Hey there,

Today, we journey back to explore the history of Egypt’s most iconic metal, the pharaonic metal: gold. Egypt and gold share a bond that goes far beyond a simple relationship with a precious resource; it runs through the country’s veins, just as the Nile flows through its body.

With the global spotlight once again fixed on gold, prices recently dipping after a dramatic reversal from record-breaking highs, this moment offers a timely opportunity to reflect on what gold truly represents in a land that has long measured its power, prosperity, and even identity by it. Historically, Egypt has not only gauged its wealth in gold, but also the worth of individuals by how much of it they possess.

We hope you enjoy reading!

Warm regards,

Mirna Abdulaal

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Ines Baccouche is a Tunisian-born art communicator whose work transcends borders by connecting artists from North Africa and the Middle East with global audiences. Trained originally as a microelectronics engineer, Ines spent over a decade in France working in high-tech project management. While living in Europe, she observed a striking absence of MENA artists in mainstream galleries and a general lack of recognition for their creative contributions.

Driven to change this, she founded ArtforNess in 2019, the first European gallery dedicated exclusively to illustrators from the Middle East, North Africa, and West Asia. Through both online and offline exhibitions, ArtforNess champions the richness of these artists’ visual languages and fosters meaningful cultural exchange between regions.

For Ines, her role isn’t to create art herself but to amplify the voices and visions of others. She describes her work as helping artists “shine,” shrinking the cultural distance between diverse audiences and the captivating stories embedded in MENA art. Her gallery invites viewers to feel a deeper connection with the colorful narratives and unique perspectives of a region that has long been underrepresented in European art spaces.

Discover her work here.

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.

The story of Nakhla Jewelry is a meditation on memory, identity, and cultural resilience. At its heart is Laila Nakhla, cofounder of the family-run brand, who views jewelry as a living archive of Egypt’s layered past. For Nakhla, each handcrafted piece in 21-karat gold carries within it the fingerprints of the artisans who made it, preserving history in a way that written records often cannot.

Drawing on inspirations that span Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Persian, Nubian, and Islamic aesthetics, the brand’s jewelry embodies a “new concept of an old jewel,” marrying ancient forms with a distinctly contemporary sensibility.

But the narrative is also shaped by challenge. Economic and political upheavals in Egypt threatened traditional craft knowledge and artisanship, prompting the Nakhla family to commit to creating jewelry rooted in local skill and history, rather than imitating foreign tastes. In doing so, they resisted patterns of cultural extraction and appropriation that have long complicated Egypt’s artistic legacy.

Read the article here.

As the runner-up in Egyptian Streets’ Timeless Tales competition, this beautifully written piece is a personal story about memory, family, and what we carry with us through time.

Each piece of gold holds a story of her grandmother, of Nubia, and of a life shaped by love, loss, and displacement.

As the grandmother speaks, the gold becomes a bridge to the past. It recalls a homeland that no longer exists in the same way, one that was lost when Nubian families were forced to leave their land after the creation of Lake Nasser. In this way, the jewelry is a reminder of what was taken, and of what endured.

The gold is passed down, but so are the memories, the grief, and the strength of those who came before. By the end, we understand that the real value of the gold lies not in its weight or worth, but in the stories it protects and the sense of belonging it gives.

Read the article here.

The word Nubia comes from the ancient word for gold, which already tells us how inseparable this material was from the land and the people who lived there.

As you turn the pages, you begin to realize that these pieces were never just decorative. Each necklace, bracelet, or pendant carries traces of the hands that made it and the lives that once wore it. Gold, in this context, wasn’t about excess or status alone; it was about protection, belief, ritual, and the desire to leave something meaningful behind.

The objects feel distant, yes, but also strangely familiar. They remind us that people thousands of years ago were asking the same questions we still ask today: how do we mark love, power, faith, or loss? How do we give form to what matters most?

Read more here.

In “Salam Alaykum,” French Montana is saying hello to the parts of himself that once felt pushed aside. The title itself, an everyday Arabic greeting meaning “peace be upon you,” is a reminder of where he comes from. Growing up as an immigrant kid from Morocco in the South Bronx, French Montana faced language barriers, financial struggle, and the constant feeling of being caught between two worlds. Those experiences shaped him, even when they were hard to name. In this song, you can hear that tension and pride coexist, the struggle to survive, the loyalty to community, and the refusal to erase his roots.

Listen here.

If you haven’t yet, take some time to listen to the podcast where Dina Ghabbour sits down with Azza Fahmy. It’s one of those conversations that stays with you. Azza’s story is about the courage it took to follow a passion that lived inside her long before anyone else could see it. As a woman carving out her own path in a world that often underestimated her, she faced real pain and hard lessons, moments of doubt, resistance, and the weight of expectations. 

But those very challenges taught her more about who she is than success ever could. Jewelry for her became more than what she wears; it became a language for expressing identity, memory, strength, and beauty shaped by lived experience. Listening to her reflect on those triumphs and struggles feels like talking with someone wise and open, and it reminds us all why following your passion, even when it’s hard,  can lead to discovering parts of yourself you never knew were there.

Watch it here.

There’s something deeply comforting about eating dumplings in the winter, and Peking’s dumplings really hit the spot. They’re warm, simple, and incredibly satisfying, the kind of food you reach for when it’s cold outside, and you just want something that feels like a hug. 

Dumplings are the perfect winter snack because they’re quick to eat, but they don’t leave you hungry an hour later. Each bite is packed, filling, and cozy in a way few snacks manage to be. 

Think of them as the Chinese version of a hamburger: handheld and hearty.

Find out more here.

Princess of the Nile comes to life on the stage of the Cairo Opera House Main Hall on Friday, February 6, 2026, at 8:00 pm, presented by the Cairo Opera Ballet Company. Drawing from the richness of ancient Egyptian heritage, the ballet unfolds as a powerful visual narrative, where classical ballet technique meets orchestral sound and theatrical spectacle.

Performed by the Cairo Opera Ballet Company with live music by the Cairo Opera Orchestra, the production weaves storytelling choreography with period-inspired costumes and expansive stage design. Each scene builds a world shaped by history, movement, and music, offering audiences a full-length ballet that feels both rooted in Egypt’s past and alive within a contemporary operatic setting.

Find out more here.

Beyond The Sea is a curated art exhibition presented during the Egypt International Boat Show, in collaboration with Art LINX Gallery. Bringing together collectors, art enthusiasts, and creatives, the exhibition offers a dynamic encounter with contemporary art inspired by themes of movement, depth, and the spirit of the sea.

Featuring works by 40+ artists, Beyond The Sea creates a vibrant space where art meets atmosphere, inviting visitors to explore diverse artistic voices within an exceptional setting.

Find out more here.

Saudi Arabia’s universities have steadily advanced over the past couple of years. They are now represented in international and regional rankings that measure performance in areas such as academic reputation and institutional development. As the Kingdom’s higher education institutions continue to position themselves within an increasingly competitive global market, some specific universities stand out.

Read more here.