Cadillacs in Cairo 🛞

Hey friends,

Welcome back to a new — and scorching hot — edition of the Egypt Weekly Roundup. Today’s temperature in Cairo is a sizzling 40 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, plenty of hot topics talked about this week — all covered in digestible bites below.

Now let's dive right in to the news.

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• BP to sell Egypt assets? 🛢️

• Iran not happy with Egypt 🇮🇷

• Visa-on-arrival goes digital ✈️

ENERGY | BP | INVESTMENT
BP WEIGHS SELLING EGYPT GAS ASSETS AS GLOBAL STRATEGY SHIFTS

Energy giant BP is considering selling part of its natural gas assets in Egypt, signaling a potential shift in one of the country’s most critical energy partnerships.

A major player: BP has invested over USD 35 billion in Egypt over the past six decades and currently accounts for around 60 percent of the country’s natural gas production through key projects in the East and West Nile Delta.

So what’s wrong? Sources speaking with Reuters say BP is exploring a partial sale of its Egyptian gas portfolio as part of a broader restructuring plan aimed at cutting debt and prioritizing higher-return projects. No final decision has been made so far. The move comes as BP’s production in Egypt has declined sharply—falling roughly 40 percent year-on-year in 2025—as the company reassesses its global portfolio under new leadership.

Not a full exit: Despite the potential sale, BP continues to expand exploration efforts in Egypt, including recent offshore discoveries and new concession awards—suggesting a strategic reshuffle rather than a complete withdrawal.

THE NEW EVERYDAY LIFE: LIVING IN EGYPT WITH DIGITAL FINANCE

Just a few years ago, it wasn’t unusual to find yourself digging for small bills to tip a waiter, or rushing to an ATM before meeting a delivery driver. Fast forward to today, and Egypt’s daily life feels entirely different. The move toward a cashless society isn’t just underway,  it’s already here.

Whether you’re splitting the bill at a café, paying rent, or sending money to a friend, cash is no longer the default. In Egypt, digital finance has become part of the social fabric, shaping how people live, spend, and connect.

Take InstaPay, for example. Created and operated by the Central Bank of Egypt, what began as a quick-transfer app has become a national habit. By the end of 2024, more than 12 million Egyptians were using InstaPay, completing nearly 1.5 billion transactions worth around EGP 2.7 trillion (USD 56.7 billion).

What’s striking is how seamlessly it fits into everyday routines. Delivery drivers, small shops, and even street vendors now accept transfers. You forgot your wallet? Just InstaPay.

And then came the likes of Apple Pay, officially launching in Egypt in December 2024 in partnership with major banks like the National Bank of Egypt, Banque Misr, and CIB. Suddenly, paying with a phone or smartwatch became second nature, a small but telling sign of how Egypt’s digital ecosystem has matured.

This shift has gone beyond convenience: It’s changed behavior. For many, digital payments now mean more control and transparency, from tracking daily expenses to receiving instant salary deposits. 

And as digital payments become part of daily life, platforms like Valu, who set the stage for a digital era since December 2017, are pushing the shift even further — turning cashless convenience into a complete financial ecosystem. Valu isn’t just about splitting big purchases; it’s building tools that make cashless living second nature. One example of this is in Spark’It, a Valu feature that allows users to pay for purchases on up to 45 days, with no additional costs. In a world without fintech and digital innovations, consumers would have never had flexibility like this.

Through its growing network of retail and online partners, Valu is embedding itself seamlessly into the everyday digital shopping experience, whether in-store or online. The focus is less on how people pay, and more on how smoothly they can move from browsing to checkout, with alternate payment solutions built directly into the entire experience.

Shopping online? Valu has revamped its Shop’IT feature, expanding on its existing online offering and providing users with a premium, streamlined way to shop and earn cashback. A feature like Shop’IT is the kind of modern convenience we’ve quickly come to take for granted. But rewind just a few years, and the idea of a one-stop-shop in your pocket to browse hundreds of merchants, compare options, check out seamlessly, and even earn cashback would’ve sounded almost too good to be true. And with its dedicated prepaid card, users can access their Valu limit in Egypt anywhere Visa is accepted, from booking travel to covering home expenses. 

What once felt futuristic, tapping, scanning, sending, has quietly become the norm. From morning coffee to midnight deliveries, digital finance now defines the new everyday life in Egypt.

IRAN | UAE | MIDDLE EAST
IRAN NOT HAPPY WITH EGYPT’S FIGHTER JET DEPLOYMENT IN UAE

Iran has criticized Egypt’s deployment of fighter jets to the UAE, warning that the move risks further destabilizing an already volatile region amid the ongoing Iran war.

What was said: Iran’s Foreign Ministry described the presence of Egyptian jets in the UAE as a “foreign forces presence,” arguing that such deployments undermine regional security and could escalate tensions further.

Tehran stressed that security arrangements relying on foreign military forces would only deepen instability, adding that any actions threatening regional balance are unacceptable regardless of the country involved.

Rising regional friction: The remarks came after Egypt and the UAE publicly showcased Egyptian fighter jets stationed in the Gulf, signaling closer military coordination and joint defense readiness between the two allies.

The deployment comes amid heightened tensions following Iranian missile and drone attacks across Gulf states, which have pushed countries like the UAE to strengthen defense ties with regional partners, including Egypt.

TOURISM | VISA | DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
EGYPT TO ROLL OUT DIGITAL VISA-ON-ARRIVAL SYSTEM

Egypt is set to launch a new digital visa-on-arrival system at Cairo International Airport this August, replacing traditional paper visas with a faster, tech-driven process. Travelers eligible for visas on arrival will be able to apply and pay electronically before receiving a QR code that acts as their entry visa, which will be scanned at passport control upon arrival.

How it works: The system will be accessible through self-service kiosks at the airport, an official website, and mobile applications, allowing visitors to complete the process even before landing. The digital system will go live across all terminals at Cairo Airport in August as a first phase, with plans to expand it gradually to airports nationwide.

A smoother arrival: Officials say the shift will cut waiting times, reduce congestion, and streamline entry procedures—replacing the current paper-based visa sticker system. This is a key step in Egypt’s broader push to digitize its tourism infrastructure—making entry faster, more efficient, and better aligned with its goal of attracting more international visitors.