Xi is coming to Cairo 🇨🇳

Hey friends, welcome back to the Egypt Weekly Roundup!

You have not heard from us in three weeks. That was our fault, not yours, and we're sorry for the gap. We're back on schedule from today.

A lot of Egypt happened in those three weeks. Rather than pretend otherwise, we have put a short catch-up below before we get to this week. Then we are back to normal.

Thank you for staying subscribed. Let’s dive in.

P.S. We also launched our ‘Made in Egypt’ tee and tote collection, produced in partnership with Nas and made possible thanks to the talent of four Egyptian artists. Check it out here.

Quick Catch Up: 3 - 22 August
WHILE WE WERE AWAY…

Seven things that happened while the newsletter was down. Normal service resumes after this section!

🫨 EARTHQUAKE: A 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck near Suez in the early hours of 3 August, felt across Cairo, the Delta, Alexandria and Port Said, and as far as Gaza, Jordan and Lebanon – Know more

⚽ THE EGYPTIAN TURKISH KING: Mohamed Salah signed a two-year deal with Turkish side Trabzonspor on 6 August, ending nine seasons at Liverpool – Know more

🚐 ISMAILIA: At least 18 people, many of them children aged 13 and 14, were killed on 11 August when two pick-ups carrying farm labourers collided near El-Qassasin, reigniting a national argument about child labour – Know more

🚢 RED SEA: The Egyptian-owned cargo ship Tihamah was hit in the Bab al-Mandeb on 11 August, killing at least six people including four crew, the first shipping deaths linked to the Houthis since the war on Iran began – Know more

🇺🇸 GAZA TALKS: Jared Kushner met Hamas leaders in Egypt on 16 August alongside Egypt’s intelligence chief and Qatari and Turkish officials, and met El-Sisi at El Alamein the same day – Know more

🇪🇹 NILE: Ethiopia’s plans for three more Blue Nile dams, Karadobi, Mandaya and Beko Abo, drew a furious response in Egypt in mid-August – Know more

💵 INTEREST RATES: The Central Bank held rates for a fourth straight meeting on 20 August, keeping the deposit rate at 19 percent, after annual inflation rose to 14.9 percent in July – Know more

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• China sparks AI and data centre race in Egypt? 🇨🇳

• Egypt's wheat production hits a record 🌾

• Sisi directs release of report on state achievements 📝

CHINA | DIPLOMACY
XI JINPING ARRIVES IN EGYPT THIS SUNDAY AS CHINA TIES TURN 70

Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a state visit to Egypt from 30 August to 3 September for talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, as the two countries mark 70 years of diplomatic relations. The visit will be Xi’s first trip to Egypt since 2016 and comes as Cairo and Beijing continue to expand their strategic partnership.

A lopsided partnership: Xi and El-Sisi are expected to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation across several fields. Trade between the two countries reached roughly USD 19.5 billion in 2025, but the balance is heavily skewed: Egyptian exports to China are estimated at USD 2 to 3 billion, against USD 15 to 16 billion in Chinese imports. Egyptian companies signed 17 export contracts with Chinese buyers worth around USD 168 million (EGP 8.42 billion) on 19 August.

Beyond trade: Egypt and China have also expanded their defense cooperation. On 22 August, the two countries launched Eagles of Civilization 2026, a joint air exercise involving training on planning and managing aerial combat operations.

70 years of ties: Egypt was the first Arab country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, in 1956. The visit follows El-Sisi’s 2024 trip to Beijing, when the two countries launched the Egypt-China Partnership Year and reaffirmed their cooperation programme for 2024–2028.

Worth watching: The visit coincides with a reported Chinese proposal to supply AI-powered surveillance technology to Egypt, which has forced the US to ramp up its efforts to court Egypt.

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AGRICULTURE | WHEAT | FOOD SECURITY
EGYPT TOPS ARAB WHEAT PRODUCTION AS STATE PROCUREMENT HITS A RECORD

Egypt is expected to remain the Arab world’s largest wheat producer in 2026, with production projected to reach 10.2 million tons, according to UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates published by the Cabinet’s Media Center on 23 August.

Ahead of the field: The figure puts Egypt well clear of Morocco and Iraq, each projected at five million tons, followed by Algeria at 3.5 million, Tunisia at 1.4 million and Saudi Arabia at 1.1 million. Domestic output is up around seven percent on its recent average, driven largely by expanded cultivated area.

A record season: Around five million tons were supplied to the government this procurement season, the highest quantity ever recorded under the state system, at EGP 2,500 (USD 49) per ardab. Imports are expected to fall to 12.5 million tons, from roughly 13.2 million last year.

Why it matters: Wheat sits at the centre of the subsidised baladi bread system, and every ton grown at home is a ton that does not have to be bought in foreign currency. The expansion has leaned on climate-resilient varieties including Misr 3 and Misr 4, Giza 171, and Sakha 95 and 96.

GOVERNMENT | TRANSPARENCY
SISI DIRECTS GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE REPORT ON STATE ACHIEVEMENTS BY OCTOBER

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has directed the government to prepare and publicly release a comprehensive report on the state’s achievements across different sectors in October, including the funds spent and results achieved through national projects, speaking at a ceremony marking the Prophet Muhammad’s birth in the New Capital on 26 August.

A call for transparency: El-Sisi said the report should give Egyptians a clearer picture of government spending and the outcomes of projects carried out over recent years. He also called for intellectuals, academics, specialists, and citizens to take part in a seven-to-10-day public discussion on the country’s achievements and challenges.

Protecting consumer rights: The president also directed authorities to review contracts between real estate developers and citizens, stressing that developers must deliver housing units and related infrastructure within agreed deadlines. He called for legal action against developers who collect payments but fail to meet their contractual obligations.

Prices and public services: El-Sisi instructed the electricity minister to strengthen oversight of billing and prevent arbitrary estimates, while also calling for more government outlets selling essential goods at affordable prices. He directed authorities to continue improving transport projects, road safety, and communication channels between local officials and citizens.