Egypt - AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent since 2012

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Egypt

March 22, 2026

Cairo 6:28 am

11°C

Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran on March 7, 2026.

Analysis

Oil crisis stokes inflation risks for Mideast as Iran war exposes importers

With crude oil briefly nearing $120 per barrel on Monday before giving up gains, the conflict is poised to reignite inflationary pressures around the world, including for vulnerable economies such as Egypt and Turkey.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Yasin AKGUL / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Qatar gas shock roils Middle East energy risk profile amid Iran war

The disruption to energy transportation through the Strait of Hormuz predictably threatens crude prices, but it's natural gas supplies that are shocking the markets.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP via Getty Images

US-Iran war rattles global stocks as UAE trading set to resume

This handout picture released by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on February 23, 2026, shows Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) welcoming Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (L) upon his arrival for an official visit at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. (Photo by Ahmed NURELDINE / SPA / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

UAE-Saudi fracture to test Egypt’s security-economy tradeoff

Cairo has been signaling alignment with Riyadh amid a major rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE — a fracture that also threatens to jolt Egypt’s ties with its single most important foreign investor.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Latest News

Analysis

Egyptians in for another expensive Ramadan despite recovering economy

An Egyptian vendor fills dates for a customer at a market in Cairo's central Sayyida Zeinab district on Feb. 12, 2026, as Muslims prepare for the holy fasting month of Ramadan, which begins early next week.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Culture

Harassment on Cairo bus revives debate over women’s rights in Egypt

KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images

MBZ hosts Sisi as Saudi Arabia and UAE jockey for regional influence

President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed welcomes Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 9, 2026.

Arms production to air defense: Inside $350M Egypt-Turkey military pact

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stand with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo, Feb. 4, 2026.

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

In London, reporting on North Africa and Gulf politics

Mohammed Magdy

In Berlin, reporting on Egyptian politics

Ayah Aman

In Cairo, reporting on politics and culture

Salwa Samir

In Giza, reporting on politics

Nada Shaker

In Cairo, reporting on culture

In Cairo, different architectural styles mingle with each other

Egypt's plans to celebrate its multi-layered Islamic heritage stumbles upon coronavirus measures.

Why Egypt banned news about terrorist bombings in Sinai

Egypt has instructed media outlets in the country not to publish any news on the recent terrorist bombings of power lines in the northern Sinai Peninsula, which some consider unconstitutional.

Egypt offers psychological help amid social isolation

The Ministry of Health has designated a special hotline for Egyptians isolated at home and in quarantine to offer psychological support during the coronavirus pandemic.

Will Egypt's military corner the coronavirus market?

The Egyptian military has begun manufacturing and selling protective masks, which are in short supply through pharmacies.

Egypt battles COVID-19 amid flood of misinformation, conspiracy theories

As Egypt fights the spread of COVID-19, misinformation and conspiracy theories are making it difficult for Egyptians to distinguish fact from fiction.

A few people walk in the vicinity of the closed Al-Azhar mosque in Egypt's capital Cairo on March 20, 2020, after the country's Muslim religious authorities decided to put the Friday prayers on hold, in order to avoid gatherings and the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 disease. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Egyptians feel demoralized by empty churches, mosques

The decision to suspend collective prayers in mosques and churches was criticized by some Egyptians who feel deprived of spiritual support during hard times.

TOPSHOT - Egyptian municipality workers disinfect the Giza pyramids necropolis on the southwestern outskirts of the Egyptian capital Cairo on March 25, 2020 as protective a measure against the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Egyptian government’s anti-virus plan met with mixed reactions

Cairo has taken several new measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, but many Egyptians are skeptical about the government's plans and fear the worst is yet to come.

Egypt to offer investors shares in military-run companies

Egypt’s Sovereign Fund is assessing military-run companies in a bid to open them up to domestic and foreign investors.

Egypt releases political prisoners amid coronavirus outbreak

The Egyptian authorities released opposition figures from prison amid calls to free activists for fear of a coronavirus outbreak inside prisons.

Egyptian municipality workers disinfect the Giza pyramids necropolis on the southwestern outskirts of the Egyptian capital Cairo on March 25, 2020 as protective a measure against the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Egypt seeks economic haven from coronavirus threat

The Central Bank of Egypt is taking steps to protect the country's economy as it weathers the coronavirus pandemic.

Egypt becomes latest country to impose a countrywide curfew

The Egyptian government announced a two-week, nationwide, 11-hour nighttime curfew to counter the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Virtual pleasures: Egypt’s art and culture scenes move online

Members of the Egyptian entertainment industry and cultural sector, hoping to keep busy and keep people indoors, are developing programming to make staying at home a little easier.