CairoScene

@CairoScene : At 60, Egyptian artist and designer Hani Mahfouz continues to build a body of art that feels distinctly young. He comes into the office every day at 10 o’clock and leaves at 5. Within that structure, he allows his art to take on whatever shape it chooses to embody. Mahfouz doesn’t believe his art needs to carry a message. It’s not going to change the world. “I don’t think anyone knows whether art is instinctual or carefully constructed,” Mahfouz tells Cairo Scene, “My definition of art is closer to spontaneity. It’s just something you practice. I don’t want to send a message or serve humanity or change how people behave; I just want to draw. It’s simple.” For the full interview with Hani Mahfouz, head to SceneNow.com or download the app. 🖊️ Layla Raik

@SceneStyled : NELLY KARIM IN FULL BLOOM | @SCENESTYLED #COVER 6.0 You can watch Nelly Karim in Cairo 6,7,8, A Girl Named Zaat, and Voy! Voy! Voy!, and lose yourself in the breadth of her catalogue. You can study her in the lauded turn of a prison warden in Segn El Nesaa, then pivot to her rare comedic register as Sokar in B 100 Wesh. But to experience Nelly is to linger elsewhere entirely, to languish…”in a warm Wednesday afternoon in El Gouna, but the warmth is not generous. It sits on the skin, stubbornly. The air is edged with mildew and salt. Around the pool at La Maison Bleu, bodies are arranged in varying states of leisure. Two men in white cotton shirts and belted trousers struggle with a chaise longue I have asked to be turned toward the dolphin statue breaking the water’s surface. The object refuses cooperation. It drags, resists, insists on heaviness. I notice, briefly, the disproportion of the request to the labour required, then abandon the thought. It is, after all, Nelly Karim. She arrives with a pared-back entourage - two women, three bags, an iPhone. She’s corseted in a green linen co-ord, her hair precisely set, falling the full length of her back. Her sunglasses hold the same tone as her skin. Her eyes are washed in pink and gold; her lips, set with Dior Lip Glow, stay closed as she lights a cigarette and asks for the menu. “I’m hungry,” she says. “Let’s eat before we start…” Read the full cover story on Nelly Karim, exclusively, at or by downloading the #SceneNow app. Produced by: @scenestyled //@mo4network SceneStyled Managing Editor: @faridaelshafie Producer & Art Director: @lordmunky Photography: @fariszaitoon Cinematography: @ahmed_reda_dika 1st AC: @mazen_moohamedd Sound Eng: @abanob8992 Hair & Makeup: @alsagheersalons Jewellery: @nakhlajewellery Wardrobe: @kojakstudio Post Production: @rosmedium & @_lil_nil_ Location: @lamaisonbleueelgouna Editorial Design: @biblicallyaccuratenoha Celebrity Management: @ingie_elmor

For over a decade, @mo4network , the media company behind more than 14 digital titles including @cairoscene , has helped fuel, forge, and shape Egypt’s stories. With a steadfast mission to spotlight the people, places, and movements redefining the nation - and beyond it the region - our storytelling sits at the intersection of past and present, between the world-shaping legacy of our ancestors and the blazing brightness of our future. A vision powered by a generation of creatives, entrepreneurs, innovators, and, of course, storytellers. Since our inception, we have been woven into the fabric of Egypt’s most defining events and cultural experiences, a symbiotic relationship that ensures these fleeting moments in time become enduring chapters in our contemporary cultural legacy. Today, @mo4network steps into the Grand Egyptian Museum, a monument to our ancient history and, in every sense, the greatest contemporary Egyptian story ever told. Stay tuned to @cairoscene and @elfaslaonline this evening from 6 PM onwards for exclusive access to the stories unfolding inside this landmark of Egyptian identity and imagination. 📸 Nour El Refai 🎥 MO4 Network

@SceneSportsME : The finals of the CIB Palm Hills PSA World Championships, organised by @ievents at “At The Hills, Crown Extension” by @palmhillsdevelopments , delivered a spectacle worthy of squash’s biggest stage, as Egypt’s stars once again proved why they dominate the global game. On the women’s side, World No. 3 Amina Orfi etched her name into championship history after a breathtaking 3-2 triumph over reigning World No. 2 Nour El Sherbini. In a clash defined by relentless rallies, fearless shot-making, and razor-thin margins, Orfi held her nerve in the decisive moments, clinching victory by just two points in the fifth game. Roared on by a passionate home crowd, the young Egyptian showcased composure beyond her years to capture one of the biggest titles of her career against one of the sport’s greatest champions. The men’s final saw World No. 1 Mostafa Asal deliver a statement performance, overpowering fellow Egyptian and World No. 7 Youssef Ibrahim in commanding 3-0 fashion. Combining explosive movement with trademark intensity, Asal controlled the match from the opening rally to secure yet another major PSA crown. أسدل الستار اليوم على منافسات نهائي بطولة العالم CIB بالم هيلز لمحترفي الاسكواش، التي تنظمها @ievents في “At The Hills, Crown Extension” بالتعاون مع @palmhillsdevelopments ، بعدما قدمت البطولة مشهدًا يليق بأكبر حدث في عالم الاسكواش، بينما واصل نجوم مصر تأكيد هيمنتهم على اللعبة عالميًا. وفي منافسات السيدات، كتبت أمينة عرفي، المصنفة الثالثة عالميًا، فصلًا جديدًا في مسيرتها بعدما توجت باللقب إثر فوز مثير بنتيجة 3-2 على نور الشربيني، المصنفة الثانية عالميًا. وشهدت المباراة تبادلًا مستمرًا للسيطرة، ونقاطًا حاسمة، ومواجهات امتدت حتى اللحظات الأخيرة. وفي نهائي الرجال، قدم المصنف الأول عالميًا مصطفى عسل أداءً قويًا وحاسمًا أمام مواطنه والمصنف السابع عالميًا يوسف إبراهيم، ليحسم المواجهة بثلاثة أشواط دون رد، ليضيف لقبًا جديدًا لمسيرته. 📸/🎥 @SceneSportsME

@SceneNoise : In this episode of SceneNoise x XP Conversations, we sat down with Egyptian-Lebanese duo Maii and Zeid at the fifth edition of XP Music Futures in Riyadh to unpack how a chance meeting in Alexandria - and, apparently, a shared love language of food - evolved into one of the region’s most distinctive musical collaborations. Egyptian vocalist Maii Waleed and Lebanese producer Zeid Hamdan - the latter widely regarded as one of the architects of the Arab underground through cult projects like Soap Kills - have spent years crafting a sound that sits somewhere between melancholic electronica, off-kilter pop, and introspective Arabic storytelling, helping push Arabic indie music into more experimental territory. Despite living in different countries, the duo’s creative chemistry remains remarkably effortless, grounded as much in friendship as it is in music. During our conversation, the pair reflected on their distinctive dynamic, their collaborative process, and the making of their comeback EP ‘Manhoos’, which reunited them after a year-long hiatus. They also speak about how their friendship became the foundation of a lasting artistic partnership - sustained by trust, instinct, and, naturally, plenty of meals together. Stay tuned for more SceneNoise x XP Conversations. 🎥 @xpmusicfutures

THE WEEK IN HEADLINES | This is a quick overview of some of the week’s most important headlines in Egypt. For the full details, and more news from across Egypt and beyond, head to or download the #SceneNOW app.

@SceneHome : As an organization dedicated to promoting sustainable development in Egypt, SEKEM began with a mission of environmental reclamation through biodynamic farming in Al Wahat Al Bahariya. But as families settled and began working on the farmland, the lack of access to education revealed a deeper need. In response, SEKEM set out to build a school that reflects its vision of a community where environmental and human development are deeply interconnected. The result was the SEKEM Desert School, built entirely from rammed earth. For Felix Auth, the German architect behind the project, the school was born out of a specific kind of material frustration. Formally trained as a carpenter, Auth arrived in Egypt looking for wood, only to find a landscape where timber is a scarce material. “So, to do that in a country where there’s barely wood available for building, of course you quickly end up with clay as a material,” Auth tells #SceneHome. But building with earth was far from nostalgic. Since rammed earth was completely new to the construction team, the site became a live laboratory of experimentation. Every wall required testing different soil “recipes” using kaolin clay mixed with the red earth found just below the desert surface. “This was all a bit like cooking,” Auth explains. “A chef learns from feeling the food and tasting it.” The result is a structure that is naturally cool, thermally stable, weather-resistant, fireproof, moldproof, insectproof, and soundproof. Built with significantly less water than traditional adobe, the dense rammed-earth walls resist absorbing moisture while regulating indoor temperatures naturally, almost eliminating the need for air conditioning. Read the full feature on scenehome.com (link in bio). 🖊️ Karen Tadrous

@scenehome : Buying a home in a destination town has always meant managing it from afar – furnishing, maintenance, and the endless back-and-forth that comes with making a space actually livable. At El Gouna Red Sea, that’s what El Gouna Plus was built to rethink. We spoke to El Gouna’s CEO Mohamed Amer about how the model consolidates everything from design and utilities to property management under one system, and how Orascom Property Management is helping homeowners turn their properties into long-term investments. 🎥 @scenehome

@SceneEats : Coffee Waves just dropped a full food menu, which means your “I’m just grabbing a coffee” stop can now very easily turn into a two-hour breakfast detour. The spot mostly stuck to drinks, but it looks like the café is officially stepping into its brunch era. Started by two best friends, Coffee Waves built its name around coffee, laidback hangs, and the kind of iced drinks that somehow always end up photographed before the first sip, mainly because of the stickers that decorate their cups. The new menu leans heavily into classic coffee shop comfort food, with a few little twists here and there. Think salmon eggs benedict served on a buttery croissant, caramel-drizzled french toast, avocado toast, pesto pasta and shakshuka. It’s very much giving reliable café staples, just with enough personality to keep things interesting. The new menu is now available at their branches in Patio Oro, New Cairo and La Vista Bay, North Coast. For more snackable content from across Egypt, head to (link in bio) or download the #SceneNow app available on iOS and Android.

@cairoscene LIVE: Brothers Badie and Hamza Ali, Co-Founders of Watermelon Pictures, the production and distribution company launched in 2024 to amplify underrepresented voices through cinema take us through their process and mission. Built around films that entertain, humanise, and connect audiences across cultures, Watermelon Pictures has quickly positioned itself as a platform for stories that often sit outside the mainstream. During the Cannes Film Festival, the founders shared what comes next for ‘El Sett’, the recent biopic of legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum. Following its journey with Egyptian audiences, Watermelon Pictures is now bringing the story to North America — introducing one of the Arab world’s most iconic voices to new audiences for the first time. 🎥 @monopunkk for @cairoscene

The Education Development Fund, operating under Egypt’s Cabinet, has launched an artificial intelligence-based assessment tool for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder through the Egyptian Centre for Testing. According to the fund, the system is intended to support early detection and provide a scientific framework for understanding behavioural patterns linked to attention, focus, and activity levels in children. Officials said interest has been increasing in the early identification of neurodevelopmental disorders that affect learning and social interaction in educational environments, with ADHD identified as one of the most common conditions affecting children during early developmental stages. The assessment tool analyses a range of behavioural indicators to generate what the fund described as a more comprehensive and balanced understanding of a child’s condition, particularly in cases where behaviours may otherwise be interpreted as poor discipline or lack of interest. Built on an AI-supported scientific model, the system provides instant analysis of responses and generates simplified explanations intended to assist parents and teachers in making educational decisions based on behavioural data and assessment outcomes. Dr Rasha Saad Sharaf, Secretary General of the Education Development Fund, said the initiative forms part of broader efforts to develop modern educational assessment tools focused not only on academic performance but also on behavioural and cognitive characteristics. Dr Mahmoud Salama, Director of the Egyptian Centre for Testing, said the assessment was developed according to contemporary educational standards and designed to remain accessible and easy for parents and teachers to use. For more news from across Egypt and beyond, visit scenenow.com or download the #SceneNow app.

@scenenoise #NoiseNews: Egyptian rapper Abyusif has dropped a new surprise single, ‘DO’. The self-produced track - mixed and mastered by Muhammed El Alfy - leans into a dark trap structure warped by distorted electronics and abrasive textures. An eerie, synthesised, plucking pattern anchors the beat, punctuated by sharp brass hits and aggressive synth stabs that give the track a theatrical, confrontational edge in step with the lyricism. In trademark Abyusif fashion, the rapper shifts fluidly between flows, moving from rapid-fire triplets to deliveries that deliberately lag behind the beat. Lyrically, ‘DO’ revolves around status, longevity, and the disconnect between Abyusif and a younger generation of rappers attempting to emulate his style and influence. Across the track, he frames himself as both an architect and outlier within the scene, delivering bars that blur arrogance with dry humour while reflecting on the weight of his reputation. ‘DO’ arrives nearly two months after Abyusif’s Eid release ‘Pegi Goui’ and his contribution to the ‘EgyBest’ soundtrack EP with ‘Shoghle’, both of which explored similarly braggadocious territory.