Special Edition: Egypt and the Holiday Season 🎄

Welcome back to a very special edition of the Egypt Weekly Roundup.

The holiday season brings visible shifts across Egypt, from workplace schedules and market activity to public services and social life.

This light and bright Holiday Season Edition offers an insightful look at how the end-of-the-year festivities plays out across business, economics, governance, and society, and why it remains timely with Coptic and Orthodox Christmas falling on 7 January.

Also, this wouldn’t be the Egypt Weekly Roundup without some timely news stories sprinkled in-between the holiday season content — scroll down for news involving religious holiday laws, holiday-timed medical support, and more.

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HOLIDAY SPENDING | CHRISTMAS
HOLIDAY SEASON: HOW EGYPTIAN BUSINESSES BENEFIT FROM THE HOLIDAY

The holiday season isn't just about celebrations and family gatherings. For Egyptian businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises, December represents one of the most critical commercial periods of the year. With sales surging, foot traffic increasing, and consumer spending reaching annual peaks, the weeks between Black Friday, Christmas, New Year, and Coptic Christmas can make or break a retailer's yearly performance.

The numbers don’t lie: Egypt's retail market is on a strong growth trajectory, with total sales projected to surpass USD 149.7 billion in 2025 and climb to USD 201.4 billion by 2030. This expansion is driven by strong fundamentals, a youthful consumer base, and sustained investment in commercial infrastructure. For SMEs, which make up 99.7 percent of Egyptian businesses and constitute 80 percent of entities in the marketing sector, the holiday season offers a concentrated period to accelerate revenue and improve annual performance.

A defining end-of-year hurdle for retailers: Holiday shopping during November and December accounts for up to 30 percent of annual retail sales in some industries globally, and Egypt is no exception. According to the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, sales during the Christmas period increase by approximately 10 percent, with retail sales in hypermarket chains seeing similar gains. 

The period from December 25 to January 10, when Orthodox and Catholic Christmas celebrations coincide with mid-school year holidays, creates an extended window of opportunity for businesses to capture consumer demand.

Egypt's e-commerce sector is growing at 13.49 percent annually between as of 2025, outpacing the global average of 11 percent. This digital shift is reshaping how businesses approach holiday sales, with 42 percent of Egyptian consumers now willing to try new digital shopping methods.

Digital tools are becoming essential for Egyptian retailers: Cloud-based point-of-sale systems, inventory management software, and integrated payment platforms enable businesses to track sales in real time, manage stock across multiple locations, and respond quickly to shifting consumer preferences. These technologies, once accessible only to large enterprises, are now within reach for SMEs through affordable subscription models and government-backed digital transformation initiatives.

Financing solutions unlock growth potential: For many Egyptian SMEs, securing the working capital needed to stock up for December remains one of the biggest barriers to maximizing holiday-season demand. While MSME lending by banks jumped 394 percent between December 2015 and March 2024, traditional financing channels are often still too rigid — with long processing times, high collateral requirements, and limited flexibility that doesn’t match the fast pace of seasonal retail cycles.

This is where Valu, Egypt’s leading lifestyle-enabling fintech platform, plays a transformative role. With a 23 percent market share in consumer finance, over 22,200 daily transactions, and one of the largest merchant networks in the country, Valu has become an essential partner for any retailers looking to capitalize on  high-volume periods like Black Friday, Christmas, and New Year. Valu’s merchant financing solutions give businesses the agility they need during peak demand windows. Retailers can secure inventory in advance without disrupting cash flow, expand product assortments or stock seasonal SKUs, and invest in digital infrastructure, from POS upgrades to e-commerce integrations. At the same time, Valu helps bridge liquidity gaps that arise from increased footfall or expanded operations.

With flexible financing plans of up to 60 months and acceptance across 9,000+ stores and online platforms, Valu unlocks more purchasing power for customers, making consumer choices feel light and within reach. . As Egypt’s retail sector becomes increasingly digital and data-driven, Valu’s ecosystem of payment, financing, and merchant tools is helping both users and retailers find peace of mind during heightened seasonal shopping.

The holiday season is more than a revenue spike. It's an opportunity for Egyptian businesses to build customer relationships, test new products, refine operations, and establish momentum heading into the new year. Businesses that combine smart inventory planning, digital tools, and flexible financing are better positioned to maximize this critical period and sustain growth well beyond December.

NEW YEAR’S | EVENTS
WE ASKED EGYPTIANS HOW THEY’LL CELEBRATE NEW YEAR’S, HERE’S WHAT THEY PLANNED

As 2025 draws to a close, New Year’s Eve takes on profound significance for many Egyptians, symbolizing a time for reflection, renewal, and celebration. To know more about what NYE means to Egyptians, our Senior Journalist Belal Nawar spoke to four individuals who shared their distinct plans for ushering in the new year.

A night under the stars: Fakhry Halim, a 28-year-old construction engineer, is set to celebrate at JellyZone, an underground event known for its hype music vibe. Founded in 2017 by DJ Donia Jelly, JellyZone began as a series of house parties and then evolved into a popular platform that hosts experimental music in Cairo. This year, Halim will head to a special NYE event in Fayoum, which promises over 14 artists and more than 30 hours of music.

“I’m really excited about the atmosphere,” he shares. “I will be heading there with my friends to celebrate around people who appreciate underground music.” 

Family fun and movie marathons: In contrast, Laila Wahdan, a 25-year-old travel agent, has opted for a more intimate celebration with her family. Their plans each NYE include an evening filled with card games, popcorn, and a movie marathon. 

“We’re debating between ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Star Wars,’” she laughs, capturing the importance of familial bonds for her.

“We don’t often get time together with our busy lives, so it’s nice to slow down and enjoy each other’s company,” she adds.

A festive cruise on the nile: For a different atmosphere within Cairo, Saif Ghadir, a 34-year-old corporate procurement professional, plans to welcome the new year on a Nile cruise with friends.

“There’s something magical about celebrating on the water, especially the Nile, since I am too lazy to travel outside of Cairo,” he says, excitedly describing the evening as he plans for it to be filled with music, laughter, and some delicious food.

“The Nile is such a significant part of our culture, and celebrating there adds a special touch,” Ghadir explains.

As Ghadir and his friends cruise along the iconic river, he imagines a lively scene: music blasting, friends enjoying the moment, and the city lights reflecting off the water. 

A cozy girls’ night in: Meanwhile, Zeina Wael, a 26-year-old corporate analyst, is planning a gathering with her close friends for a cozy sleepover.

“It’s like a girls’ night in,” she describes, showing the comfort and warmth of their shared friendships. 

The night will be a blend of storytelling, laughter, and perhaps a few resolutions as they reflect on the year that has passed.

“It’s great to take some time to bond and share our experiences,” she says. Wael’s plans highlight the significance of friendship and the supportive environment that can be created in such informal settings.

From the beats of an underground party in the desert to the warmth of a family gathering, the diversity in plans portrays how each individual perceives New Year’s. Each celebration serves as a reflection of personal values, aspirations, and the deep connections that define their experiences.