Welcome to the 5th episode of Money in Minutes! Your daily financial news, delivered fast and fun. Today, we're diving into the week's biggest headlines in just a few minutes, with a good laugh or two along the way!

Here’s what’s hot off the press:

• The Egyptian Pound is flexing its muscles, hitting a nine-month high against the USD, which is great news for the economy and even helping to potentially delay electricity price hikes. Looks like EGP's having a glow-up!

• Donald Trump is playing hardball with tariffs! The US President has unveiled new tariffs, with Canada getting a whopping 35% slap on the wrist, and India looking at 25% if talks don't go well. It's a global trade tango, and some partners are definitely feeling the pinch.

• Real estate developers in Egypt are feeling the squeeze. New fees have been imposed on developments and agricultural land along the Dabaa Axis, adding to similar charges on the Cairo-Alex Desert Road and North Coast. It seems the cost of land is only going one way!

• The Suez Canal Authority is rolling out the red carpet (and discounts!), extending a 15% reduction on container ship crossing fees until the end of 2025 to encourage traffic amidst Red Sea disruptions. Come on down, shippers!

• And finally, a big one for our digital mavens: The UAE Media Council is now requiring social media content creators to get advertising permits for promotional content. So, if you're an influencer, better get your paperwork in order – spontaneity is out, compliance is in!

Tune in, catch up, and let’s make sense of your money, in minutes!

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Today’s episode covers the top financial and cultural headlines in just 5 minutes:
Pacific tsunami triggers global alerts after a massive quake off Russia’s coast.
Egypt’s CWA Textiles pumps USD 19.9 mn into Sokhna Industrial Zone.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT Agent bypasses a Captcha — and says it’s not a robot.
Elif Shafak’s Honour gets the spotlight under the lamplight.

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From Egypt securing $8 bn in LNG shipments to Microsoft and Mercedes teaming up on AI, and the inspiring story of Sara Elemary’s modest fashion empire: this episode packs the biggest financial and cultural stories of the day into just a few minutes. Quick, sharp, and human. Subscribe to Money in Minutes for your daily dose of business with personality

In this episode of Money in Minutes, we cover the top 5 financial stories in under 5 minutes:

• Egypt delays electricity price hikes as the EGP strengthens and energy deals stabilize costs.

• Women’s representation on Egyptian boards doubles since 2019, but momentum is slowing.

• US and EU narrowly avert a trade war with a last-minute tariff deal.

• Investors shift billions from US Treasuries into corporate debt amid fiscal concerns.

All the key business and market updates you need: quick, sharp, and human.

Welcome to the very first episode of Money in Minutes – the first AI-powered daily finance podcast focused on the Middle East. Every day, we break down the most important economic and market stories across the region in under 5 minutes so you can start your day smarter.

In this episode (27 July 2025):

• Egypt’s real estate shock: New levies on Cairo-Alex Desert Road and North Coast land could drive property prices higher.

• Record-breaking remittances: Egyptian expats sent an all-time May high, boosting FX reserves and supporting the economy.

• Debt Watch: Egypt’s local debt issuances set to top EGP 2.4 trillion this quarter, with treasury bills dominating amid 27.5% interest rates.

• IPO Watch: National Printing prices its EGX IPO at EGP 21.25 per share, derisking with anchor investors.

• Saudi Economy: Fitch affirms the Kingdom’s credit rating at A+, while oil exports hit a 4-year low.

• Regional Investment: Saudi and Syrian companies sign SAR billions in agreements to rebuild infrastructure and industry.

• Markets Wrap: EGX30 rallies, Tadawul dips, BTC edges up, and Brent crude falls to USD 68.

Every episode is curated from the region’s most trusted financial sources and distilled into a clear, AI-narrated briefing designed for busy professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants to understand the pulse of the Middle East economy: fast.

🎧 Listen daily. Stay informed. Make smarter money moves: in minutes.