Lots of economy this Easter 🐰

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• Opening hours extended 💡

• Green spending in Egypt 🌱

• Egypt condemns Israeli attacks on Lebanon 🇱🇧

• Child-safe SIM cards in 60 days 🛡️

ENERGY CUTS | NATIONAL CONSUMPTION
GOVERNMENT EXTENDS SHOP CURFEW FROM 9PM TO 11PM UNTIL 27 APRIL

Egypt has extended operating hours for shops, malls, and restaurants to 11 PM until 27 April, adjusting earlier energy-saving restrictions imposed amid the regional crisis. The change, much welcomed by many Egyptians, amends the previous 9 PM closure rule — allowing businesses to operate longer while still maintaining broader energy conservation measures.

Balancing act: The move comes as Egypt continues to manage rising energy costs linked to the Iran war, which has strained fuel imports and electricity demand, forcing authorities to carefully calibrate consumption.

Officials stressed that the extension is not a full rollback but a short-term adjustment that could be revised depending on how energy pressures evolve in the coming weeks.

GREEN SPENDING: CONSCIOUS CONSUMERISM IN EGYPT

With Earth Day coming up next week, we’re taking this moment to ponder a powerful reminder: everyday purchasing decisions shape our planet's future. For Egyptians, this year's Earth Day comes as the nation marks a historic milestone — allocating EGP 637 billion to green projects in the 2025/2026 development plan, representing 55 percent of total public investments. This governmental shift mirrors a growing consumer movement: 56 percent of Egyptians now actively seek sustainable products to reduce their environmental footprint.​

Consumer awareness is rising: 37 percent of Egyptian consumers report noticing climate-related disruptions in their daily lives to a great extent. This awareness is translating into action. Egyptians will pay premium prices for products made from recycled, sustainable, or eco-friendly materials. Additionally, 83 percent are willing to pay more for locally made or sourced goods, supporting both the environment and the local economy.​

Fintech enabling the green transition: As Egypt accelerates its shift toward a digital economy, cashless payments are emerging as an unexpected benefit for the environment. By reducing reliance on physical cash — from printing banknotes to transportation and handling — digital transactions help lower carbon emissions and resource consumption. Every tap, scan, or installment payment replaces a chain of energy-intensive processes tied to cash circulation.

At the center of this shift, platforms like Valu are helping normalize cashless behavior across everyday spending. Whether through flexible payment solutions or seamless digital checkouts, consumers are increasingly moving away from cash in favor of smarter, easier, and more convenient payment methods — all while unintentionally being environmentally beneficial.

Valu's merchant network now includes sustainable brands and eco-conscious businesses across its over 9,000 retail and online merchants. When consumers purchase from sustainable fashion brands, organic food vendors, or renewable energy providers through Valu, they access the same flexible financing that makes premium eco-friendly products affordable.​

The path forward: Egypt's green economy has genuine momentum. Every conscious purchase, from secondhand clothing to locally made goods, from solar-powered devices to eco-friendly cosmetics, contributes to both personal financial wellness and planetary health. For this year’s Earth Day, going green isn't a luxury reserved for the wealthy. It's a choice that's becoming increasingly accessible to all.​

MIDDLE EAST | ISRAEL | WAR
ISRAELI ATTACKS ON LEBANON “NEW ATTEMPT TO DRAG REGION INTO TOTAL CHAOS”: EGYPT

Egypt strongly condemned Israel’s recent escalation in Lebanon, warning that the ongoing military actions represent a dangerous attempt to push the region further into widespread instability and conflict. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the latest Israeli strikes on Lebanon, which led to the killing of over 300 civilians and wounding over 1,000 more, constitute a “brutal aggression” and a serious violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Regional warning: Egypt cautioned that the escalation comes at a highly sensitive moment, arguing it directly undermines recent international efforts to calm tensions following ceasefire-related announcements in the broader regional conflict.

Cairo urged influential regional and international actors to intervene immediately to halt the escalation, warning that continued violence could derail already fragile de-escalation efforts and widen the conflict further.

CHILD SAFETY | TECH
EGYPT TO LAUNCH CHILD-FOCUSED SIM CARD WITHIN 60 DAYS

Egypt is preparing to roll out a new child-focused SIM card within the next 60 days, in a move aimed at increasing online safety and giving parents greater control over their children’s mobile and internet use.

Déjà vu? We previously covered this story a few weeks back — the difference this time is that we’ve gotten an expected to date for when this new safety measure starts actually existing. The initiative is currently in its final stages of preparation before nationwide deployment, alongside broader regulatory efforts focused on children’s digital safety and responsible internet use.

How it works: The SIM card will be offered across all telecom operators and is designed specifically for children, with built-in parental controls and usage restrictions to help manage access to apps, websites, and online content. Parents will be able to monitor and regulate their child’s digital activity more closely, including limiting exposure to potentially harmful content and managing communication features tied to the SIM.