Cairo Scene

An exceptional heat wave is forecast across Egypt on May 16th, 2026, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 48°C in Cairo, according to the Climate Information Center.

Heat Wave Forecast to Push Temperatures to 48°C in Egypt on May 16th Forecasts indicate extreme heat in Cairo, Upper Egypt, and the New Valley, with ongoing monitoring ahead of the weekend.

Cairo Governorate has launched a public auction to convert an administrative building it owns in Opera Square, next to the Opera Garage, into a hotel in Downtown Cairo.

Cairo's Admin Building in Opera Square Will be Turned Into a Hotel The site will be leased for 20 years under a usufruct model to support tourism investment in central Cairo.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi toured Alexandria’s Corniche and the historic Citadel of Qaitbay following the inauguration of the new campus of Senghor University in Borg El Arab.

The visit brought together delegations from both countries alongside officials from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, including secretary-general Louise Mushikiwabo. During the Alexandria stop, the two presidents reviewed archaeological discoveries recovered through underwater excavations and received a briefing on the history of the 15th-century fortress.

Earlier that yesterday, May 9th, El-Sisi and Macron officially inaugurated the new headquarters of Senghor University, the French-language institution focused on African development studies, as part of Macron’s latest visit to Egypt aimed at deepening French-Egyptian cooperation across education, trade and regional diplomacy.

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Mobile phone production in Egypt is projected to reach around 15 million units in 2026, according to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

Egypt Targets 15 Million Mobile Phone Output in 2026 Output has grown from three million units in 2024 to 10 million in 2025, with further increases planned.

THE WEEK IN HEADLINES | This is a quick overview of some of the week’s most important headlines in Egypt.

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More than 9.5 million newborns in Egypt have been screened for hearing impairment since the launch of a national early detection programme in September 2019, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.

The screening is carried out under the Presidential Initiative for the Early Detection and Treatment of Hearing Impairment in Newborns, with services available across 3,825 health units nationwide for infants up to 28 days old. A network of 34 specialised referral centres supports diagnosis and treatment across all governorates.

Officials said more than 626,000 children have been referred for follow-up examinations within one week of their initial screening. Treatment services under the programme include cochlear implants for 3,258 children, hearing aids for 13,032 children and medical treatment for 24,490 children.

The referral centres are equipped with specialised medical technology to provide diagnostic testing and treatment. Authorities noted that failing a second screening does not automatically indicate hearing loss, but requires further assessment at one of the designated centres.

The programme forms part of broader efforts to expand healthcare coverage and improve service quality. Implementation has included training nursing staff to operate screening devices and enabling digital registration of newborns, with results integrated into national health records.

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Around 20% of people in Egypt experience psychological symptoms of varying severity, while 3.6% report suicidal thoughts, according to data presented by the Ministry of Health and Population.

The figures were shared during the launch of new mental health clinics under a presidential initiative aimed at expanding access to psychological care nationwide.

Officials said the data reflects varying levels of need across different population groups, with symptoms ranging in intensity and not necessarily indicating severe or chronic conditions. Estimates referenced from the World Health Organization place the overall prevalence of mental health issues in Egypt between 15% and 35%.

Older adults were identified as the most affected group, while individuals of working age account for around 20% of those impacted. The figures were presented as indicators of demand for services across different segments of society.

Low uptake of psychological support was also highlighted as a key issue, with officials linking this to ongoing social stigma. In one forum attended by university students and faculty, participants reported multiple visits to medical specialists over a one-month period, but only a small number had sought psychiatric care despite indicators suggesting a higher level of need.

Officials said Egypt’s rates fall within global ranges, noting that more than one billion people worldwide live with mental disorders. They emphasised that such conditions do not always correspond to severe illness and called for greater awareness to encourage early intervention.

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: In 2005, Mohamed Khan film ‘Banat West El Balad’ hit cinemas, and girl nights in Downtown Cairo were never the same again. Today, we look back on Menna Shalaby, Hend Sabry, Khaled Abo El Naga, Mohamed Nagaty, Ahmed Bedier and Khan himself behind the scenes of the film.

"اتنين اتنين.. أصحاب أصحاب"

علاقة "چومانة" و"ياسمين" في فيلم "بنات وسط البلد" كانت وهتفضل من أهم علاقات الصداقة اللي مرت على السينما المصرية، ودي صور من كواليس تصوير الفيلم من ٢١ سنة بتجمع أبطاله مع المخرج محمد خان.

واللي مش كل الناس تعرفه إن الفيلم ده كان سبب في صُلح هند صبري ومنة شلبي بفضل مخرج الفيلم الراحل "محمد خان"، ومن بعدها بقوا أقوى علاقة صداقة في الوسط الفني.

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Agricultural export volumes reached approximately 3.7 million tonnes since the start of 2026, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation.

The figures, compiled by the Central Administration of Agricultural Quarantine, showed citrus crops accounting for the largest share at around 1.7 million tonnes. Fresh potatoes followed at approximately 748,000 tonnes, while sweet potatoes reached 140,000 tonnes.

Other exports included around 91,000 tonnes of fresh and dry beans, 45,000 tonnes of fresh onions, 39,000 tonnes of strawberries, 19,000 tonnes of tomatoes, and 17,000 tonnes of fresh garlic. Guava exports were recorded at 10,000 tonnes, while pomegranate and mango shipments were also reported without disclosed volumes.

Officials said the export performance reflects continued adherence to international quality and plant health standards, supported by agricultural quarantine services, central reference laboratories, and external agricultural relations teams.

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