demand. These mixed-use projects, the report noted, align closely with evolving market needs and enhance the international competitiveness of Egypt’s real estate offerings. The report concludes that Egypt’s real estate market is entering 2026 with greater maturity, stronger discipline and enhanced long-term potential, positioning the sector as a key pillar of the national economy and an increasingly attractive destination for both domestic and foreign investment.

MIDAR for Investment and Urban Development, the master developer of Mostakbal City and MADA in New Cairo, has signed an agreement with Sporting for Investment and Sports Facilities (S.I.S.F), owned by Alexandria Sporting Club, to manage, operate and market the first social sports club in Phase Three of Mostakbal City. The project spans more than 42 feddans and involves total investments exceeding EGP 3bn. Ayman ElKousey, CEO and Managing Director of MIDAR for Investment and Urban Development, said the project represents a strategic step in strengthening sports and social infrastructure within Mostakbal City. Meanwhile, Ahmed Hassan, Chairperson of Alexandria Sporting Club, welcomed the partnership with MIDAR, describing it as a key step towards providing a high-quality social sports experience for residents of Mostakbal City in New Cairo. The announcement follows a recent agreement under which MIDAR became the master sponsor of Alexandria Sporting Club, covering sponsorship of all the club’s teams, sports activities, and social, cultural and recreational events.

A joint development project in Aswan has expanded into a second phase with EGP 120m in funding to integrate smallholder farmers into Egypt’s formal financial system, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation announced on Sunday. The “Transforming the Livelihoods of Smallholder Farmers” project, a collaboration between the CBE, the banking sector, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), aims to improve economic livelihoods through modern irrigation and financial literacy. The second phase, which began in January 2025 and runs through December 2026, targets 11 new villages following a first phase that the CBE says increased farmer revenues by 35%. Data from the project’s first phase, which ran from January 2021 to June 2022, showed that 85,000 smallholder farmers benefited from the consolidation and development of 8,500 feddans. Minister Alaa Farouk described smallholder farmers as the cornerstone of food security and a key pillar of the national prospect for the agricultural sector.

Egypt’s mortgage finance sector remains severely underdeveloped, accounting for only 0.3% of gross domestic product, compared with around 41% in markets such as Morocco and South Africa and nearly 50% in the United States, according to Ihab Omar, Managing Director and CEO of Qastali Mortgage Finance. Financing challengesDespite strong underlying demand, real estate developers continue to face major difficulties in securing financing, Omar said. Bank approval processes can take up to eight months, while mortgage finance companies are regulated under the same framework as consumer finance firms, despite fundamental differences between the two activities. “Unlike consumer finance, mortgage lending is backed by fixed assets rather than consumable goods,” he explained. Omar also pointed to the reliance on a single foreign credit rating agency to assess mortgage finance companies, with fees charged in U.S. dollars.

CAIRO, Jan 11 (MENA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s firm support of the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen. He underlined the importance of preserving state institutions to safeguard the resources of the Yemeni people and prevent the situation from sliding into further escalation and instability. Abdelatty made the remarks during a meeting with Yemen’s Foreign Minister and Minister of Expatriates Shaea Mohsen Al-Zindani on the sidelines of an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers in Jeddah. The Egyptian foreign minister also underscored the depth of the fraternal ties between the two countries. Abdelatty underlined the importance of reaching a comprehensive political solution through an inclusive Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue that would lead to a settlement that would meet the Yemeni people’s aspirations for security, stability and development, and bring an end to their suffering.