Egypt’s current parliament is witnessing the highest representation of real estate developers in its history, with around 20 members in the House of Representatives and nearly five in the Senate coming from the sector. This strong presence is expected to directly shape the legislative agenda, placing real estate development challenges at the forefront of parliamentary discussions during the current session. Meanwhile, housing committee member Mahmoud Taher highlighted the importance of introducing independent escrow accounts for each real estate project. Real estate brokerage and land allocationMassoud added that regulating the market would remain incomplete without a law governing real estate brokerage, noting that the absence of regulation has led to inflated commission rates ranging from 8% to 15%, compared to the historically standard 2.5%. On land allocation, housing committee member Mohamed Sobhy pointed to difficulties in acquiring land and rising construction material costs as major challenges facing developers.

Gold prices in Egypt’s local market declined by EGP 150, or 2.2%, over the past week, even as global gold prices posted gains, reflecting a correction driven by a narrowing pricing gap between local and international markets. According to a report issued by online gold and jewellery trading platform iSagha, international gold prices rose by around $70, or 1.4%, to approximately $4,965 per ounce. Saeed Embabi, Chief Executive Officer of iSagha, said 21-carat gold closed the week at EGP 6,675 per gram, while 24-carat gold reached approximately EGP 7,629 per gram. Eighteen-carat gold was priced at EGP 5,721 per gram, and the gold pound stood at around EGP 53,400. Embabi explained that the decline in local prices occurred despite the global uptrend due to a pricing premium in the domestic market of between EGP 300 and EGP 500 above international levels.

Egypt’s Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) has launched a digital factoring system on its electronic portal in partnership with e-finance to prevent double financing risks and streamline oversight of the sector, the regulator said on Sunday. The first phase of the system allows factoring companies to conduct electronic inquiries into invoices to verify whether they have been previously funded. FRA Chairperson Mohamed Farid said the launch is a step toward building an integrated infrastructure for the digital transformation of non-banking financial services. He noted that the system employs financial technology to enhance transparency and governance while improving the speed of service delivery. Under the new mechanism, factoring firms can reserve invoices in their favour until the funding is disbursed to the seller.

As part of its approved development plan, EgyptAnode has recently received the coke cooler following the completion of its full rehabilitation. This milestone marks a key step toward the start-up of the company’s second production line and supports preparations to reach full production capacity by early March 2026. The rehabilitation works are proceeding according to schedule, reflecting EgyptAnode’s commitment to implementing its operational plan in line with the highest technical and operational standards. In parallel with its expansion plans, EgyptAnode is preparing to export its second shipment of calcined petroleum coke since resuming operations in October 2025. The company relies on advanced technologies and stringent quality and safety standards, reinforcing its position as a cornerstone of Egypt’s national industrial base.

Suez Canal revenues reached $449m since the beginning of 2026, marking a recovery following a ceasefire in Gaza that restored regional stability, Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairperson Osama Rabie said on Sunday. The canal recorded the passage of 1,315 ships with a total net tonnage of 56m tons from January 1 to February 8, 2026. The Suez Canal has “redefined itself” as a sophisticated logistics system adopting comprehensive digital transformation, according to Rabie. Under its 2030 strategy, the Suez Canal Authority has completed the development of the canal’s southern sector, which Rabie said has increased the navigational safety factor by 28%. Following the opening session, Rabie inspected the Martech 2026 international maritime technology exhibition, featuring SCA-affiliated companies and shipyards.

Torasna for Heritage Development and Management and Brassbell Hospitality Group have formed an alliance to jointly pursue heritage-led hospitality developments across Egypt, positioning adaptive reuse as a scalable response to the country’s record tourism growth and expanding lodging capacity. The alliance comes at a pivotal moment for Egypt’s tourism sector. The partnership combines Torasna’s expertise in heritage-driven development and adaptive reuse with Brassbell’s hospitality development and operational capabilities. Ahmed Shaboury, Chairperson and CEO of Torasna, said: “Egypt is entering a defining phase for tourism, and heritage-led hospitality has a critical role to play in shaping its next chapter. “Heritage-led assets, when thoughtfully developed and professionally operated, can contribute meaningfully to the country’s hospitality and tourism landscape,” he said.

Jerusalem —The first week of the partial reopening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt was marked by confusion, and logistical hurdles, according to Palestinians attempting to cross and multiple sources who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity. On Monday, when the crossing officially reopened, only 12 Palestinians crossed the Rafah border in each direction. A Palestinian child waves from the window of a bus evacuating war-wounded patients through the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Monday. Palestinian patients and their relatives gather to board a bus in Khan Younis in southern Gaza before they head to the Rafah crossing on Wednesday. Tearful reunionsPalestinians coming from the Rafah crossing embrace as they arrive at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Thursday.

IQNA – Egypt's Awqaf ministry denied rumors of a ban on using external loudspeakers for the Maghrib and Fajr prayers during RamadanSpokesperson for the ministry Osama Raslan shot down claims of an alleged ban on broadcasting the Quran via external loudspeakers in mosques during Ramadan. In a phone interview on the program “al-Hekaya”, Raslan said that the regulations governing the use of external loudspeakers in mosques during Ramadan remain unchanged and have been in place for years. These regulations prohibit the use of external loudspeakers outside of the times for the Adhan (call to prayer) and Iqamah (second call to prayer), he noted. Raslan explained that the Taraweeh prayers in mosques will be broadcast using internal, not external, loudspeakers, which will be sufficient and audible to those praying in the mosque’s courtyard. External loudspeakers have been a source of competition at times, he noted, especially when mosques were under the control of certain groups.

A proposal by the Vice President of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, Amira Saber, to establish a national human tissue bank and facilitate tissue donation procedures after death has sparked controversy. Saber explained that the debate surrounding the proposal has been divided into two camps: one that understands the nature of the proposal and the diseases it could help treat, and another that does not understand the meaning of tissue or its importance in creating natural skin as an alternative to expensive imported skin tissue. The proposal aims to regulate human tissue donation by establishing an organized mechanism for donation and utilizing tissue banks to provide the necessary skin grafts for treating critical burn cases, especially among children. Skin donation is similar to other organ donations and that Egyptian law permits it, provided that medical and ethical procedures are followed. A large number of social media users expressed reservations about the proposal, pointing to ethical and cultural concerns related to the idea of tissue donation after death.

Gold prices remained relatively stable worldwide at the close of trading on Friday, ahead of the international stock exchange holiday on Saturday, following a week of sharp rises and falls. Gold Prices in EgyptGlobal developments have impacted the Egyptian market, which witnessed relative stability during trading in the final hours of Saturday, with most jewelry stores closed for the weekend. According to reports from the Gold Division, a gram of 24-karat gold is currently priced at LE 7,622, while 21-karat gold – the most commonly traded in Egypt – is selling for around LE 6,670, and 18-karat gold is at LE 5,717. Trading Economics forecasts a price of $5,021.67 by the end of the current quarter and $ 5,346.67 within 12 months. UBS also forecasts $6,200, while Deutsche Bank and Société Générale predict $6,000, viewing the current dip as a buying opportunity.

The head of the Communications and Information Technology Committee in the Egyptian House of Representatives, MP Ahmed Badawy, announced that the government will begin shutting down and blocking online betting apps in Egypt soon, such as the 1XBET app. No blocked gambling apps will be allowed to return, he said, with new legislation is currently being drafted that includes deterrent penalties for any applications which encourage betting and gambling, thereby eliminating legal loopholes that allowed their proliferation in the past. Badawy emphasized that the state is not against technological development or digital transformation. However, he stressed that this development must not be allowed to to harm society, explaining that addressing these negative aspects requires decisive decisions and clear laws. Eevery electronic platform operating within Egypt will have an accredited legal representative who can be consulted and held legally accountable in case of violations, he said, as part of a new regulatory framework aimed at controlling the digital space and protecting users.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Expatriates Affairs Badr Abdelatty on Saturday, 7/2/2026, affirmed that reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is crucial to correcting the historical injustice imposed upon the African continent. Abdelatty made the remarks during a meeting with Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu, the Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations in New York, and Chairperson of the African Union Committee of Ten (C-10) on UN Security Council Reform. Abdelatty stressed the importance of pursuing a comprehensive and integrated reform of the Security Council, without fragmenting the elements of the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, which serve as the guiding framework for the African position. The top Egyptian diplomat emphasized the fairness of the African cause, affirming the continent’s right to secure two permanent seats with all associated privileges and powers, including the veto right. He further called for five non-permanent seats in a newly expanded Security Council that reflects Africa’s size and influence in the international arena.

Egyptian authorities have removed 32 encroachments on the Nile River and adjacent riverbank lands in the Shubra-Helwan sector as part of a national project to regulate the Nile and its branches, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said. According to the ministry, the removals included structures conflicting with the planned “Ahl Misr” river walkway project in Moneil Shiha, which is expected to extend for around eight kilometres. Sewilam stressed the importance of continued monitoring to protect the Nile and ensure the immediate removal of any new encroachments, underscoring the river’s role as a vital lifeline for Egypt’s development. He also called for stricter oversight of riverfront development projects to ensure compliance with approved designs that do not negatively affect the river’s hydraulic and environmental systems. The Nile regulation project aims to restore the river’s carrying capacity, curb encroachments, improve the management of riverbank lands, and provide accurate data on the riverbed and banks to support sustainable water resources management.

The Ministry of Industry has announced a new package of grace periods and incentives aimed at supporting distressed industrial projects that have exceeded their approved implementation timelines, as part of the government’s efforts to accelerate production, protect manufacturers, and maximise the use of industrial land. Under the new package, grace periods will be granted based on each project’s level of construction completion. The ministerial decision also introduces new controls on the transfer and leasing of industrial land. The transfer or leasing of industrial land within industrial zones or developer-managed areas will be prohibited until seriousness is established, three years of operation have elapsed, and the full land price has been paid. The ministry said the new measures aim to support industrial investment, remove obstacles facing serious investors, accelerate the operation of stalled projects, and ensure the optimal use of industrial land, while safeguarding state rights and advancing sustainable industrial development.

Egypt’s Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) has authorised securities brokerage firms to market their services through electronic payment applications and other digital platforms for the first time, according to a statement issued by the regulator on Saturday. Farid stated that the decision integrates technology into the core of non-banking financial services while enforcing strict controls to protect investor data and prevent biased guidance. While platforms may promote brokerage services following a formal agreement, they are strictly prohibited from acting on behalf of the brokerage firm or providing investment advice. The FRA emphasised that brokerage firms remain solely responsible for opening client accounts and executing trade orders. Additionally, brokerage firms are required to publish clear, updated information on the platforms regarding their services, fees, commissions, and the risks associated with electronic trading.