Suez Canal Bank has officially joined the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), a global initiative comprising more than 700 financial institutions across six continents, aimed at standardising the measurement and disclosure of financed emissions arising from lending and investment activities. By adopting PCAF methodologies, Suez Canal Bank will be able to identify carbon-intensive sectors within its financing portfolio, enhance credit and portfolio risk assessments, and strengthen its capacity to design green and transition finance solutions tailored to clients’ needs. Commenting on the development, Akef El Maghraby, CEO and Managing Director of Suez Canal Bank, said the bank has already taken proactive steps to measure emissions associated with its financing activities. For her part, Angélica Afanador, Executive Director of the PCAF Secretariat, welcomed Suez Canal Bank’s accession to the partnership, describing it as an important step towards advancing sustainable finance in Egypt. She noted that by committing to measuring and reporting emissions linked to financial activities, the bank is enhancing transparency in the region and taking concrete steps towards effective emissions management.

The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) has released its annual report for 2025, titled From Regulation to Empowerment, documenting what it described as unprecedented advances across Egypt’s non-banking financial activities. Mohamed Farid, Chairperson of the FRA, said 2025 represented a genuine turning point in beginning to reap the fruits of the authority’s reform policies implemented since 2022. Of the total, 63% related to financing activities, 28% to capital market transactions, and 9% to the insurance sector. Farid noted that Egypt’s capital market recorded a historic surge in 2025, with total trading value reaching EGP 15.7trn, compared to around EGP 2.3trn in 2024. He added that the FRA granted the Egyptian Exchange its first licence to trade futures contracts, strengthening hedging tools and risk management mechanisms within the capital market.

Australian mining group Hunter & Co. has expressed its intent to launch investment projects and establish strategic partnerships within the Egyptian mining sector, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources on Sunday. The discussions centred on the recent package of legislative reforms and financial incentives designed to improve Egypt’s investment climate and attract international mining entities. Minister Badawi noted that this interest serves as a primary outcome of his visit to Perth, Australia, last November, where he promoted Egypt as a competitive destination for Australian mining companies. As part of the current visit, Hunter & Co. executives requested to inspect various mining sites and meet with other active industry players in the country. Both parties have agreed to coordinate with the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority (EMRA) to develop an executive framework and finalise the necessary steps for the company’s formal entry into the Egyptian market.

He highlighted the importance of meeting growing developmental and consumption needs, optimising Egypt’s available resources, and seizing promising investment opportunities—particularly in electricity generation from new and renewable energy sources. El-Homsany added that the meeting considered energy projects offered under the government’s asset offering programme, which aims to boost private sector participation across various economic activities, accelerate development projects, and attract more domestic and foreign investment into the energy sector. The meeting also reviewed existing cooperation and partnerships with international companies involved in implementing large-scale renewable energy projects in Egypt. These partnerships are expected to facilitate knowledge transfer and support the achievement of targeted objectives for increasing the share of new and renewable energy in the national energy mix. The Prime Minister emphasised that expanding renewable energy capacity remains a strategic priority, forming a key component of Egypt’s broader vision for sustainable development and long-term energy security.

Egypt’s Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar met Sweden’s ambassador to Cairo Dag Juhlin on Sunday to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in the healthcare sector, including preparations for a planned visit by Sweden’s health minister, the Egyptian health ministry said. Ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar said talks covered arranging field visits for the Swedish minister to Egyptian hospitals and pharmaceutical factories to boost cooperation and exchange expertise across multiple health fields. The two sides discussed signing joint memoranda of understanding to deliver tangible outcomes from the upcoming visit and expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest. They also explored bringing Swedish medical experts to visit Egyptian hospitals and share expertise in several specialties, aiming to improve healthcare services and enhance the skills of medical staff. Abdel Ghaffar reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to strengthening partnership with Sweden in healthcare in a way that serves shared interests and supports the development of health systems in both countries, the ministry said.

Polaris Parks for Industrial Development, a leading developer of industrial parks in Egypt, has announced the acquisition of a new 1.1 million square metre land plot in a strategic location in Sadat City. The acquisition represents a natural extension of the Polaris Sadat City Industrial Park, developed across an area of 1.4 million square metres and currently hosting around 100 factories. Sadat City Industrial Park has already attracted significant local and international investments, reinforcing the city’s position as a key destination for industrial investment. These include its flagship Polaris International Industrial Park and Polaris Zamil Industrial Park in 6th of October City, Polaris Sadat City Industrial Park, and Polaris New October in New October City. Polaris Parks is among the first companies to introduce the private industrial parks model in Egypt.

Gold prices in Egypt’s local market rose by around EGP 580, or 9.4%, during last week’s trading, driven by a sharp rally in global bullion prices, which climbed by about $392, or 8.5%—the strongest weekly gain in nearly six years. Saeed Embabi, CEO of iSagha, said gold opened the week at EGP 6,155 per gram and closed at EGP 6,735, while the global ounce price jumped from $4,596 to $4,988. He added that 24-carat gold ended the week at EGP 7,697 per gram, while 18-carat gold reached EGP 5,773 per gram. Embabi attributed the sharp rise in local gold prices primarily to the surge in global prices, alongside relative stability in the local US dollar exchange rate and stronger domestic demand. These factors have contributed to widening the gap between local and global prices to around EGP 146.

Bold Brand said that understanding differences between regional markets is central to the success of any expansion strategy. Egypt offers a large and diverse consumer base with growing demand for digital services and e-commerce, although purchasing power remains relatively moderate, driving stronger consumer focus on value and competitive pricing. The agency added that Saudi Arabia’s stricter regulations on digital advertising and data protection further increase the need for advanced, compliance-focused marketing solutions. Through its AI-powered services, Bold Brand aims to help companies build strong, data-driven brands, enhance customer journeys, and deliver measurable results in both markets. The launch is positioned as a strategic response to growing regional demand for intelligent, scalable, and compliant digital marketing solutions.

Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hany Sewilam, met with Nouraia Sanz, Regional Director of UNESCO’s Cairo Office, ahead of the end of her term, reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to continued cooperation with the organisation on water management and climate adaptation, the ministry said. During the meeting, Sewilam praised UNESCO’s constructive role in supporting Egypt and the wider region across water management, science, culture, and sustainable development. He stressed the importance of further strengthening collaboration, particularly in managing water resources and enhancing resilience to the impacts of climate change. The minister also highlighted UNESCO’s sponsorship of regional water training centres, including the African Centre for Water and Climate Adaptation (PACWA), and praised a climate risk decision-analysis training programme held in June 2025, which aimed to build technical capacity across Africa and the Middle East. He further thanked UNESCO for its role as a strategic partner of Cairo Water Week since its launch, noting that the organisation’s involvement has contributed to enhancing the event’s international standing.

Home Group Developments has launched its new residential project, La Vida Ismailia, in Ismailia city, with construction work already underway ahead of the project’s official market rollout. La Vida Ismailia is being developed on 17 feddans in Ismailia’s New District, near the El-Galaa Buildings and Toyota Ismailia. Ground-floor units range from 115 to 170 sqm, while upper-floor units range between 120 and 210 sqm. Gamal said construction work has already commenced, covering soil testing, site preparation, materials procurement and equipment mobilisation. Home Group has contracted SPT Engineering and Construction, a firm with extensive experience in large-scale projects, to carry out the works.

STM has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Majid Al Futtaim, the exclusive operator of the Carrefour brand in Egypt, marking a strategic move to strengthen the retail sector and expand modern shopping destinations across STM’s developments. Under the agreement, Carrefour and Supeco stores will be rolled out across selected STM projects, with the first phase set to begin with the opening of a Carrefour outlet at Kayan Plaza Mall in Kayan City. The MoU was signed by Shady Selim, CEO of STM, and Mohamed Khafaga, Regional Director of Majid Al Futtaim Retail in Egypt, in the presence of senior executives from both companies. He added that the collaboration supports STM’s vision of developing fully integrated commercial destinations that cater to the evolving needs of consumers. The partnership is expected to contribute to the development of the retail landscape within STM’s projects, combining Majid Al Futtaim’s extensive expertise in retail operations with STM’s expanding portfolio of mixed-use developments.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty arrived in Tunisia on Sunday to participate in a tripartite meeting with his Tunisian and Algerian counterparts focused on securing the withdrawal of foreign mercenaries from Libya and resolving the country’s institutional deadlock. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the discussions aim to reach a comprehensive and sustainable political solution that is “purely Libyan” and free from foreign interference. The ministerial agenda includes a review of the latest developments in the Libyan electoral process in accordance with the United Nations roadmap and structured dialogue sessions. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated that the meeting serves to coordinate efforts to support stability and maintain Libya’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Central to the discussions is the requirement to remove all mercenaries and foreign forces from Libyan territory before any electoral process begins.

Fawzy noted that fractional real estate investment via digital platforms has become one of the most prominent modern investment tools, particularly in light of the sharp rise in property prices, which has exceeded the financial capacity of large segments of individuals. This trend, he said, has driven growing demand for partial real estate ownership. He added that the Egyptian market has witnessed the launch of more than five digital real estate platforms within a single year, reflecting a tangible shift in investor behaviour. Fawzy stressed that real estate investment funds represent a key pillar for the growth and sustainability of the real estate development sector. For his part, Ahmed Abu El-Saad, a real estate fund management expert, portfolio manager, and CEO of Azimut Egypt, delivered a detailed presentation on the evolution of Egypt’s digital real estate platforms and REIFs.

“The United States and Israel share a strong and long-standing relationship based on close coordination and converging priorities,” he said. The visit follows the recent launch of a “Peace Council” designed to oversee the post-war transition in Gaza. These developments occur as the United States increases its military footprint in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that while the United States has a “fleet” moving toward Iran, he hopes the use of force will not be necessary. Trump reiterated warnings to Tehran against resuming its nuclear programme or taking action against protesters, while Tehran has stated that any attack would result in “comprehensive war.”

Ashraf Shoukry, deputy head of the SOE unit, said Law No. 170 of 2025, which regulates state ownership in companies, mandates the unit to establish and monitor restructuring programmes within binding timelines. This framework is intended to support the State Ownership Policy and propose legal structures to improve corporate performance. She described the State Ownership Policy as the primary reference for determining the extent of state intervention across various sectors. Egypt was the first country in the region to adopt a State Ownership Policy and recently ratified Law No.