The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) recently organized a seminar on “Current and Emerging Regulatory Developments”, attended by representatives from approximately 23 African central banks, members of the Association of African Central Banks (AACB). The event underscores Egypt’s leading role in fostering cooperation and knowledge exchange among African financial institutions. Tarek El Kholy, Deputy Governor of the CBE, said, “We always welcome cooperation and exchange of expertise with our brethren from African central banks to enhance work efficiency in all relevant specialties. This seminar marks the first in-person participation of African central bank representatives after a period of virtual-only sessions since 2021. These seminars have played a vital role in fostering expertise exchange among professionals in banking supervision and oversight across African central banks, strengthening the region’s ability to address emerging regulatory challenges.

Egypt is enlisting private sector firms to manage and operate state-owned textile factories following the expenditure of billions of Egyptian pounds on development projects, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Sunday. He described the textile sector as a “strategic national industry” and a cornerstone of the Egyptian economy. Meanwhile, the development of the Upper Egypt Spinning and Weaving Company in Minya has recorded a 71% completion rate. Works are also complete at the Dakahlia Spinning and Weaving Company. These efforts are intended to enhance product quality, increase production rates, provide sustainable employment, and grow the volume of exports.

Egypt has climbed 47 places in the World Bank’s 2025 Digital Government Maturity Index, ranking 22nd globally and consolidating its position among the world’s leading digital governments in Category (A), the index’s highest tier. Egypt achieved a maturity score of 0.911 out of 1, a marked improvement from its 69th-place ranking and score of 0.751 in the previous edition published in 2022. The digital government service delivery pillar recorded a score of 0.962, up from 0.795, while digital participation and citizen engagement improved substantially to 0.896 from 0.626. Commenting on the results, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat said Egypt’s advancement reflects the success of the Digital Egypt strategy and the Ministry’s efforts to accelerate digital transformation and build an effective digital government ecosystem. Talaat said these efforts focus on automating government processes and services, expanding digital services through the Digital Egypt platform, promoting the use of modern technologies across government workflows, and providing technical support for platforms that enhance citizen engagement.

Egypt’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Sameh Elhefny, received on Sunday Hamad Obaid Al-Zaabi, the newly appointed Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Egypt, at the ministry’s headquarters to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the civil aviation sector. Elhefny welcomed the UAE ambassador and wished him success in his new role, underscoring the deep-rooted historical and fraternal relations between Egypt and the UAE, which continue to grow across a wide range of sectors. The meeting focused on enhancing joint cooperation, particularly in increasing air traffic, advancing aviation training and capacity building, and exchanging technical and operational expertise. The minister also outlined the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s ongoing efforts to modernize Egypt’s civil aviation sector, in line with national priorities aimed at improving service quality, safety standards, and operational efficiency. For his part, Ambassador Al-Zaabi expressed pride in representing the UAE in Egypt and praised the strong ties between the two nations and their peoples.

Hassan El-Khatib, Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, met with Shihab Kuran, Founder and CEO of the US-based company Power Edison, to discuss potential collaboration in sustainable energy solutions. He highlighted the country’s strong capabilities and competitive advantages, which position Egypt to become a regional energy hub. “Egypt aims to enhance the utilization of sustainable energy resources, with a particular focus on solar energy,” El-Khatib said. He further stressed that Egypt’s economic strategy prioritizes a leading role for the private sector, while the state focuses on coordination and facilitation. He highlighted Power Edison’s readiness to collaborate with Egypt on regional projects, including initiatives related to the reconstruction of Gaza.

Housing and Development Properties (HDP), the real estate arm of Housing & Development Bank, has signed a cooperation agreement with EPower to manage, operate, and maintain electricity and water networks across several of its residential developments. The agreement aims to ensure the efficient operation of utility infrastructure and enhance service continuity across HDP’s projects. Under the agreement, EPower will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of medium- and low-voltage electricity distribution networks, in addition to managing water supply services. The agreement covers seven HDP developments, including Club Hills, Westview, and Terrace in West Cairo; Tadla, Square One Exclusive Residences, and The Gray in East Cairo; and The Island project at Marina 5 on the North Coast. EPower will also provide technical and after-sales support across all covered projects.

Tarek Shoukry, Head of the Real Estate Developers Chamber at the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI), said that enforcing a single, standardized real estate contract across all projects would be difficult both practically and legally, given the diversity of the market. Shoukry explained that variations in project types, locations, development models, and developer capabilities make a one-size-fits-all contractual framework unworkable. Instead, he argued that a balanced contract model—one that clearly defines the rights and obligations of both developers and buyers—would offer a more realistic and effective solution. “The priority is ensuring clarity, accountability, and protection for all parties involved.”He added that the Real Estate Developers’ Federation is expected to play a central role in regulating the market through the introduction of a strict developer classification system. He cited the FAR/BAR contract used in the U.S. as an example of a model that ensures fairness and enforceability.

ZAYA Developments has officially launched its new residential project, HOM, in 6th of October City, as part of the company’s expansion strategy in West Cairo. The HOM development spans 24 feddans and will deliver approximately 400 residential units in its first phase, with unit sizes ranging from 60 to 170 square meters. ZAYA is targeting EGP 1.5bn in sales during this phase, supported by flexible payment plans extending up to 10 years. This was followed by several developments, including La Castle 1–9, Roudy, and One Three One, making the launch of HOM a natural continuation of the company’s growth trajectory. Mohamed Gamal, Chief Commercial Officer at ZAYA Developments, noted that the HOM project reflects the company’s broader strategy focused on execution quality, financial discipline, and a clear operational model.

Al-Tameer Mortgage Finance Company (Al Oula) has signed a cooperation protocol with the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) to support Egypt’s mortgage finance system and expand access to housing finance for customers seeking to purchase units owned by the Authority. He explained that the protocol targets a long-standing gap in Egypt’s real estate market, particularly for mid- and lower-cost housing segments that fall outside government-backed mortgage programs. Under the agreement, Abdel Hameed noted, the Ministry of Housing will act as both developer and seller, while mortgage finance companies will provide financing in accordance with prevailing free-market lending regulations. Abdel Hameed described the targeted segment as the “missing link” between subsidized social housing and higher-priced middle- and upper-middle income units developed by private real estate companies. The cooperation protocol is expected to broaden access to mortgage finance for a wider base of homebuyers and contribute to improving housing affordability across Egypt’s real estate market.

Hesham Madkour, Vice President of MADKOUR Holding, said the group’s long-standing commitment to quality and execution excellence forms the foundation of MADKOUR Developments’ strategy as the group’s real estate arm. Madkour highlighted that MADKOUR Holding has executed national infrastructure projects for more than two decades, achieving annual business volumes exceeding $1bn. Ahmed Attia, CEO of MADKOUR Developments, said the company has adopted a structured and disciplined entry strategy, drawing on MADKOUR Holding’s technical, engineering, and administrative expertise. He noted that offering finished buildings reflects MADKOUR Developments’ commitment to transparency and investor confidence, allowing buyers and tenants to clearly assess the product from the outset. Founded by Mostafa Madkour, MADKOUR Holding operates across infrastructure, energy, industrial projects, and residential community management.

Vertex Technologies participated as an official sponsor of a job fair organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), reinforcing its commitment to youth empowerment and the development of digital and outsourcing talent in Egypt. The job fair aims to connect fresh graduates and job seekers with real market needs, while highlighting career opportunities across the information technology sector. Vertex Technologies’ participation aligns with the government’s broader strategy to strengthen the IT industry and enhance its contribution to economic growth. During the visit, Safrata highlighted Vertex Technologies’ ambitious expansion plans and emphasized the continued support provided by government institutions. In parallel, Vertex Technologies organized a series of workshops focusing on in-demand technical skills and effective career-building pathways.

The tomb of King Thutmose II has been named one of 2025’s top 10 archaeological discoveries worldwide, according to the American magazine “Archaeology”. It is the first royal tomb to be found from the 18th Dynasty since the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mohamed Ismail Khaled, said that this selection is further confirmation of the exceptional value of Egyptian archaeological discoveries and Egypt’s leading archaeological position. A grand discoveryThe tomb of King Thutmose II was discovered by a joint Egyptian-British archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the New Kingdom Research Foundation during excavations and archaeological studies in the Theban Mountains, west of Luxor. However, with the completion of the excavations, the mission uncovered new and decisive archaeological evidence that identified the tomb’s owner as none other King Thutmose II himself.

After months of political wrangling, the US Justice Department released documents from its investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which could have political repercussions. The report stated that the Justice Department is using a variety of tactics to try to conceal the US president’s connection to the sex offender, referring to Epstein. It explained that the Justice Department’s “partial release” of the Epstein files reflects a variety of tactics used to try to “conceal” and “obfuscate” Trump’s relationship with Epstein. “Hundreds of thousands were released today, and then in the coming weeks, I expect hundreds of thousands more. The report confirmed that by the time the administration released thousands of pages of material on Friday evening—not the hundreds of thousands promised by Blanche—many documents had been heavily or completely redacted.

Saied Embaby, CEO of iSagha, said local gold prices increased by roughly EGP 45 over the week. The price of 21-karat gold opened trading at EGP 5,745 per gram, touched EGP 5,800, and closed at EGP 5,790. Embaby added that 24-karat gold reached EGP 6,617 per gram, 18-karat gold stood at EGP 4,963, and the price of a gold pound climbed to EGP 46,320. Since the beginning of 2025, local gold prices have surged by around EGP 2,050, marking a 55% increase. Despite this typically negative correlation with gold, prices continued to rise, supported by strong demand.

Egypt on Saturday called for the restoration of inclusivity within the Nile Basin Initiative and the rejection of unilateral measures in the Eastern Nile during talks with Rwanda on the sidelines of the Russian-African Ministerial Forum. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasised the importance of cooperation and integration in the Nile River to achieve mutual benefits. Abdelatty also identified new avenues for partnership in telecommunications, information technology, social development, parliamentary cooperation, livestock development, and veterinary vaccines. Egypt has already dispatched experts in rice cultivation and irrigation to Rwanda following a request from the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture, Abdelatty said. He added that the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development will continue providing training programmes in fields including defence, policing, cybersecurity, and counter-terrorism.