Tourism to the Middle East has been significantly affected by ongoing tensions in the Persian Gulf region. According to Reuters in March, Middle East tourism, valued at $367 billion annually to the region, “is taking a hit from the widening conflict between U.S.-Israel forces and Iran, putting at risk the region’s carefully constructed image as a safe and high-end vacation hotspot.” It is contributing to a diversion of travelers toward North African destinations … lifting its hospitality industry,” according to a May article in Arabian Gulf Business. A report by U.N. Tourism published in June shows a drop in the expected annual growth in…
Author: Fatema Fouad
Supported by a population of more than 110 million, a strategic location, diverse natural and tourism resources, a skilled workforce, and an active private sector, Egypt has the fundamentals to attract private capital, venture capital, and foreign investment. “Egypt remains a strategic market given its strong entrepreneurial talent base and large consumer market,” Essam Aly Mostafa, CEO of venture capital firm EDAFA, noted in February. Since the launch of the Startup Charter in February, the government has demonstrated a growing commitment to fostering and strengthening entrepreneurship. The goal is to “mobilize up to $1 billion in funding over five years through public-private partnerships, providing…
Disruptions in transportation and global supply chains present Egypt with new opportunities to emerge as a key transit and logistics hub. The changing dynamics of global supply chains require countries to stay vigilant, as periods of volatility can quickly disrupt international trade. Such disruptions often arise when maritime chokepoints are affected by unforeseen events. According to ALG, a logistics and transport consultancy, in March, “More than 80% of global trade travels by sea. Yet the system hinges on a handful of narrow maritime chokepoints, and when one fails, the shock is immediate and global.” In the meantime, global supply chains…
Regional instability is driving the Egyptian government to strengthen its strategy for resilience and sustainable growth, anchoring its role as a regional energy hub. On April 7, AmCham Egypt hosted its monthly luncheon featuring the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, as the keynote speaker. Badawi addressed Egypt’s strategy for resilience and sustainable growth. The meeting also hosted a panel discussion that featured senior executives from international energy companies operating in Egypt, including Apache Egypt, BP, Chevron, and Shell Egypt. Panelists included Dalia El-Gabry, chair of Shell Egypt; Wael Shahin, regional vice president of BP in Egypt; Greg…
For decades, wealth management has been a male-dominated activity, but today, women are rapidly emerging as major wealth creators, influential investors, and strategic decision‑makers. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2024, an estimated $3.22 trillion of additional investment capital globally could be unlocked if women invested at the same rate as men. This shift isn’t just symbolic; it’s significantly reshaping how capital flows, how companies operate, and what the future of business looks like. “Women have the power to fundamentally reshape the financial services and investment landscape, as both investors and from within key financial institutions,” the WEF…
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integral to global economies and societies, the need for effective AI governance has never been more urgent. “In 2026, AI governance will be about much more than regulatory compliance,” said Dera Nevin, managing director in the technology segment at the international firm FTI Consulting, in January. “‘It will be integral to doing good business.” “Organizations that build governance into how they develop and deploy AI will gain a competitive edge and be better positioned to reduce related regulatory and litigation exposures,” Nevin told Governance Intelligence, a digital content and events company. In that regard,…
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has indicated a positive outlook for the Egyptian economy in the period ahead in its monetary policy report for the third quarter (3Q) of 2025. Notably, annual headline inflation is expected to continue declining, averaging 14% in 2025 and 10.5% in 2026, compared to 28.3% in 2024. The report showcases improving global conditions, a firmer exchange rate and supportive monetary policies as key factors contributing to easing inflation. “Recent moderation in global commodity prices, particularly oil, is likely to reduce import inflation pressures, supporting Egypt’s external balances and domestic price stability,” the report noted. While inflation is expected…
Egypt has officially opened the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), a cultural highlight of the modern era located near one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. With 81 museums already in place in Egypt, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is set to be the largest archaeological museum in the world. According to an article by Forbes in November, the GEM has 12 exhibition galleries packed with more than 100,000 artifacts spanning more than 5,000 years from pre-dynastic times to the Greco-Roman era. “Some of the items on display have never before been seen by the public, while others, including about 4,500 funerary objects,…
GCC governments are advancing efforts to diversify their economies by reducing dependence on oil revenue and fostering an export base centered on high-value-added goods and services. According to an analysis by Strategy&, a global consulting business, in December, “If GCC countries craft and successfully execute a masterplan for the export of non-oil goods, they could see the value of these exports grow to a massive $1 trillion annually by 2030, from $202 billion (2022 baseline)” The $1 trillion figure is based on “past export growth, the comparative advantage of GCC countries in key export areas and extrapolating top quartile export…
The global cleantech sector, encompassing renewable energy, smart water solutions, energy efficiency, and climate-resilient innovation, is gaining momentum as one of the most crucial and competitive industries worldwide. “Cleantech energy supply investments, including renewable power generation, green hydrogen production, and carbon capture and storage (CCS), will reach $670 billion in 2025, marking the first time these investments will outpace projected upstream oil and gas spending,” said Edurne Zoco, executive director for clean energy technology at S&P Global Commodity Insights, in January. The global clean tech boom is driving manufacturing investments as countries aim to boost energy security and competitiveness, and…