Hey there,

Thank you for taking a moment to click and read our picks of the week. We know how busy life can get, so even choosing to open a story means a lot to us. That small action says something big, and it means you care.

This week, we’re shifting the spotlight away from humans and onto Egypt’s Baladi dog, often known simply as the street dog. There’s far more to this breed than most people realize. In fact, Baladi dogs are among the most resilient in the world.

What makes them truly remarkable is their strength and overall health. As mixed-breed dogs, they benefit from greater genetic diversity, which supports longevity and reduces the risk of serious illnesses such as organ disease and cancer, a finding supported by a 2020 study from Linnaeus University in Sweden.

We hope you enjoy reading!

Warm regards,

Mirna Abdulaal

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Spotlight

Meet Chant Avedissian

Chant Avedissian’s work feels like a conversation between Egypt’s past and its present. His paintings pull from folk culture, old patterns, cinema icons, and everyday Egyptian life, but they never feel stuck in history. Instead, they feel alive, almost like the past didn’t end, it just kept going and found new ways to show itself in modern times.

What gives his work that pop feel is how bold and familiar it is. The colors, repetition, and recognizable faces make the paintings feel immediate and warm, not distant or museum-like. You don’t look at them as “old” references, you see them as part of now.

There’s also something very instinctive about his style. It doesn’t need long explanations or heavy analysis to make sense. You feel it right away. Through simple visuals and strong patterns, the paintings capture the beauty of Egyptian people and everyday life. Some styles don’t need to be explained, because they just work, and they bring a culture to life naturally. Discover his work here.

Merch Drop

^{Limited-Edition Merch Drop}

Early access for Egyptian Streets’ first ever limited edition merch drop is ending soon! The merch was created in collaboration with four independent Egyptian artists whose work brings everyday Egypt to life in original, meaningful ways. You can now secure a tote, tee, art print or sweater featuring designs by Amira Tanany, Toka El Sayed, Nada Abouelmaati and Seham Sultan.

The Early Access window is currently available for global audiences only. A dedicated Egypt-based launch will follow soon, with local pricing and production being finalized to ensure affordability and availability inside Egypt.

Check out the collection and learn more about the artists here.

Feature

^{The Baladi Dog}

The Baladi dog is basically Egypt’s default dog, the one you see everywhere, from quiet streets to busy neighborhoods. The word baladi means “local,” and that’s exactly what these dogs are: shaped by Egypt itself over centuries. They don’t all look the same. Some are lean, some stockier, some tall, some small, but that variety is part of what makes them special.

Because they’re mixed-breed and evolved naturally rather than being selectively bred, they tend to be healthier, tougher, and better at surviving harsh conditions. Many researchers even link them to ancient Egyptian dogs, pointing out how similar they look to the dogs seen in tomb paintings and statues of gods like Anubis.

Despite their strength and long history, Baladi dogs are often misunderstood today. Many people see them only as street dogs, not realizing how intelligent, adaptable, and loyal they can be. They survive, adapt, and continue walking beside us, just as they always have

Read the article here.

^{A Systemic Solution}

For years, the way stray animals were dealt with often involved poisoning, abuse, or quick fixes that didn’t actually solve anything. While Egypt’s constitution says animals shouldn’t be treated cruelly, there still isn’t a clear, independent animal welfare law to protect them.

Share’ Aleef is different because it looks at the problem systemically, not emotionally or temporarily. Instead of focusing only on shelters and rescues, the initiative pushes for real legal change, public education, and government involvement. The founders believe animal welfare isn’t just about being kind to animals; it’s tied to public health, the environment, and how society functions as a whole.

The initiative also works to challenge common misconceptions, like the idea that all street dogs are dangerous or that cruelty is necessary to control populations. By combining on-the-ground action, policy work, and awareness campaigns, Share’ Aleef aims to change how people think about animals and how the state deals with them.

Read the article here.

What to Read

Diary of a Prosecutor

Diary of a Country Prosecutor by Tawfik al-Hakim, a book that takes you into rural Egypt through the eyes of a young prosecutor working in the countryside. Instead of focusing on big heroes or dramatic crime-solving, the story shows the everyday reality of dealing with peasants, local power dynamics, and a justice system that often feels slow, confusing, and unfair.

What makes the book stand out is how honest and almost darkly funny it is. The prosecutor wants to do the right thing, but keeps running into absurd situations, bureaucracy, and deep social inequalities. Al-Hakim exposes how disconnected the legal system is from the lives of ordinary people, especially in rural Egypt.

Read more here.

What to Listen to

^Seneen

Tul8te returns with his new single “Seneen,” a soft, emotional track inspired by the style and spirit of Mohamed Mounir. Instead of loud production or flashy beats, the song leans into a more folksy, stripped-down sound that lets the emotions take center stage. It’s reflective, calm, and full of feeling, the kind of song that makes you pause rather than dance.

The lyrics feel personal and honest, touching on loneliness, longing, and trying to reconnect with yourself after feeling lost for years. It’s less about telling a dramatic story and more about capturing a mood many people recognize.

Read more here.

What to Watch

^{My Father’s Scent}

My Father’s Scent is a deeply emotional Egyptian film that looks at the complicated, often unspoken bond between fathers and sons. The story follows two brothers dealing with the sudden death of their father, a moment that forces buried feelings, resentment, love, and guilt to finally surface. Much of the film is told from the son’s point of view, making the experience feel raw and very personal.

The father isn’t perfect, and neither are the sons. There’s love, but also distance and silence, the kind many families know too well. The film explores how fathers often struggle to express emotions, while sons grow up craving understanding and approval without knowing how to ask for it.

Watch it in Egypt here.

What to Drink

^{Chaa Egypt}

On a chilly day in Cairo, there’s nothing quite like curling up with a warm cup of boba tea from Chaa. While most places serve it cold, Chaa is one of the few spots in Egypt where you can actually enjoy your boba tea hot, which makes it perfect for this cold weather. The chewy tapioca pearls mix with the sweet, creamy tea in a way that’s comforting and satisfying, turning a simple drink into a cozy little escape.

Find out more here.

What to Visit

^{Art Cairo 2026}

Art Cairo is where the region’s art scene really comes alive. It brings together both established names and fresh, emerging artists through leading galleries from across the MENA region, giving local, regional, and international audiences a front-row seat to the creativity shaping the Middle East and North Africa today.

More than just an art fair, Art Cairo is a space for contemporary galleries to grow, connect, and be seen. With its galleries and dynamic fair programs, it opens doors to new audiences and wider markets. And with the Grand Egyptian Museum as its backdrop, the experience feels extra special, and where ancient history meets bold, contemporary expression, showcasing just how diverse, vibrant, and alive the region’s art scene truly is.

Find out more here.

^{The Human Endures}

This exhibition looks at how Safwat Abbas thinks about conflict and what it means to endure as a human being. On one level, there’s the struggle to exist; the shared fears and tensions that most people carry in one form or another. On another, more personal level, there’s an inner conflict shaped by his own experiences and pain. His time in prison seems to have played a major role in this, sparking a deep need to break free from feelings of confinement.

That need for freedom shows up clearly in his work. Through painting, Abbas steps into a limitless world of creation, using art as a way to push past boundaries and reclaim a sense of release.

Find out more here.

Saudi Spotlight

^{Foreign Investors}

Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority announced on 6 January that it will open the country’s capital market to all categories of foreign investors, allowing direct participation beginning on 1 February 2026, in one of the kingdom’s most significant steps yet to internationalize its financial markets.

The authority’s board approved a new regulatory framework that will permit nonresident foreign investors to invest directly in the main market. The move effectively makes the Saudi stock exchange accessible to investors worldwide without intermediary structures, expanding a market that has gradually opened over the past decade.

Read more here.