Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population signed a memorandum of understanding with Roche Diagnostics to establish a national digital pathology network, aimed at enhancing diagnostic capabilities and speeding up cancer detection across Egypt. The agreement was signed at the Egyptian Center for Disease Control (EGYCDC) in the presence of Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Health Minister. The memorandum was signed on behalf of the ministry by Mohamed Hassani, Assistant Minister for Health Initiatives, and by Moataz Nassef, Chairman of Roche Egypt Diagnostics. The network will convert pathology samples into digital images that can be analysed using artificial intelligence, helping bridge geographic gaps between patients and medical specialists. Digital pathology tools could increase diagnostic accuracy to around 92%, compared with approximately 85% using traditional methods.

The conflict between Israel and the United States on one side, and Iran on the other, entered its ninth day on Sunday, with escalating missile exchanges and rising regional tensions. Meanwhile, attention in Tehran has turned to the process of selecting a new supreme leader amid the intensifying confrontation. Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian President, said Iran would not yield to military pressure. In the early hours of Sunday, Iran launched a new wave of missiles toward Israel, according to Iranian media. A spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces said Iranian strikes destroyed four radars belonging to the U.S. THAAD missile defense system in recent hours.

Ahmed Rostom, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, met with Abdel Aziz Al Mulla, Executive Director for the Arab countries group at the World Bank, and Hisham Seif, Alternate Executive Director, to discuss ways of deepening cooperation between Egypt and the World Bank Group. The meeting forms part of efforts to support the state’s path towards comprehensive and sustainable development and to implement the goals of Egypt Vision 2030. Rostom highlighted the strategic partnership with the World Bank as a key driver in supporting Egypt’s economic and structural reform agenda. The discussions also covered the potential implementation of spatial development programmes designed to accelerate employment, focusing on the economic clusters approach. The meeting further addressed the role of the World Bank Group in promoting innovative financing models to stimulate infrastructure projects, improve implementation efficiency, and ease financing pressures on the state budget.

MRB, a facility management consultancy, has signed an agreement with Bright City Developments to manage and operate the Bright Point Mall project. The Bright Point Mall is a mixed-use development covering 4,053 sqm, featuring two underground parking levels, a ground floor, and 11 repeated floors. The ground floor is dedicated to retail, floors one to six to medical facilities, and floors seven to eleven to administrative offices, with a total of 416 units. Mohamed Rashid, CEO of MRB, said, “Bright Point Mall strengthens MRB’s portfolio. Abdelghany Abdelkarim, Chairperson of Bright City Developments, highlighted that the mall reflects the company’s focus on mixed-use projects in strategic, high-potential locations.

Emtelaak Investment announced that it has obtained approval from the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) to establish Emtelaak for Underwriting and Management of Real Estate Investment Funds, chaired by Waleed Shaarawy. The new company will be responsible for managing and underwriting real estate investment funds. This approval follows an earlier step in November 2025, when the group received FRA approval to establish the Emtelaak Real Estate Investment Fund, chaired by Magdy Al Yamany. Shaarawy said the new company aims to support the growth of institutional real estate investment in Egypt. Al Yamany noted that the real estate investment fund will operate under asset management standards applied in investment funds, providing both individual and institutional investors with a vehicle to invest in income-generating real estate assets.

Ayman Shalaby, CEO of the CB Link programme, said the initiative recorded significant growth during its first year in Egypt, with the number of partners exceeding 3,000. Shalaby added that CB Link aims to double this figure to about EGP 30bn in sales during 2026. Zain revealed that the company achieved sales of approximately EGP 65bn in 2025 and is targeting EGP 100bn in sales in 2026. He also highlighted the attractiveness of the Egyptian real estate market for investors, particularly from the Gulf, citing the relative stability of the market despite regional challenges. Zain expects real estate sales to improve after Eid al-Fitr, especially in the North Coast market during April and May.

The Arab League has condemned Iranian attacks against Gulf states as a “massive strategic error,” with Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit stating on Sunday that Arab nations are speaking with one voice in rejecting any violation of their sovereignty. “Arab countries are not a party to the ongoing war, nor did they want it to break out,” Aboul Gheit said. He noted that Arab states had previously declared their refusal to allow their territories or airspace to be used as launchpads for military operations. Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein also condemned attacks targeting various areas across Iraq, stating that the purpose of these “aggressive strikes” was to drag the country into the regional conflict. Hussein noted that while Iraq supports negotiations between Iran and the United States, it condemns both the ongoing military campaigns against Iran and the expansion of the war.

Salam Properties has announced its expansion strategy for 2026, focusing on accelerating project execution, diversifying its portfolio, and completing ongoing developments. Walid ElDeeb, Chairperson of Salam Properties, said the company plans to deliver more than nine projects in New Damietta City during 2026. The delivery plan also includes phases of residential projects intended to provide housing with integrated services. According to ElDeeb, Salam Properties also plans to expand its real estate offerings across residential, commercial, administrative and medical segments, while introducing flexible payment plans in response to market conditions. ElDeeb concluded that Salam Properties conducts detailed market studies for upcoming projects to better align developments with demand in emerging cities, while maintaining a focus on design standards, services and construction quality.

The General Assembly of the Real Estate Development Chamber at the Federation of Egyptian Industries held its meeting on Wednesday to review the chamber’s performance and key developments in Egypt’s real estate sector. Under the decree, the cost was set at EGP 1,400 per square metre in Greater Cairo, Alexandria, and some areas along the Cairo–Alexandria Desert Road; EGP 1,000 per square metre in other governorates excluding Upper Egypt; EGP 800 per square metre in Upper Egypt governorates; and EGP 300 per square metre for buildings in villages. The chamber also participated in establishing two new units under the New Urban Communities Authority: the Real Estate Market Regulation Unit and the Real Estate Export Unit, aimed at increasing developer participation in decision-making. In addition, the preliminary activation of the national real estate platform was announced to allow companies to begin initial registration. Shoukry concluded that the chamber will continue working to support developers, address challenges facing the sector, and introduce practical solutions to ensure sustainable growth in Egypt’s real estate market.

Global energy executives and traders warned that oil prices are set to reach $100 per barrel within days as the near-total halt of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz transforms a long-held worst-case scenario into a reality. The physical energy market is already showing signs of severe strain. Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported that Qatar’s energy minister warned oil could reach $150 per barrel if the conflict is not resolved soon. Amos Hochstein, managing director at TWG Global and former advisor to Joe Biden, warned that the market facesfurther volatility. “If the Strait remains closed when oil returns to trading tomorrow evening, I think the price jump will be much larger,” he said.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi discussed regional developments with French President Emmanuel Macron during a phone call on Sunday, including the ongoing war in Iran and its implications for the Middle East, according to the Egyptian presidency. Al-Sisi also condemned Iranian attacks on Arab countries, noting that several regional actors, including Gulf states, have sought to de-escalate tensions and pursue a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear issue. They also underlined the importance of launching early recovery and reconstruction efforts while rejecting any attempts to displace Palestinians. Both leaders stressed the need to resolve crises through peaceful means and to intensify international efforts to contain tensions in the Middle East. Macron expressed appreciation for Egypt’s role in efforts to de-escalate the regional crisis, the statement said.

A delegation of 14 garment and textile industry leaders from Hong Kong recently concluded a business mission to Cairo, aimed at exploring investment and partnership opportunities in Egypt’s fast-growing manufacturing sector. The mission was organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) as part of efforts to strengthen Hong Kong’s ties with Egypt’s textile and garment industry and identify tangible market opportunities. The meetings highlighted Egypt’s investment framework, strategic geographic position, and growing potential as a competitive, export-oriented manufacturing base. She added that strong investment incentives and strategic opportunities are available for Hong Kong companies, encouraging industries such as garments, textiles and electronics to consider Egypt as a base for regional expansion. The mission underscored Egypt’s growing profile as a manufacturing destination and highlighted opportunities for Hong Kong firms to leverage the country’s strategic advantages for long-term growth and cross-regional cooperation.

Recent Bloomberg shipping data reveals a staggering 85% decline in commercial traffic through the Strait compared to last year. With Tehran retaliating via drone and missile strikes across the Gulf, global oil prices have surged past $90 per barrel, marking the largest weekly percentage increase since the 1980s. 2025 Operational ExcellenceDespite global volatility, SUMED reported exceptional operational results for the 2025 fiscal year:Throughput: Transported approximately 50 million tonnes of crude oil (approx. “The current suspension of operations by major global shipping firms in the Red Sea has underscored SUMED’s role as a primary pillar of global energy security,” Al Khanini remarked. Minister Badawi noted that their legislative and technical expertise provides a “valuable addition” to the company’s governance during this period of high-stakes energy diplomacy.

Egypt’s Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, said the state will not allow any manipulation of the prices of essential goods or the deliberate withholding of them from the market, stressing the need to safeguard market stability and protect consumers. Madbouly made the remarks during a meeting on Sunday with Mahmoud Momtaz, head of the Egyptian Competition Authority, to review several of the authority’s work files. During the meeting, Momtaz said the authority had succeeded in developing and launching the Competitive Neutrality Index, a quantitative tool designed to identify obstacles and measure competitive neutrality across various sectors. He noted that the assessments were based on four main pillars: regulatory neutrality, tax neutrality, indebtedness, and public procurement. These indicators aim to ensure that there is no discrimination or administrative burden that could hinder companies’ entry into markets or their expansion within them, in line with the state’s strategy to strengthen competitive neutrality.

Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA) Chairperson Rasha Abdel Aal said that benefiting from the simplified tax system for businesses with annual turnover of less than EGP 20m under Law No. 6 of 2025 is conditional on full compliance with both the e-invoice and e-receipt systems. Abdel Aal explained that the simplified tax system is designed to support compliant taxpayers and streamline procedures. Compliance with the two systems, she added, is a key condition for maintaining access to the advantages offered by the simplified tax accounting regime. The ETA head called on all taxpayers wishing to benefit from the simplified tax accounting regime to complete their registration and enrolment in the e-invoice and e-receipt systems as soon as possible.