According to local Egyptian news outlets, government officials have denied plans to build a ‘Ministry of Happiness’. The establishment of the Ministry was firstly announced by Tarek Rifai, Director of the unified government complaint system in the Egyptian Cabinet, on Sada El Balad. However, reports of establishing the ministry were denied on Friday, a day following the Sada El Balad interview with the popular channel. “There is no current trend to establish a ministry of happiness in Egypt,” an unknown governmental source told Sada Al-Balad. “The government is actually working on making citizens happier by improving the economy, increasing growth, decreasing unemployment and inflation.” Sources also explained that citizen wellness was the current aim of the government and that is done through providing basic commodities at affordable prices, as well as providing adequate educational and medical services. The government official had revealed that the Egyptian government was cooperating with the United Arab Emirates in order to ‘upgrade’ communication between governmental institutions and to ‘improve’ services provided to citizens in Egypt. The UAE established its own Ministry of Happiness in 2016, with a National Programme for Happiness and Positivity. Its aims are to harmonize all state plans, programs…
Private Egyptian Company to Launch Local Ride-Hailing App ‘Dubci’
Confirming social media rumors, a private Egyptian company has announced the launch of a local ride-hailing application to rival Uber and Careem. The enigmatic, privately-owned ‘Dubci’ is set to launch in a matter of weeks, seeking support as a national project from the government, according to BBC Arabic. Exactly like its counterparts, the company’s features will include an application for smart phones. Additionally, its more ‘attractive’ features include free internet wifi and a security camera inside the vehicles. The latter is perceived as a an important security measure for both the driver and the customers, especially considering since various allegations of violence and sexual harassment incidents from both Uber and Careem captains have circulated on social media since the beginning of their operations. In March 2019, it was confirmed that the two ride-hailing giants have reached an agreement for Uber to acquire Careem for $3.1 billion. The transaction is set for the first quarter of 2020, squashing competition and the option of choosing for many Egyptians. According to BBC Arabic, Uber and Careem served approximately seven million customers in 2018. With the increase of fuel prices in July, Careem announced an increase in…
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough: An Exploration of the Ultras Culture in Egypt
As AFCON trudges on in Egypt, we had hoped for the best. We hoped for an exciting performance and the chance to lift the coveted cup on our home-ground. We hoped for a good audience and great cheers from the bleachers, reminiscing noteworthy matches from the past. We remember 2006 and all the years that followed when men like Mostafa Tabla led chants until their voices gave out. We remember the Ultras, the Super Fans who gave cheering a new identity. Recently featured in Coca-Cola’s newest AFCON ad, the Ultras have made waves in the mainstream again. It is not like they haven’t been here before; they have been part of our football culture for more than a decade. The Ultras, Globally and in Egypt If Ultra movements were secret to Egypt until 2007, they have been one of the worst kept secrets on the planet. History tells us Ultras groups have been around longer than one might think. The Torcida Organizada and the Barra Bravas are notable examples that spread to Italy, where a movement not unlike the groups we see today developed. The concept reached Africa a little…
How the Red Sea is Leading Egypt’s Environmental Action
Upon arriving to the Red Sea city of El Gouna for the Egyptian-German Cairo Climate Talks’ (CCT) 61st session, a couple of my colleagues went to buy something from the supermarket. I was confused as to why they came back carrying white fabric bags. It took a few seconds for my memory to kick in: single-use plastic has now become history in the governorate. Established six years ago, CCT aims to encourage exchange of experiences and foster cooperation between policymakers, the business community, the scientific community as well as civil society. “We want climate change to be a mainstream topic, for people to relate to such issues,” said Amena Sharaf, the CCT Coordinator at the session. Since they would form a major route to the public, mainly journalists from different media entities were invited to the event. The location was not chosen without a reason. The Red Sea resort now has its first plastic-free hotel. It is also where the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA), one of the country’s major environmental organizations, is located. Desalination as a source of water is also on the rise. No Country for…
Surveillance Cameras Installed After Animal Abuse at Cairo’s Birqash Camel Market
Governer of Giza Ahmed Rashed announced on Thursday that the governorate will implement a number of measures to tighten control over Cairo’s Birqash Camel Market and ensure that camels are not attacked or dealt with violently. These measures include the installation of a surveillance system around the market, Al Masry Al Youm reports. Rashed revealed that cameras have already been installed in 34 barns, which will be periodically monitored by designated officials from a main control unit. The governor added that the Veterinary Medicines Directorate is working to raise the efficiency of the veterinary unit within the market to supervise the treatment of any sick animals received, stressing that it is also organizing seminars to bring awareness to traders on how to deal with animals in addition to putting up posters to show the correct methods of dealing. In April, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) revealed that camels were beaten and mistreated in a number of Egypt’s touristic attractions. At the Birqash Camel Market, men and children were seen beating screaming camels with sticks. Many of the animals’ faces were bloody, and one camel foamed at the…
Egypt’s Evangelical Christians: Education Keeps Local Churches Running
Among Egypt’s Christian community, the vast majority are Orthodox Coptic Christians. Evangelical Christians constitute only a small minority of the country’s Christian population. Founded in the mid-19th century by American missionaries, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Egypt – also known as the Synod of the Nile – has most of its churches concentrated in the urban centers of Cairo, Alexandria or in Upper Egypt. However, there are almost 100 Presbyterian churches in Egypt with no pastors, according to Global Ministries. This has put those churches at risk of closure, challenging the oldest Seminary in the country, the Evangelical Presbyterian Seminary (ETSC) in Cairo, to increase its student admissions. To find out more about what becoming an Evangelical pastor entails, Egyptian Streets talked to 24-year-old Amen, a second-year MA student in Theology at the seminary, who decided to move away from the direction of his undergraduate degree in Engineering to instead pursue advanced religious studies. Raised in a Christian house in Upper Egypt, Amen is the son of a priest at the Evangelical Church in Nag Hammadi, a town named after its founder Mahmoud Pasha Hammadi and situated in the governorate…
Pro-Mubarak Facebook Page Admin Arrested for ‘Spreading Fake News’
The administrator of a popular Facebook page in support of Egypt’s former President Hosni Mubarak was arrested on Tuesday night for “questioning”. Karim Hussein, who founded and runs the the ‘أنا أسف ياريس’ (‘I Am Sorry Mr President’) Facebook page, was detained by security forces for questioning, according to a post made on the page on Wednesday morning. The Facebook page, which has more than three million followers, was founded on 2 February 2011, during the January 25 revolution protests against Mubarak. According to El Watan, State Security prosecution announced the detention of Hussein for 15 days pending an investigation into allegations he published fake news on the ‘I Am Sorry Mr President’ Facebook page. In its own statement, the ‘I Am Sorry Mr President’ Facebook page said it does not know exactly why Hussein was arrested beyond that it relates to his work on the page. The statement added that it understands security authorities’ responsibility and right to investigate and question any citizen in matters related to Egypt. The statement also added that the ‘I Am Sorry Mr President’ Facebook page has its full confidence in Egypt’s national security…
On the Popularity of ‘Mohammed’ and Other Arabic Naming Conventions
Did you know that the most common and popular first name given to newborn boys in the German capital Berlin in 2018 was Mohammed, according to a census derived from 700 birth registration offices across the country? Similarly in the UK, by the end of 2018 the Office of National Statistics (ONS) announced that the Islamic name of the Prophet topped rankings in London and the West Midlands, surpassing other popular names such as Oliver, Harry, George, Noah and Jack. It needs however to be clarified that this British statistic only applies when all different spellings of Mohammed – Muhammad being the most common – are included in the data. Otherwise, Oliver has consistently come ahead of the Prophet’s name in the English-speaking country, holding its position as the most popular boy’s name since 2013, according to the ONS. To clarify, spelling variations of the number one Arabic-Islamic name include Muhammad, Mohammed, Mohammad, Muhammed, Mohamed, Mohamad, Muhamad and several others. Across the Arab world it comes as no surprise that Mohammed in its multiple renditions is by far the most widespread and popular name given to newborn males and alive…
EgyptAir Begins Experimental Operations in the New Administrative Capital Airport
Egypt’s Ministry of Civil Aviation began its experimental operation in the New Administrative Capital Airport (NAC) on Tuesday with the attendance of Civil Aviation Minister Younis El-Masry and Tourism Minister Rania Al-Mashat. In a press conference, the civil aviation ministry revealed that EgyptAir established its operations and facilities inside the new airport along with duty-free shops in the arrival and departure halls. This airport is larger that Cairo International Airpot and is expected increase tourism while decrease the traffic at Cairo International Airport. The location of the NAC is significant because it is located in East Cairo near Ain Sokhna and Suez ports, Sherouq City, Badr City, and cities near the Suez Canal, who do not have easy access to Cairo International Airport. NAC facilitates traffic in these zones and districts with that hopes of turning the area into an international logistic and industrial hub Prior to launching the experimental operations, officials from the civil aviation ministry scanned the New Administrative Capital airport’s passenger terminals, passport counters, the duty-free zone, airstrips, and the watchtower. The airport’s main terminal is over 5,000 square meters, with the capacity to host 300 passengers per…