Hey there,

We know what you’re thinking…here comes another newsletter raving about how incredible the Grand Egyptian Museum is and why everyone should be talking about it. You’ve already heard it all from the TV talk shows and morning hosts. So no, we’re not here to repeat that.

What we do want to share, though, is why this opening actually matters, not just for history lovers or tourists, but for you, the everyday Egyptian. We all have our busy routines and endless to-do lists, but the Grand Egyptian Museum isn’t just a celebration of the pharaohs’ greatness, because that would be far too surface-level.

It’s about how tourism touches every Egyptian life, from the hotel receptionist and the tour guide to the taxi driver and the café waiter. The legacy of the pharaohs still fuels Egypt’s economy today, creating opportunities that reach far beyond museum walls.

So, when the Grand Egyptian Museum opens its doors, we shouldn’t think about it as just a cultural milestone, but as a moment that could mean more jobs, more income, and more pride for every Egyptian.

We hope you enjoy reading!

Warm regards,

Mirna Abdulaal

The time and effort behind this newsletter come from the Egyptian Streets team of independent, grassroots journalists. By subscribing for just USD 1.66 per month (EGP 80), or as little as USD 0.84 per month (EGP 40) for students (paid annually), you’re directly supporting the creation of content like this and helping sustain independent media in Egypt.

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Spotlight

^{Meet Salma Stohy}

Saudi One-way, a short documentary and graduation project by filmmaker Salma Stohy, has earned three awards in less than a year, including Best Rising Egyptian Filmmaker at the 7th edition of Medfest Film Festival, held at AUC’s Tahrir Campus. The film delves into the social expectations surrounding marriage in rural Egypt, particularly the realities of arranged unions. It follows Nashwa, a young woman from El Sharkia in her mid-twenties, whose wedding was far from traditional. Instead of a grand celebration, she traveled alone to meet her husband abroad, still dressed in her wedding gown as she passed through the airport. Soon, Saudi One-way will continue its journey abroad with a screening at the Egyptian American Film Festival in New York. Discover her work here.

Speaking to Egyptian Streets, Salma shared more about her cultural picks and work below:

What drew you to the topic of marriage norms in rural areas, and why did you feel it was important to tell this story through film?

What made me want to talk about this topic comes down to two main reasons.

The first is personal. I’ve been to rural areas many times, and during those visits, I realized how different the social norms are compared to here. Many people in Egypt live in a sort of bubble, they don’t always see or understand that other cultures have their own customs, even when it comes to something as familiar as weddings.

I noticed that in some rural areas, wedding preparations can stretch over several days: one day for the henna, another for setting up the mattress, another for arranging the furniture, and finally, the day of the wedding itself. Sometimes, there’s even a separate day when a cook comes to prepare and distribute the food. Each of these moments felt entirely different from what I was used to seeing in Cairo, and that contrast fascinated me.

The second reason is tied to a film I made before my graduation project, a short called Sadd Radd (Echo), which ran for about seven minutes. It was about filming a neighborhood wedding, not one held in a hall or hotel, but right there in the street, from morning until the very end of the celebration.

So those two experiences came together. I wanted to dig deeper into the traditions of the area and share them through film, not just to highlight differences, but to document a real, living culture. To show that this reality exists, that these stories are happening all around us, and that they’re worth seeing.

Can you walk us through the process of bringing this documentary to life, from research to final cut?

The idea for the film came to me about two or three years ago. I had wanted to make it long before it became my graduation project, just as an independent piece, but the opportunity never quite came together. I spent a long time searching for a woman who was getting married in a very particular way, until I finally met the bride who appears in the film.

Everything you see in the documentary is real. Nothing is acted or staged. She was truly preparing for her wedding. After filming, I never heard back from her again. She went to Saudi Arabia, and I don’t know if or when she might come back, maybe in two years, three, or even ten.

This project also carries a lot of meaning for me because of an earlier short film I made, Rehalat Jayedan (She Departed Well). That film left a strong impression on people, not because it was about Saudi Arabia, but because it explored universal emotions like separation and longing. It caught people’s attention through feeling, not place.

I also believe that a film’s title holds just as much weight as the film itself. In fact, I had written down the title for Saudi One-way even before I started shooting. I always do that for every project, I keep a page filled with possible titles before filming begins. For me, the title always emerges from something deep within the story, often tied to a specific image or moment that defines the entire film.

How did you find and connect with the women featured in the film? Were they open to sharing their stories from the start, or did it take time to build trust?

Before finding her, I had approached many women and asked countless questions. Were they willing to share their stories? Not at all, it was incredibly difficult. But eventually, I met her and managed to gain her trust. We sat together for three or four hours, talking about everything, and by the end, she agreed to be part of the film. At first, though, she was completely against it, and her initial answer was a firm no.

How do you hope Saudi One-way contributes to conversations about women’s rights?

Honestly, I didn’t make this film to express an opinion or comment on women’s rights. My goal was simply to document the marriage journey within that community, not to make a statement or take a stance.

For me, it’s all about storytelling and showing that this reality exists. You could watch the film five or ten years from now, and it would still stand as a social record of a particular time and place. I wasn’t trying to offer solutions or analysis; it’s not a report or a piece of journalism. It’s a documentary, a work of cinema.

I’m not here to give answers or judgments about the girl, her story, or her circumstances. I just wanted to capture what was real.

Feature

^{Egypt for Egyptians}

What makes the grand opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum truly important is that it gives Egyptians the chance to reclaim their ancient history and to make ancient Egypt feel like it belongs to them again. But for many years, that hasn’t always been the case.

A couple of years ago, the campaign dubbed #EgyptForEgyptians sparked widespread awareness after Adele James, a Black actress, portrayed Cleopatra VII in a new docu-series, and many Egyptians began sharing photos of themselves standing next to ancient-Egyptian busts to highlight physical resemblance. While the campaign succeeded in drawing attention to how Egyptians connect with their ancient past, it also risked excluding others who may not physically resemble those historical figures.

Rather than focusing primarily on visual likeness or skin colour, the campaign should celebrate culture, heritage and identity in a broader sense. With inclusion, which recognizes all Egyptians, regardless of appearance, the message becomes more meaningful. The essence is that Egypt belongs to anyone who identifies as Egyptian, and the story of its heritage should embrace the full diversity of its people. 

Read the article here.

^{Everything You Need to Know}

Here's everything you need to know about the grand opening. The official inauguration on 1 November is expected to be a star-studded event attended by global leaders and celebrities, with at least 60 kings, presidents, and prime ministers attending. 

To mark the occasion, Egypt has declared a special public holiday, and exclusive gold and silver commemorative coins will be released. The public will gain access starting 4 November, coinciding with the 103rd anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb.

Read the article here.

What to Read

^{Goddess of the Sky}

Many people learn about ancient Egypt from random blogs or documentaries, but we recommend turning to real research articles instead, ones that offer scientific, detailed insights rather than just opinions or speculation.

We feature this interesting research that explores how the ancient Egyptian sky-goddess Nut may be linked to the appearance of the Milky Way in the night sky. Researchers used texts such as the Pyramid Texts, the Coffin Texts and the Book of Nut to study how ancient Egyptians described Nut’s body as spanning from horizon to horizon and swallowing the sun and stars at night.

Through simulations of the ancient Egyptian sky, the author found that Nut’s arms, described in the Book of Nut as stretching to the northwest and southeast at a 45-degree angle, closely matched the Milky Way’s orientation during winter in ancient Egypt. Rather than being a literal representation of Nut, the Milky Way may have been a figurative way for Egyptians to visualise her presence as the sky itself.

Read more here.

What to Listen to

^{Valley of the Kings}

If you want to get a little taste of ancient Egypt through sound, then you should definitely give The Valley of the Kings by Hisham Kharma a listen. It is where Egypt’s ancient spirit meets a global groove with its mix of ancient-inspired melodies and modern beats. The track takes you on a smooth journey through history, as if you’re wandering through temples and golden sands.

Listen here.

What to Watch

^{The Egyptian Mummies}

The most fascinating thing about the ancient Egyptians is, without a doubt, their ability to quite literally preserve their bodies for the afterlife as mummies. And with Halloween right around the corner and the museum’s opening just days away, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.

There’s so much to explore when it comes to ancient Egypt, but perhaps the biggest question of all is: why were they so obsessed with the afterlife? In this series, ancient Egypt’s quest for eternal life is brought back to life through a groundbreaking discovery, a 2,500-year-old embalming lab, where the secrets of mummification, myth, and medicine are finally unwrapped.

Watch it in Egypt here and in the US here

^{Al Daheeh Museum}

You probably already know Al Daheeh, and you might remember his series where he brought historical figures to life. If history isn’t usually your thing but you enjoy learning in a fun, engaging way, this one’s definitely for you.

Watch it in Egypt here and in the US here

What to Eat

^{JJ’s Burger}

There’s a reason we picked Wednesday to send out this newsletter, because we know how ending the week with a great meal can feel downright life-changing. That one perfect bite can power you through the week (or even the year), simply because of how good it was. So this week, if you’re craving the comfort of a juicy, melt-in-your-mouth cheeseburger, make your way to Arkan or Lake District Mivida.

Find out more here.

What to Visit

^{TUL8TE World Tour}

We’ve talked plenty about TUL8TE’s albums and his one-of-a-kind sound, but now it’s time to feel it for yourself. Because let’s be honest, there’s a world of difference between hearing music through your headphones and experiencing it live on stage. TUL8TE’s world tour is making its way to New Cairo, with a live performance at El Arena, El Malahy on December 5th. So grab your tickets now, before they’re gone.

Find out more here.

Saudi Spotlight

^{Morning Comfort Food}

If you really want to understand a country’s soul, start with its breakfast. The French have their croissants, the British their beans and bacon, but the Saudis? They begin their day with warm bread, eggs, and tea. At Ban3mah, mornings come alive with the scent of tamees bread sizzling on the griddle and the gentle murmur of conversations over steaming teapots.

Read more here.