Newsletter: FutureVerse LEAP’s comeback The fifth edition of the gathering offers a temperature check for the Gulf’s AI ambitions amid fallout from the US-Israel-Iran war. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Xi makes first Egypt visit in decade as Cairo gets caught in US-China AI row China's Huawei last month submitted a bid to build advanced AI data centers and supply more than 2,000 AI chips for Egyptian government systems. Egypt
Analysis How Ethiopia’s new dams test Egypt’s ability to defend its Nile red lines Ethiopia’s water minister has emphasized the country’s plans to move forward with new Blue Nile dam construction, leaving Egypt to contend with the potential fallout. By Eli Siegel-Bernstein
Newsletter: Business & Tech Iran keeps Hormuz reopening on hold Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz remained low, with only five commodity vessels transiting the waterway on Tuesday, according to data from maritime tracking firm Kpler. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Analysis Egypt’s renewable power jumps 34% as country tackles energy crunch After slow growth scaling up clean energy, Egypt’s renewables push may be gaining traction in 2025 as new projects come online in a welcome development for a country that has grappled with a power crunch since 2023. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Egypt steps up alarm on Ethiopia megadam as Sudan battles floods: What to know Sudan’s government earlier this week warned of high risk of floods across six of the country’s 18 states. Sudan
Egypt, Somalia discuss military ties as Cairo set to deploy troops for AU mission The Egyptian and Somali defense ministers met in Cairo to discuss strengthening military cooperation, marking the latest sign of deepening military ties between the two African nations amid the volatile situation in the Horn of Africa. Egypt
Egypt’s Sisi talks water security with Rwanda's president in wake of Ethiopia’s megadam debut Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Cairo to discuss coordination efforts and developments in the Nile Basin region following Ethiopia’s inauguration of its controversial dam. Egypt
Who is Alaa Abd el-Fattah, iconic Arab Spring activist pardoned in Egypt? Abd el-Fattah is one of numerous activists to be imprisoned in Egypt and his case has drawn condemnation from the UN and the British government. Egypt
Turkey, Egypt join forces for first EastMed drills in 13 years The joint exercises signal a thaw in Ankara-Cairo relations after years of tension over regional rivalries and past political disputes. Turkey
US, Saudi Arabia wrap up drone drill after Iran’s top security chief visits Riyadh The US military framed the drill, which was held amid tensions following Israel's strike on Hamas leaders in Doha, as a response to drone attacks by Iran and its proxies. United States
Culture 3,000-year-old gold bracelet vanishes from Egypt museum: What we know Egyptian authorities are searching for a 3,000-year-old gold bracelet that vanished from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Egypt
Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone posts record $237M revenues Suez Canal transit revenues declined 54% between July 2024 and March 2025, caused by reduced shipping traffic in the Red Sea amid attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on commercial vessels. Egypt
Will Egypt’s cooling inflation, economic growth satisfy IMF ahead of $8B loan review? The IMF is set to send a mission to Cairo this fall to review Egypt’s $8 billion loan program. Egypt
Saudi firm to pump $700M into economic zone developer in Africa The kingdom's Vision Invest will invest in pan-African developer Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms, which will use the funds to expand across the continent and develop green industrial ecosystems. Saudi Arabia
Newsletter: Business & Tech Revolut makes Middle East entry with UAE approval This week’s newsletter looks at Egypt’s $18 billion Gulf-backed tourism project, Revolut’s entry into the Middle East via the UAE, and a new India-Israel investment pact, alongside fresh moves in the Gulf’s AI race. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech