Bookmarks (343)

When a young woman named Al-Dahnā, living in the Arabian Peninsula during the Umayyad Islamic period, was asked why she was unhappy with her marriage, she did not hesitate or shy away from giving an honest answer: her husband was inexperienced in bed. Standing before the governor of al-Yamāma, a district east of Najd on the Arabian Peninsula, Al-Dahnā had to justify her request...

Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan El Khatib met on Saturday 29 March with Samsung Egypt CEO Wonkyong Kim to discuss the company’s ongoing projects and future plans to expand its operations in the Egyptian market. The meeting, attended by senior officials from both the Ministry of Investment and Samsung, highlighted the growing partnership between the Egyptian government and the global electronics giant....

Marvel Studios is once again facing backlash, and this time, it’s over a character that many argue should have never been included in Captain America: Brave New World. The controversy surrounding Sabra, the Marvel comic book character, and her actress, Shira Haas, an Israeli who previously served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), has ignited heated discussions among fans, further adding to the already...

As Egypt rides a wave of surging tourism, the country has welcomed a landmark addition to its hospitality landscape: the grand opening of the world’s largest Sofitel hotel, located on the banks of the Nile in central Cairo. The Sofitel Cairo Downtown Nile officially opened its doors in January 2025 in Egypt as it continues to cement its place as one of the world’s...

With the evolution of Egypt’s infrastructure, the need for an inclusive infrastructure that caters to persons with disabilities (PWDs) has never been more pressing due to the statistics provided. With approximately 12 million individuals living with disabilities in the country, representing about 35 percent of the population when considering their families, the urgency to create accessible environments is paramount. As a result, the Egyptian...

The thought of working at an office, dealing with a rigid schedule, and commuting again feels intolerable for some.  Working from home during COVID-19 has reshaped how people perceive their careers and maintain work-life balance worldwide. For many remote workers, returning to a traditional 9-to-5 office job was not worth it. Sarah Hesham, a 25-year-old freelance graphic designer,  shares the sentiment.  After the pandemic...

  Egypt’s Dar al-Iftaa has officially declared Monday, March 31, 2025, as the first day of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan. The announcement comes after the Shawwal crescent moon, which signals the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal and Eid al-Fitr, was not sighted. The religious authority’s statement emphasizes that the moon’s failure to appear on Saturday means the holy month...

Archaeologists from the Penn Museum, working in collaboration with Egyptian researchers and the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, announced on 27 March additional details regarding an earlier discovery of a large tomb belonging to an unidentified pharaoh at the Anubis Mountain necropolis in Abydos. The discovery is expected to contribute to ongoing research into a lesser-documented period of ancient Egyptian history. The tomb,...

Eid in Cairo is a magical time when the streets come alive with joy, celebration, and a sense of community. After the spiritual reflection of Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr is all about reconnecting with loved ones, enjoying good food, and embracing the festive atmosphere that fills every corner of the city. Whether you’re a lifelong Cairene or just visiting, here are some fun ways to...

Few moments are as comforting as waking up on Eid morning - after a month of fasting - and biting into a warm, buttery kahk biscuit coated in snowy icing sugar. The post How to Make Authentic Kahk This Eid (Because Store-Bought Just Sucks) first appeared on Egyptian Streets.

Egypt is moving forward with plans to upgrade 11 airports through public-private partnerships, with support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank. The initiative aims to enhance airport infrastructure, improve passenger services, and boost connectivity while reducing the financial burden on the state. Under the partnership, the IFC will serve as an advisor to Egypt’s Ministry of...

Novo Nordisk’s once‐weekly injectable, Ozempic (semaglutide), originally developed for type 2 diabetes, has increasingly attracted attention in Egypt, not just for its blood-sugar-lowering benefits, but for its marked weight‐loss effect too. Clinical trials involving more than 10,000 adults led to its launch in the country in late 2021, and local specialists have hailed its ability to both control blood sugar and reduce body weight,...

is a vast necropolis (a cemetery) in Cairo that has served as a burial site for nearly 1,400 years.  A Brief History of Cairo’s City of the Dead With its origins dating back to the 7th century, this cemetery is a testament to the city’s rich history and complex cultural landscape.  The City of the Dead coincided with the Islamic conquest of Egypt led...

At least six people are feared dead and nine others injured after a tourist submarine sank off the coast of Hurghada early Thursday morning on 27 March, according to local authorities and media reports. The vessel, identified by the BBC as the Sindbad, was carrying 50 people, when it sank near the city’s harbour. Twenty-nine passengers have been rescued, while four of the injured...

The time spent preparing a full meal may seem like just a matter of hours, but for Egyptian women, especially when making mahshi — stuffed veggies or commonly known as dolma — time is not measured by the ticks of a clock. It is a gentle, healing ritual, flowing through each tender vine leaf, far more than the simple act of cooking a dish....

The month of Ramadan in Egypt is more than just a religious month; it is a time of togetherness, tradition, and, in recent decades, high-stakes television drama. While it may seem a relatively old tradition, the dominance of TV series in Ramadan is a new trend that truly took off in the 1990s and 2000s. With Ramadan being such a central part of Egyptian...

A recent study led by Italian researchers Filippo Biondi of the University of Strathclyde and Corrado Malanga of the University of Pisa has generated significant interest worldwide.  On 23 March, 2025, they announced findings from their expedition, titled the Khafre Project, which claims the existence of a vast underground city beneath the Giza pyramids.  The researchers suggested that this hidden city extends over 6,500...

Egypt has condemned Israel’s decision to establish a new directorate under the Israeli Ministry of Defense aimed at facilitating the so-called “voluntary departure” of Palestinians from Gaza.  The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the claim on Monday 24 March, that such a departure could be considered voluntary, stating that any movement of Palestinians under conditions of war, siege, and starvation amounts to forced...

As we approach the end of Ramadan 2025, the television landscape is illuminated by a remarkable array of series, many of which are told by talented women behind the camera. This year’s lineup highlights powerful stories and women’s impact in the industry. As Ramadan 2025 progresses, it is clear that women behind the camera have played a pivotal role in shaping this season’s television...

As violence escalates in Gaza, Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Hossam Shabat was killed today in an Israeli airstrike targeting his car in Jabalia. Shabat, aged 23, is among several journalists who have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict, as well as Mohamed Mansour, a correspondent for the TV channel Palestine Today, who was killed in a separate airstrike south of Khan Younis on...

Hamdan Ballal, the Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning film No Other Land, was reportedly assaulted by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and subsequently detained by Israeli soldiers on Monday, 25 March, according to his colleagues and eyewitness accounts. Several witnesses have confirmed the attack to the media. Ballal’s co-director, Basel Adra, told CNN that he went to Ballal’s home in the West...

Ramadan drinks have long been a staple of Egyptian culture, with classics like sobia and kharoub. This year, there’s a growing trend of incorporating these traditional beverages into modern café culture, merging nostalgia with contemporary tastes. Sobia, a sweet, coconut-based milk drink, kharoub, a refreshing, naturally sweet carob juice, tamarind, hibiscus, and apricot-based kamar el din made their annual return to iftar tables. But,...

Egypt’s National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) announced on 21 March that Eid al-Fitr will fall on Sunday 30 March based on astronomical calculations. The date coincides with projections in several Arab countries, marking the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal. In line with this announcement, Egypt has confirmed that the official Eid al-Fitr holiday will...

The National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has issued a reminder to Egyptian customers regarding the payment of customs duties on imported mobile devices.  In a recent announcement, NTRA emphasized that users must pay a customs duty of 37.5 percent on their imported phones by 7 April, 2025.  This includes a breakdown of fees: 14 percent value-added tax, 10 percent customs fees, 5 percent resource...

Cities often communicate through their towering skyscrapers, their concrete structures, and the glaring lights that define their skyline. But at times, cities also speak through their community centers, celebrations, and the warmth of shared traditions. In this instance, although a city like New York might appear to communicate solely through its towering skyscrapers, Ramadan unveils an entirely distinct facet of the city. It reveals...

Golden, crispy, and drenched in fragrant syrup, Loqmet Adi  is the ultimate Egyptian dessert bite. With a delicate crunch that gives way to a soft, airy center, these sweet fritters are addictive from the very first bite. Whether you prefer them coated in syrup or dusted with cinnamon and sugar, these fried delights are a must-try for any lover of Middle Eastern desserts. Also...

Buried for over 2,500 years, a collection of intricately crafted jewelry from the Dynasty 26 has resurfaced at Karnak Temple.  The discovery was made by the Egyptian-French archaeological mission of the Egyptian-French Centre for the Study of Karnak Temples (CFEETK) in collaboration with the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in February 2025. The artifacts, found...

In a world where polygamy is often viewed with skepticism and moral alarm, Hafsa Rizki offers a different perspective. For many, the idea of one husband having multiple wives conjures images of jealousy, injustice, and broken homes. Indeed, polygamy is globally rare – only about two percent of people live in polygamous households, and in most countries, it is under 0.5 percent​. In Egypt,...

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to visit Egypt on 7 and 8 April to discuss the Arab-backed plan for rebuilding Gaza, alongside broader regional developments. The visit was announced on Friday, 21 March, following a European summit in Brussels.  Macron has previously praised Egypt’s efforts in supporting Gaza’s residents and emphasized the importance of collective action to prevent further escalation and push for...

The Egyptian State Information Service (SIS) has denied on Friday, 21 March recent media reports by Israeli media of relocating 500,000 Gaza residents to North Sinai. The report claims that Egypt is prepared to “temporarily relocate half a million Gaza residents to a designated city in North Sinai as part of reconstruction efforts.” SIS reaffirmed that since October 2023 when Israel declared war with...

As the light of dawn breaks over Cairo, signaling the start of another day of fasting during Ramadan, Egyptians eagerly anticipate the moment when they can indulge in one of the holy month’s most cherished traditions: the sweet, crunchy delight of qatayef. Qatayef, which are dumplings or folded pancakes, are cooked on the stove.  A batter similar to this of pancakes is cooked on...

Amid the drumbeats and celebratory chants of a zaffa, which means a procession or march in Arabic, a couple’s journey into marriage begins with spectacle. The zaffa, a traditional wedding procession deeply rooted in Middle Eastern culture, particularly in countries like Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine, holds a special place in Egyptian wedding ceremonies. It symbolizes the grand entrance of the bridal party and...

Every year on March 21, families across Egypt and the Arab world celebrate Mother’s Day—a day dedicated to honoring the love, sacrifices, and dedication of mothers.  While the tradition of celebrating motherhood dates back to ancient civilizations, the modern version of Mother’s Day in Egypt has a unique origin, rooted in the country’s media landscape and the efforts of two pioneering journalists, Mostafa Amin...

No Other Land, an Oscar-winning documentary co-directed by Palestinians Basel Adra and Hamdan Ballal and Israelis Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, offers a profound exploration of the ongoing destruction of villages in the West Bank.  At its core lies the compelling story of Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist from Masafer Yatta, and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, who unite in their fight against the systematic...

Imagine starting your morning sipping coffee by the Red Sea, and by afternoon standing at the foot of the mighty Karnak Temple or gazing at the Great Pyramid of Giza.  In Egypt, ancient wonders and natural beauty are often just a day trip away. Whether you are visiting bustling Cairo, unwinding in Hurghada or diving in Sharm El Sheikh, these day trips are perfect...

Egypt recorded a historic primary surplus of EGP 330 billion during the first eight months of the fiscal year (July 2024–February 2025), according to Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk. During a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Kouchouk highlighted a 38.4 percent year-on-year increase in tax revenues, marking the highest annual growth rate in years.  He also noted that debt management strategies have helped distribute...

At least one United Nations (UN) staff member has been killed and five others injured following an explosion at two UN guesthouses in Deir al Balah, central Gaza, on Wednesday, announced the UN. The UN confirmed the attack was not due to its personnel handling unexploded ordnance. The head of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Jorge Moreira da Silva, speaking in Brussels,...

Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, met with Member of Parliament (MP), Yasmin Qureshi, the United Kingdom (UK) Trade Envoy to Egypt, and British Ambassador, Gareth Bayley, on Tuesday, 18 March, to explore ways to enhance health cooperation between Egypt and the UK. The meeting, which took place in the New Administrative Capital, focused on ongoing medical...

Engineer Amr Gazarin, Executive Chairman of Orascom Pyramids Projects, announced that a trial phase for visitors to the Giza Pyramids’ newly revamped area will commence on 7 April. During this period, access to the site will be facilitated through a newly established entrance off the Fayoum highway. The official full opening of the revitalized Pyramids area is scheduled for 3 July, coinciding with the...

Spacetoon, the Arabic animation and kids’ entertainment channel, announced on Instagram on its 25th anniversary, 16 March, that Ahmed El-Ghandour, widely known as El Daheeh (The Nerd), will be joining Spacetoon with a brand-new animated series titled Akher Daheeh Ala El Ard (The Last Nerd on Earth). El-Ghandour is a content creator, known for his engaging and thought-provoking educational content, making this collaboration a...

Egypt has issued a strong condemnation of the recent Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, which began early on Tuesday 18 March 2025.  Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence by reiterating its rejection of Israeli actions aimed at reigniting tensions.  According to Gaza’s health ministry, the overnight bombardment has led to severe casualties and extensive destruction across various...

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi announced on Monday, 17 March, that the Suez Canal is losing approximately USD 800 million (EGP 40.37 billion) in revenue each month due to ongoing regional tensions.  This statement came during the annual iftar banquet hosted by the armed forces in Cairo. The Iftar was attended by Speaker of the House of Representatives Hanafi Gebaly, Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly,...

At least 330 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip overnight following a wave of Israeli airstrikes, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The strikes come after negotiations to extend the ceasefire failed, marking the deadliest escalation since the truce took effect on 19 January. The Israeli military described the bombardment as “extensive,” targeting what it called “terror targets” belonging to Hamas. Prime Minister...

The rise of Egyptian footballers, Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush in English football is nothing short of transformative for Egyptian fans. With Salah lighting up the pitch at Liverpool and Marmoush making waves at Manchester City, these two athletes have ignited a passion for the game that transcends borders and generations.  Their success represents a shift in how Egyptians view their potential in football...

Egypt’s Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, convened on 16 March with the Minister of Social Solidarity, Maya Morsy, to examine a comprehensive assessment of the economic impact of refugees and migrants in the nation.  The meeting reviewed the estimated total costs incurred by the state to support guests of various nationalities, including refugees and foreign residents. It also covered the services provided to them in...

Emirates National Bank of Dubai  (NBD) has been granted approval by the Central Bank of Egypt to start due diligence for acquiring Banque du Caire, a transaction potentially exceeding USD 1 billion (EGP 50 billion), as reported by two sources familiar with the matter to Asharq Business. One source, speaking anonymously to Asharq Business, revealed that “the government is pushing diligently to finalize this...

The Egyptian government issued a decision to classify plastic shopping bags as products subject to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy, making manufacturers responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products, from production to post-consumer waste.  The decision, to be implemented under the Waste Management Law (Law No. 202 of 2020), would require producers to pay fees to government entities in exchange for the...

Egyptian wrestler Ashraf Mahrous, better known as Kabonga,  made headlines on Thursday, when he set his jaw, gripped a thick rope between his teeth, and proceeded to pull a 279-ton train nearly 10 meters (33 feet) down the track.  The extraordinary feat earned him formal recognition from Guinness World Records in three categories: the heaviest rail pull using only his teeth, the heaviest locomotive...

A group of charity workers was killed in Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza, according to the UK-registered Al Khair Foundation in statements to the media on 15 March. The charity reported that eight people, including its volunteers and independent journalists documenting their work, were killed when their vehicles were targeted on Saturday. Hamas condemned the attack, calling it a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire...

After the death of a medical student at Menoufia University in northern Egypt from a brain hemorrhage following a difficult exam, the university announced the suspension of four faculty members. In an official statement on Thursday evening, 13 March, the university announced launching an investigation following complaints from fifth-year medical students regarding the difficulty of the otolaryngology exam and the death of their colleague,...