Egypt
May is a freelance writer based in Cairo. She writes about entrepreneurship, business, and development issues in the Middle East. Her writing has appeared in Newsweek Middle East, Forbes Middle East, Fast Company Middle East, MIT Sloan Management Review, Arab News, Zawya, Ms. Magazine, Al-Monitor, Startup Scene and the Middle East Exchange amongst others.
Business & Economy
With the risks of deepfakes becoming clear, organizations are finding ways to protect themselves against such online security threats.
With AI increasingly being used to automate tasks and cut costs, some are also using it to address the effects of climate change. But can it really help solve the region's climate crisis?
With western markets tightening their belts, international investors are turning to the GCC for capital
As sustainability becomes a priority in the region, luxury brands and retailers in the Middle East are increasingly trying to jump on the sustainability bandwagon, but still more needs to be done.
Whether you're a short-term worker or a freelancer, you need to learn to navigate the changing landscape of the gig economy to capitalize on the future of work
When Egyptian entrepreneur Nadia Gamal El Din launched her tech startup Rahet Bally in 2015, she never thought that it would turn into a full-fledged business. Reaching 74 million women every month across the MENA region, she leveraged the power of technology to kickstart and grow the motherhood platform.
Business Forward, the knowledge portal of the AUC School of Business, is a credible destination for business knowledge, insight and analysis on Egypt and the Arab region. The section titles that show up below it need to be "Multimedia", "Get Knowledge", "Industry Insight", and "Passion Project"
When Dubai-based entrepreneur Chanda Lokendra saw her friend suffering from intense menstrual cramps, Lokendra took it upon herself to research the cause of her friend's pain. What she discovered surprised her. Harmful chemicals were used to produce some of the world's leading sanitary pads, sometimes causing rashes or allergies, and even infections in more serious cases.
CAIRO: In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, 110 million school-aged children stayed at home this term because of school closures, according to UNICEF. The pandemic has led to a regional surge of education technology (edtech) startups filling the gap in place of traditional and workplace settings.
As unemployment continues to increase in Egypt, women seem to be particularly hard hit by the economic fallout caused by the coronavirus pandemic. And with schools reopening and many shifting to partial online learning, parents are yet again facing the challenging task of juggling work and supporting their children's education.
CAIRO-With hundreds of women flooding social media in recent months with accusations of sexual harassment and assault, a growing #MeToo movement is taking Egypt by storm. Their online testimonials have garnered massive public support and prompted reforms to the country's sexual harassment laws, like granting anonymity to victims and witnesses in sexual assault cases.
There are more women-led startups in the Middle East than anywhere else in the world.
Becoming a successful entrepreneur is no easy feat. For refugees it is even more challenging, and yet many are seizing the opportunity.
Development
CAIRO: Fast fashion is defined as "inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends." While it is affordable, fast fashion is plagued by ethical issues, including the treatment of garment-factory workers. Its effect on the environment - from the disposal of cheap apparel to the pollution of natural resources - is also a growing cause for concern.
Most people in Egypt don't think much about their garbage. But for women in Manshiyat Naser, a slum area in the outskirts of Cairo, garbage is an opportunity to make a living.
Mobile phones, computers and tablets play a vital role in our lives today, but they also contribute to a growing electronic waste problem. Given the speed of developments in technology, the shorter lifespan of these products and the replacement of electronic devices with newer models, e-waste will only continue to grow.
Solving MENA's serious waste problem means addressing our throwaway culture
Egypt's Education Minister Tarek Shawki announced in April the implementation of new reforms to improve education in Egypt. The reforms, which are in part funded by the World Bank with a $500 million loan for five years, will cost a total of $2 billion and are expected to replace the existing education system with a new one to better equip Egyptian youth for the current job market.
While HIV infection rates are declining globally, the disease is spreading dramatically in Egypt. According to UNAIDS, HIV infections in the country are increasing at an annual rate of 25- 30%. An estimated 11,000 Egyptians were living with HIV as of 2016, most of them under 49.
ارتفاع ريادة الأعمال الحرة النسائية في مصر مي الحبشي نيوزويك الشرق الأوسط فاطمة الزهراء هي صاحبة إحدى وكالات الاتصالات في مصر. تجلس خلف مكتبها الكبير، حيث تتلقى المكالمات وتفوض المهام إلى الموظفين. في حين أن هذا المشهد من الريادة النسائية للأعمال قد يكون شائعاً في أجزاء كثيرة من العالم، إلا أنَّه ليس كذلك في مصر.
The #MeToo campaign that took the world by storm strongly resonated with women in Egypt. Emboldened by the global flood of women breaking their silence on sexual harassment, Egyptian women also took to social media to share their experiences.
By May El Habachi Overlooking Cairo's Citadel, lies a small secluded community informally known as the Zabaleen, or garbage people. As the name suggests, the Zabaleen live in the midst of garbage that overwhelms the district's narrow winding roads and small alley ways.
Syria's children will be a lost generation suffering not only from a life of violence and war, but a life of bleak opportunities. As the Syrian War marks its sixth year, the humanitarian crisis has become worse than ever. Those paying the highest price of the conflict are children.
Entrepreneurship
With sustainability becoming a much-used buzzword in the region, entrepreneurs are increasingly launching green startups. From tackling environmental challenges to combating the effects of climate change, they are creating innovative technologies and products while also improving business value. Despite their commitment to sustainable goals, however, green startups in the region often struggle to attract investments.
Startups are playing an increasingly important role in Qatar's economy. With the country looking to reduce its reliance on oil and gas, it is now investing heavily in entrepreneurship and business development, as part of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
ChatGPT has taken the world by storm since it was launched in November last year. Global companies like Snapchat, Shopify, and consulting firm Bain & Company were all quick to embrace the new AI technology. Regionally, it is no different.
One month after the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapse, founders and investors are breathing a sigh of relief in the knowledge that they will not lose their money in one of the biggest US bank failures since the financial crisis of 2008.
Amidst the global economic slowdown, Egypt has faced numerous challenges in 2022. When it comes to the nation's startup ecosystem in particular, a global decrease in funding has led many startups to opt for cost-cutting measures, and brace for new ways of operating.
Saudi Arabia's fintech sector is booming. While fintech across the MENA region may be growing rapidly, it is growing exponentially in Saudi Arabia, especially when compared to previous years. In 2022, fintech emerged as the most funded industry in the kingdom with $239 million raised, a 167% increase compared to 2021, according to Magnitt's 2022 Saudi Venture Capital Report.
When Shamim Kassibawi launched her startup Play:Date in 2017, she spent a lot of time testing her app in the UAE to make sure it was a good fit for families before rolling it out to other countries.
Lebanon's financial crisis began in 2019, when people took to the streets to protest the ruling party and were met by the Lebanese army and security forces. Soon afterwards, the economy deteriorated and the value of the Lebanese currency dropped to an all- time low against the US dollar, losing almost 90% of its value in late 2019.
With the conclusion of the COP27 UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm El Sheikh, we've seen sustainable and green startups showcase their innovative ideas and solutions to tackle some of the country's most pressing environmental challenges. In 2021, Egypt produced 259.3 million tons of CO2 emissions, according to research by Knoema.
The Middle East startup ecosystem may be on the rise, but Palestinian entrepreneurs continue to struggle with funding challenges. So far in 2022, startups in the MENA region have raised close to $2 billion, a 46% YoY growth compared to last year, according to data platform Magnitt.
Gone are the days where in-person shopping is a necessity for the beauty and fashion industry. Today, through rapidly evolving technology, new brands and e-commerce platforms are emerging at lightning speeds, aligning themselves with the needs and expectations of modern customers to not only stay relevant, but to strengthen their position in the market.
As the first Forbes Middle East Under 30 Summit in Egypt approaches, bringing some of the brightest minds in arts, business and media to El Gouna, we're spotlighting some of the up-and-coming names who have made it on the summit's eponymous list.
To commemorate the first time Egypt hosts the Forbes Middle East Under 30 Summit at El Gouna, we're spotlighting some of the Under 30 listers who have made an impact across the Middle East and North Africa. Counted amongst them is Mohamed Ben Halim and Belal El-Megharbel, who have been digitising Egypt's small, local retailers through their ecommerce platform MaxAB since 2018.
Educational platform Playbook is on a mission to bridge the gender gap and get more women into leadership roles. Launched in January 2022 by Wafa Al Obaidat, it has over 14 masterclasses delivered by some of the Middle East's most successful women including HH Sayyida Basma Al Said, the founder of the first mental health clinic in Muscat, Oman; and Emaan Abbass, former product developer at Huda Beauty and founder of KETISH, amongst others.
With Egypt gearing up for the COP27 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Sharm El Sheikh this November, sustainable and green-tech startups are taking centre stage to tackle some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges.
With natural resources depleting at an unprecedented rate and shocking disruptions to supply chains brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and, more recently, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the UAE is investing heavily in agritech to drastically improve internal food security.
How agritech can help farming during the pandemic The coronavirus outbreak has highlighted the need for further technological transformation in the agriculture industry to help secure food in the Middle East, writes May El Habachi. The agritech market is expected to experience a post-COVID boom as startups introduce new technologiesand solutions to help farmers and individuals source food locally in a more efficient manner.
As businesses navigate the last ten days of Ramadan, some key lessons can be learned and applied during - and after - the holy month - ZAWYA MENA Edition
TUNIS: Tunisian fashion enthusiast Ameni Mansouri never thought that the Facebook group she started almost four years ago to sell clothes and accessories would one day turn into a popular online marketplace used by women throughout North Africa.
Egypt's TAM Gallery making art accessible for all As the brainchild of a professional artist, TAM Gallery has set itself the dual goal of giving young creatives the opportunity to achieve recognition and making the appreciation and acquisition of artworks affordable for all, writes Lina Mowafy is determined to make art accessible to all, convinced that it should be enjoyed by everyone - from students and art connoisseurs to everyday people.
Unique MENA platform elevates the voices of Arab women Two female entrepreneurs are helping Arab women to grow professionally and overthrow gender stereotypes by sharing their stories in public, writes As strong advocates for gender equality in MENA, entrepreneurs Samar Alshorafa and Noha Hefny believe that it is important to support women professionally to create a more inclusive and prosperous society.
CAIRO: According to a recent Middle East report, 1.3 million people in the UAE alone regularly listen to podcasts, which presents an exciting opportunity for entrepreneurs, businesses and brands to connect with audiences online. Although still in its infancy, the region's podcast scene is expected to continuing growing, especially as mobile connectivity and awareness of such services increases.
A new quiet revolution is taking place in Egypt: the female entrepreneurship revolution. This kind of revolution sees talented women unleashing their entrepreneurial spirit and rising up in the country's young start-up market. Today, women are starting their own businesses at unprecedented rates since 2011.A new quiet revolution is taking place in Egypt: the female entrepreneurship revolution.
As startups grow in the Middle East, so does their need to establish a solid social media presence to build and expand their business. Like any marketing tool, however, social media is always evolving; what works now will not work forever. To stay ahead of the curve, startups should keep these seven tips in mind when using social media.
Heba Edris is no ordinary fashion designer. Born and raised in Kuwait, the Palestinian artist says that she learnt to draw before she could even speak. But it is her desire to bring high-end fashion to women that sets her apart from other modest designers.
It's hard to believe that Sarah Bahaa only started her own modest fashion collection a year and a half ago. Sketching designs since the age of 16, she's now a favourite amongst Egypt's hijabi fashionistas. A headscarf-wearer herself, Sarah had struggled to find fashion-forward clothes.
Business women in Egypt. Business is largely viewed as a male-dominated world, especially in the Muslim community, in which female modesty is held in high virtue. However, in Egypt, like many other countries in the Middle East, a new breed of female Muslim entrepreneurs is shattering this stereotype by rapidly growing their own businesses.
Saudi accelerator programmes. My Salaam collage There is no better time to be an entrepreneur in Saudi Arabia. The number of support organisations, including incubators, accelerators, funds and co-working spaces, has tripled over the last few years, and entrepreneurs in the country now have a great opportunity to successfully launch and grow their startups.
Impact
BEIRUT: Sabine Choucair, a professional clown, is on a mission to spread light relief to Syrian refugees and vulnerable people worldwide. She discovered her true calling when she learned the art of clowning while studying theater in the UK. "I found it (clowning) magical.
Entrepreneurs often lead the way in social change, so it should come as no surprise that the creation of green startups in Egypt has been surging since 2011.
Egyptian entrepreneurs Hadeer Shalaby and Amgad Moustafa decided early on that they would leave the corporate world and start a business that empowers women. Through Freeziana, a platform that sells handmade goods, they connect directly with buyers to help women grow their handicraft business.
Health & Wellness
We are all guilty of engaging with our phones when we should be connecting with those around us. With a click of a button, it has become all too easy to like, comment or share instead of having real human communication and interaction. Our fascination with social media is clear.
By May El Habachi If you are one of the millions of people trying to lose weight, here's a tip: Don't go on a diet. In the effort to lose weight, many try fad diets only to realize that they don't work in the long term.
Diabetes is soaring in the Middle East and Egypt is no exception. The prevalence of diabetes in the country has almost tripled in the last two decades, and it will continue to skyrocket if incident rates remain the same.
By May Habachi Healthy eating is often synonymous with strict dietary limitations or even deprivation. But it shouldn't be. Rather, healthy eating is about feeling good, having more energy and stabilizing your mood (often making you feel happier).
Expat Life
Re-inventing Yourself on the Move
Nadia, not her real name, is one of 158,510 registered refugees in Malaysia. She is a 35 year old Syrian refugee and a single mother of three children who came to Malaysia in search for a better life. Three years later, she is still struggling to survive.
Most expat spouses leave their jobs behind when accompanying their partners abroad. More often than not, they cannot continue their careers and thus lose their professional identity. According to Expat Insider published by InterNations, 60 percent find giving up their career difficult and 65 percent dislike being financially dependent on their spouse.