Egypt Today May/June Special Covid-19 Edition

SPECIAL COVID-19 EDITION May/June 2020 May/June 2020 LE 30

the magazine of egypt

egypt today the magazine of egypt

STAY HOME & STAY SAFE volume 40 • number 5

Ramadan at home plus expert tips on adapting to our new lifestyles

THE RIGHT CHOICE

El-Ekhteyar leads the Ramadan mosalat marathon

Partner to Partner In recognition of the contributions of our esteemed partners over the years, Egypt Today is launching its ‘Partner to Partner’ initiative to support the nation’s hotel and tourism industry. As a complimentary gesture of support and in addition to our print run, Egypt Today will be distributing a special Ramadan/Eid digital edition featuring hospitality news to promote restaurants at five-star hotels and feature their offers.

Everyone is looking forward to traveling so we’ll also be helping to promote domestic tourism in our upcoming issues by spotlighting destination getaways while emphasizing destinations and establishments that ensure readers can enjoy their holidays while also keeping recommended social distancing and preventive measures in place.

Ramadan Karim...

At Home

Must-watch Mosasalat . Ramadan Home Vibes .

Traditional Drinks to Boost Your Immunity . Creative Hotel Offers

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The Moslasalat Marathon Is On! With everyone in lockdown, this Ramadan has been unlike any other.

Against all odds, Egypt’s stars have managed to film through the quarantine to make sure audiences get their soap opera fix. Here are our reviews of the frontrunners this season.

By Angy Essam

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Kheyanat Ahd ( Ahd’s Betrayal)

e outstanddrugs, however, ar pports him to quit su e tly and her sh ian as ill n br so perform them after sitting r d wa an , An d ite an or ra fav us an a Ramad and credible. The ing. Both Yo uperstar Yousra is are both moving s were eager to gs fan r lin he fee al on rly th he ara ot m m alat tender with her emotion out the 2019 mosals audiences to tears Ahd (The Betrayal ed et ov an ep m ey de ss e Kh tre k th ac ac th eb an wi m veter ized watch this year’s co wers truly empath r rformance, and vie pe ctions as a mothe rea r le He ro d n. so lea r e . he th s of s ay of Ahd) pl los o e e, th wh tiv at ra t rla are supe grief she fel ack for Yous pt her son’s death her work and And what a comeb who refuses to acce al o is so busy with their admirani wh de ess r in pr ne ex ow r to ry he ia to iha) and brot g to social med of Ahd, a fac Sh in tak ala s a top (H ce h en ra di Fa au sce with r sister that the ne was the problems of he cts her son Hesham rmance, so much so gle rfo ne pe e r sh he r at fo th ) n an tio Sarh cted.

Marwan ( Khaled ypt. ce and becomes addi Twitter trend in Eg whose performan o resorts to drugs wh ne, r), eri wa Sh An as led ce id of Hala Shiha, ha an sa (K rm be rfo n’t giv pe ca g of e on m ble str sa The turns in a s she is incapa Gomana Mourad e woman who gets less, and it appear th ion d An ot an n. em lai est d vil ter an a in ld e of is co er lov feelings Hesham’s much old eded emotions or actor ing viewers the ne s. ug portunity for any dr ily op h on fam r ric ed he ry ok d ve a an d is h him ho Ah ra n Fa ee as tw be ih ch es but Sh a unies develop evil role su case their capabiliti The events of the ser cover that Farah, ow sh dis to we ese til us un to k ss or or actre time her facial expr cial framew e within a normal so do so. Most of the sham, was the on to He illed ew fam fai ph y is e ne tel r fac na he a’s rtu fo hed to alogue. Shih e him who is deeply attac to Sherine to mak ion nsistent with the di ey ess co ’t pr on en ex m ar of ve e ns ga e ag sio sh nt as adva rn that behind his ordeal s but has lost the big drugs. We also lea iar with audience r and to give him ed having done, a he rk itt m th wo r wi ad he e e e sh lov tag in es l bo eri sa fal rg to su d ce. tic Ah an as ter rm pl sis e rfo s th after against hi g ance of her pe Marwan is plotting innocently believin ted viewers’ accept d ec ed rn Ah aff g tu at tin th th e ec bo ak sp y su ist m an un son Abeer Sabr and factory, with eat aled Sarhan and r as she does. The rea gr he Kh a e s is lov ar -st ere ter th Co sis d d an an r int ister her younger brothe at were to the po tred of their steps eedy in performances th Marwan’s strong ha d us how mean, gr y ce pa in d nv Ah co e at ak th m to em behind Farah and e th n cid inee de tw ey ies be th ser d ry e an ist th chem pmother, . ide Anwar, is their abusive ste e couple is. Alongs she carries for them ar e th l lov Am fu e th th am fai Ti ite d un sp d an de an elty, which ehana (Sara) for her mother’s cru g stars Hanady M that piracy against Ahd in ns rs ris co we d w vie ce ne a th du wi es tro ess lar pu h inEach episode witn aged to prove so po scenes where Fara sh(Aly). Anwar man g about, including unced that after Hi s no hi an n s rse fan ’ wo ies to g ser e in she knows nothin th ep of sle ies. t is en ser e he m th ile seg of a large drugs wh the rest d’s jects Hesham with is no need to watch wan plots with Ah rar ere rfo M th pe , c ere ath ati wh de r ism ’s he ar ot am d an actor, his ch ted en tal ry drug addiction an ve a st ju Anwar is not tage her work. usra deand credible. competitor to sabo esis not new and Yo both mesmerizing ies is ser ce e an th m of e a good and expr e , nt em The main th ters 100 perce Ahmed Adel wrot as d m n an e ee al sh tw m at be Ga th e in gu ne Am r safe zo the dialo es cided to stay in he ed lead who carri s especially clear in r ess wa to pr is rec th op di t, d ip an an g ter scr e ve rin e siv d, ca directed by th they want is ile ies wh ser r e embodying the kin he Th . p. nd am ou ou sh Al Adl Gr Ahd and Hi ily and people ar ed by Synergy and but for the love for all her fam el Aziz and produc turns in a strong Ab tar eh as m eg Sa m e r Th he to destroy here. ce; the scenes with arkable performan most part unrem 29 MAY 2020

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El-Ekhteyar (The Choice)

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er ne of the hardest missions for any drama review trighas that ction or critic is to write about a produ gered their emotions. The highly successful Egypaffect me, tian series El Ekhteyar (The Choice) didn’t only It accomians.

Egypt n millio 100 of s heart the ed but it touch years. in plished in a few days what has not been done reminded We all love Egypt and its army but this series has ces of sacrifi daily the ting depic by is, us of how deep this love progity, secur land home our ve preser to army the Egyptian Egypall d unite ress and prosperity. This national epic has gives us an tians in admiration for its powerful content that prinnoble and hts thoug logic, life, the insightful look into rs. marty and pions cham rs, soldie army ciples of our tions of The series highlights the dark beliefs and aspira dly opcowar and al betray , terrorist groups, who crave blood their of tions opera c heroi the to ast portunism, in great contr r and marty great the and army ian Egypt the y; greatest enem champion Ahmed El-Mansy specifically.

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the life The national epic series gives us a deep look into adlove, all we of the Egyptian army Legend Mansy, whom y, famil his about ng nothi t mire and respect but knew almos of ander comm the was y Mans ls. mora friends, personality or g the clashes the Thunderbolt Forces who was killed durin the army beas nts between Egyptian army forces and milita targeted a that s attack foiled sieged groups of terrorists and North Siin area Rafah the in s point number of other check n being huma the to us uces introd yar Ekhte El nai in 2017. dered consi is he deep inside this exceptional hero and why

a legend. a leader Mansy was not just an ordinary officer but he was s to effort his in t eviden was This word. the of in every sense also were skills develop new military tactics. His leadership how he was clear in the way he dealt with his soldiers and Amir Karstar ian Egypt hing. everyt keen to explain to them his great aying portr y, Mans of role the played ntly ara brillia soul and introducing his noble thoughts.

of chamists, and that the influence of art and drama as a El Ekhteyar also sheds the light on another type rs. We see soft power is sometimes more effective than dozpions, who are the wives of these soldiers and office y, Mans great ens of destructive weapons. how Manar Mansy (Sara Adel), the wife of the and alone El Ekhteyar has became a thorn in the throats en childr was bearing the full responsibility of her her husband of these traitors, so they wrongly thought that hid that they were sick in order not to disturb mission in Sithey can remove it with this coward attack. Yet, and allow him to fully concentrate on his great in contrast, the Egyptian armed forces affirmed nai. prinrtal immo the continuation of the battle against terrorists s This series also tackles the Egyptian army’ Army officer to preserve the state’s security and stability. ciple to take revenge for every one of its martyrs. e y to aveng Egypt has been countering terrorism and extrem Aly, played by Asser Yassin, partnered with Mans these efforts to us uced introd has series the and farm a years; in g for ism their late colleagues and arrest the terrorists hidin first Egypand he bethat we knew very little about. El Ekhteyar is the in Sinai. Aly ended up sacrificing his life as well; that took tions opera ry milita l tian series to document severa came a martyr. ian ofEgypt many the and ists, terror st again a precious place in Sinai Each episode presents a patriotic lesson and ours. ct prote to show the ficers and soldiers, who are giving their lives to principle offered by Mansy and his colleagues Arab in era new a d starte showed us Producing this series, Synergy has greatness of the Egyptian army. The series has Yassin), Fathy drama production. the stories of three martyrs till now: Aly (Asser continues Aziz).

Abdel The successful trio Karara, Mimi and Dewidar oud Mahm (Karim XXX and ) (Mohamed Emam achieved they these were to dazzle us every year and whenever we say “If I die tell my mother your son was a real man,” they still that us to prove . The series is the maximum level of success, they the last words uttered by the great martyr Fathy us clap for the have much more to offer. loaded with unforgettable moments that make master all .

Karara has reached a great level of maturity to Mimi Peter or direct great the maestro of this series Dewidar ntly. endless the details of the character smoothly and brillia The docu-drama series brilliantly portrays the Egyptaken has Mimi rmed by our wrote a symphony by all means. And chain of successful milit ary operations perfo what of era the ng starti level, ted tian drama to an unpreceden great Egyptian Army. s video and s photo nt, conte real g mixin rama y and the we call docud The conversation that took place between Mans redisalso en the logic with fictional ones in a homogenous way. Mimi terrorists’ leader also revealed the difference betwe surprised us covered the Egyptian star Ahmed El-Awady who of champions and that of the traitors: terrorist late the of role the of ce with his amazing performan ed new reach he but actor ed talent a is He awy. detonate Hisham Ashm Terrorist leader: If you come a bit closer I will go to hell. levels with Mimi in El Ekhteyar. the explosive belt; both of us will die and you will actors bealYou n.

El Ekhteyar houses a notable group of talented Heave to go Mansy: Use it then. I am sure I will Youssef, n Hana , Fouad Dina as such you will go side Karara and Awady ways say to your followers whom you deceive that guests le notab to ion addit in , Selim Fouad d n.

Sara Adel, Ahme to Heaven. Use it and let us see who will be in heave Salah , Emam together? of honor such as Eyad Nassar, Mohamed Terrorists’ leader: Why die together if we can live Aziz, Abdel oud Mahm if you kill Abdallah , Mohamed Ragab, Karim Mansy: Come with me; we want you alive and , Wafik d Ahme , Masry el d Mage l, Asser Yassin, Amr Gama tens of us, others will come to arrest you. s. among other series, I some die, if If they had asked me to choose a name for this rs; soldie ian Egypt of motto main the is This than word cant signifi or e wouldn’t have found a more precis others complete the mission and others join anew. l of mora whole the arizes summ the EgypEl Ekhteyar. This one word The feelings of patriotism and gratitude towards in raised were who cters chara two ts presen while watch the series, which tian army, which were triggered in each one of us swore y, facult ry extremists, the same army, educated in the same milita ing the series, severely angered the terrorists and ver, one’s the same oath of loyalty to their country. Howe having revealed their true colours. role great ul faithf the be and oath it another Choice was to keep his The terrorists’ severe anger pushed them to comm take to was d’s secon the while to up look all those who model that we coward crime during the Holy month of Ramadan… st part of . What a Islam the betrayal path and reserve his place in the darke of ders defen st bigge the as selves them describe ed officer our history. paradox! One Egyptian officer, a non-commission ue to comresult a as d El Ekhteyar clearly proves that Egypt will contin injure and killed were and eight other army soldiers our great of ns weapo ctive destru the all with e ured vehicl bat terrorism of an explosive device blast which targeted an armo and draart of r e reaction Egyptian army in addition to our soft powe affiliated with the army on April 30. This unfortunat these terrorma. proves that El Ekhteyar became a huge threat to

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Be Meet Wesh (With 100 Faces)

as viewers on e Casa de Bolaq’’ e 100 Wesh or “L g it to Le branded it, likenin social media have g this Rain fer of the funniest is l, pe Pa de sa Ca ar (Asser Yassin) y Karim) and Om ell (N ar kk So . an mad t have a common fferent worlds bu come from two di m the theme song ires, as is clear fro goal: to be milliona pular. Though s become very po ha ich wh s rie se of the ways of pulling ch have their own ea ers dl in sw o tw the ther and use their cide to come toge off cons, they de r of jobs. work on a numbe any complicriminal skills to medy that is free of co e pl sim ry ve a is This d you don’t have ted plot turns, an ica ist ph so or ns catio to understand its h on its tiny details to concentrate muc so appealing from at’s made the series ge and popsequence. But wh tw at it houses o hu th is de iso ep le st fir the very ing the leading ro them used to play of ch rt ea fo m rs, co sta ar eir ul out of th pped completely r fo ed fam is and who have ste Karim even comedians! n’s ssi Ya d an zones and are not les ro as well as romantic her tragic, social romantic and acd suspense, social, an y ter ys m is rte fo Be 100 Wesh which ok a big risk with tion roles. Both to and the director at With the producer has really paid off. tian and Arab Eg s wowed both yp ha ies ser e th , lm the he d Yassin’s sense of of both Karim an e us ca be s ce en di au st needed a chance ining spirit that ju humor and enterta een. to come out on scr dlike Be 100 Wesh Sugar” shared en ye “B e lik es lin le ab or t em no m is , With ough light edia, the series, th m l cia So so . to on in l sly fal les d to many comedies ten shallow, a pitfall well written and of r be m nu a d ve ha far the episodes ha a little cliché— is ’s a lines. Karim am dr ed t ut ec ex tly grea class and has a lo s to a poor social ng lo be r o he wh lve l so gir e to th indling so she turns to sw w. ne is e on of responsibilities n’s ssi problems—but Ya ge family’s financial suffers from a hu he e sid in ep de t bu h an ric s nm ok co lo He becomes a of his father and g problem because s mother’s) amon hi d an is ances (h d an ar Om n to keep up appear ee tw relationship be e Th . es nc ta we ain his acqu amed Ali) is ll actress Salwa Moh an ter (ve r he ot m his emistry between t and the strong ch written in the scrip on screen. eat sense of them is very clear n both have a gr ssi Ya d an rim Ka While in Be 100 Wesh are of the laughs sh n’s lio e th , or hum Ibrahim. One of ted comedian Islam is comes from talen l Araby, Ibrahim ers behind SNL be . an ad m Ra is the program mak th s e best comedian th t no if st le be ro e th nt one of s an importa Abouelrouss play e Rising star Hassan him and Karim ar ra Ib th s scenes wi e ar es en sc e in this soap and hi th e of tural. In fact som on ly ain m very funny and na ied rel ey nny you can tell th so smooth and fu improvisation. nd the camera is at the director behi It’s no wonder th of all genres from y, who is the master Kamla Abou Zekr powerment on em l to women’s cia so , dy ge tra y, comed attention to every Zekry always pays ou Ab . ns ree sc th bo single

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eih W Neheb Tany L in?)

Aga e v o L in ll a F y h (W

yed) and the aid Roaa (Eman Sa m e th n ee tw be ich adds a comny love story (Soliman Eid) wh Again?) am ve ith Lo Ha in d ll ar Fa gu ? (Why security er we Neheb Tany Leih ries. ify dilemma of wheth ld edy touch to the se e-o when Ehab El-Swe ag e th . ds en tackles p hi ve and romance, ns lo io sall at di t e rel no at a s cre er it’ t to aft s Bu ot ain d’s cousin, pl d ra rce ou can fall in love ag vo M di is a , o an ily wh hm y) fam del Ra (Ehab Fahm control the iz plays Ghalia Ab llah ( and his uncle to Yasmine Abdel Az to director Abda between Mourad d tes rie lain character as ar pu vil m e s th wa s o wh ter her diFahmy master Af ab a.

Eh Ti e rointerior designer n. ed tio m za na ni er orga autifully offsets th d has a daught rt in the series be (Sawsan Badr) pa a s Sherif Mounir) an ch hi Ai d r an he l ot ua m r us live with he e rest of the series. hates all men vorce she went to iz challenges hermantic lines in th Ezz El-Arab) who a eil (L r At he . ot Yasmine Abdel Az ain dm ag ne ry ien ar ed m pete m and gran or co d ve ve Belo choosing to com never to fall in lo consecutive year, ify (Karim we nd -S gh co El ou and warns Ghalia se d e th ra th le, ou r ro fo M y self non-comed y Ghalia meets marathon with a sight. ays st an pl a friend’s birthda fir ad e m at Sh .

Ra ve es e lo s th en it’ sc in e som th of them or does appear in tertaining, with and Fahmy) and for bo her sense of hum ries is light and en istry between her se em tic ch an e d m th ou d -ro m an ah cio M tly r ep ed The so Am ad ok le ted ho ro ve len Ghalia’s charisma ha written by the ta eir popularity and so he writes f s, th eri as ter a very simple plot ll as Sh m s we an lly as i ta ter to hm Fa ve story. Ve series Yassin t their believable lo ea of uplifting ror gr Yassin. This type of on e be s id m ce ov nu en pr a di b g ra au tin ne, presen Leila Ezz El-A d uple. an co dr ery Ba ev r an fo in his comfort zo ws als p go Mounir, Sa at are relationshi wers ual. that mantic scenes th nds Ghallia red flo se d ra performances as us ou b Tany Leih?, is M en wh d es he vit in sig s he ce failing of W Nehe e en en it on wh e en Audi th u,” wh s s Yo ap de ve rh iso Lo Pe h to 30 ep e message “I t and when he en drawn out to stretc ev ch and a card with th e ya or ar s te ts de iva en iso pr ev s ep its hi 25 into dinner on been compressed there for work. uced her to a candlelit could easily have Alam while she is fa Fekry and prod sa ta ar os M M to m r by he nu a ted er ts rec en di es is pr s s travels aft rie rie se se e e less. Th relationships, th story with Exploring several ding Aicha’s love

by Synergy. clu in es lin tic an nad) and the fu ber of other rom sh Ra ad m (E m r Moatse her neighbor docto

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El-Brince (The Brince)

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din g fam ilie s can be t’s har d to ima gin e tha t feu on El-B rinc e yet the as evil as the one por tray ed in this seri es do exdev ilis h cha ract ers por tray ed aro und Rad wan lves revo ist amo ng us. The dra ma wor ks as a who n) ada Ram El-B rinc e (Mo ham med ksh op. Aft er his mo the r plu mb er in his fath er’s wor two wiv es and Rad wan dies , Rad wan ’s fath er mar ried Abe er, Yas ser, Abd el ra, has six sibl ing s: Fat hi, Nou Mo hse n and Ade l. caring son, who always Radwan is a righteous, kind and Aziz Makhyoun) and even helps his father Hamed (Abdel a Osman) and Nagia (Ahlam his stepmothers Samiha ( Salw brothers and sisters. Fathi ful rate el Gretly, unlike his ung and is married to pharma(Ahmed Zaher) has a pharmacy ). He’s also married to drug cist Shaymaa (Donia Abdel Aziz m he works and uses the dealer Fadwa (Rogeina) with who ed Alaa) helps him in ham (Mo er pharmacy as a front. Yass et love affair with his wife this illegal business but has a secr hsen (Edward) is married to a Fadwa. Their brother Abdel Mo ria Tolba) and in involved in belly dancer named Azima (Bad stant Louza (Marwa Azaly). assi her an illicit relationship with ly spiteful and wicked and Abeer (Rehab el Gamal) is extreme Rafaat (Ahmed Fahim) who hates everyone. She is married to Yasser. The two younger and works with her brothers Fathy and Adel (Ahmed Dash) who siblings are Noura (Reem Samy) is a drug addict.

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siblings (except Adel and The story begins with all the evil die so they can sell his to er fath r Noura) waiting for thei worth LE 10 million. When house and workshop, which are father sold all his property to he dies they discover that their Abdel Mohsen plot to kill and Radwan. Fathy, Abeer, Yasser glaa Badr) and his two kids Radwan and his wife Lubna (Na and get their father’s propso they can inherit his fortune to partner with them in this erty back. Noura, who refuses s not take her warning seridoe crime, warns Radwan but he siblings their rights, decides ously and, intent on giving his His siblings move faster and to go against his father’s will.

Lubna and Radwan’s son arrange for a car accident, but only ive. As his siblings try to surv er die, while he and his daught his daughter, Adel records find a way to kill off Radwan and e and sends it to Radwan, a voice note revealing the crim ind the murder of his son proving that his siblings were beh and wife. stepmothers step in, deThe plot thickens when the evil and with it the incriminatstroying Radwan’s mobile phone help Fathi manages to frame ing evidence then, with Fadwa’s ends up serving a sevenwan Radwan for a robbery and Rad Fadwa kidnap Radwan’s year prison sentence. Fathi and to kill her unless Radwan daughter Mariam and threaten y to them. Radwan agrees, signs over all his father’s propert . Fathi promises he would, iam beseeching them to care of Mar the papers that make him a but after getting his hands on

on the street. rich man, he throws the girl out ten though there are some writ well is plot the y icall Dramat n theme itself is repetimai weak points. The first is that the Mohamed Ramadan’s previtive in drama in general and in as a righteous character who ous work in particular. His role ple around him and who is suffers from injustice from peo previous series El-Ostoura his unlucky in love are repeats of is the exaggeration of evil in and Zelzal. The second failing so many vindictive characters the family and the existence of turns are believable, such all in one series. Not all the plot Radwan; any lawyer could nst as the extremely weak case agai e. easily have proven his innocenc been a huge success thanks has es seri the e, Plot flaws asid who all did such a great job to the performance of its cast ly hate them. Hats off to real that they’ve made audiences aged to win back fans and Mohamed Ramadan, who has man actor, but aside from all the critics. Ramadan is a very talented ut his character and behavior, criticism he usually receives abo ious work wasn’t at all in his the problem in some of his prev choices. This time Ramadan talent or performance but in his lost with his previous series is regaining the acclaim he has in El-Brince, especially in the Zelzal, with excellent portrayals lost his wife and son. he scenes of Radwan’s grief after time to leave room for this ugh eno Ramadan was smart whose his role is almost as his colleagues like Ahmed Zaher, the cast, allowing audiences big as Ramadan’s, and the rest of

een a number of professional to enjoy this acting match betw has matured as an actor and players and not only one. Zaher liantly, making us truly feel bril y embodied the role of Fath of this awful brother. Rogthe huge amount of wickedness Rehab el Gamal and both eina was another surprise us was ances. Salwa Osman garorm turned in powerful, credible perf ia after the scene where med al soci nered heaps of praise on ut their role in the accident she confronts her children abo . This was one of the series’ that killed Radwan’s wife and son ter scene of Osman’s enmas master scenes and perhaps the er’s acting talent. orm perf ran tire career, proving the vete from one role to the other Ahmed Dash’s talent is growing al of Adel’s character. Nour and this was clear from his portray of the very few good exone gave a credible performance of refuses Radwan’s love in the amples in this series as Ola, who a brother but in the end falls past because she considered him only support in his ordeal. in love with him and becomes his ances were also notable, orm Edward and Badria Tolba’s perf they are not accustomed to presenting two different roles playing. company Synergy, the seProduced by leading production Mohammed Sami, a very by ries is both written and directed with his actors to bring king wor for talented director known r revealed before. He does a out feelings and emotions neve aging to direct the cast to superlative job with El-Brince, man turn in optimal performances.

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El Nehaya (The En d) series El-Nehaya (The he first Egyptian science fiction rience: rich because expe bold End) is both a rich and was executed usthat es seri tion duc it is a mega pro before used before in Egypt ing high-end technology never from the leading producor the Arab world, and a bold step a high-cost series and such e tion company Synergy to produc pt.

Egy in re gen open the door for the new herif) is an engineer living It’s 2120 and Zain (Youssef El-S rgy Co, at a time when the in Jerusalem and working for Ene in energy cubes as curing energy crisis sees the world trad wered energy cubes, Enr-po sola nts rency. But when Zain inve ntion. A childhood friend ergy Co. refuses to support his inve ya) invites Zain to the Oasis, named Adham (Bassem Meghen y. Zain starts to feel woranit which also wants to serve hum the Oasis and his suspicions ried about his cooperation with s that the Oasis was designed are confirmed when he discover powerful figures and scienas a haven for a group of rich and rest of the human populathe r tists selected to stay alive afte . tion dies as a result of a huge war ehaya, which is El-Sherif’s El-N ode epis first From the very the edge of their seats, with brainchild, had audiences on el drama and the huge pronov trends on Twitter about the d and all the drama lines are duction behind it. The plot is soli is fast-paced and the events well written and highlighted. It

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series interesting and addicare sequential, which makes the take that usually occurs in tive, avoiding the common mis ts are annoyingly drawn even the re most Ramadan series whe El Nehaya is loaded with inout to stretch to 30 episodes. that are introduced for the cidents, details, high-tech effects the audience’s undivided ire first time and plot turns that requ risingly viewers watchsurp Not on. attention and concentrati nment will see it as vague, ing only for the sake of entertai plicated to some extent, with difficult to understand and com that can only be untangled a number of interlocking threads ng. rati if the audience is concent It’s this type of tightly woAnd this is signature El Sherif. it is a characteristic of all ven plot that the star masters and wants the audience to be ys his previous series. It’s if he alwa entertainment alone. than e mor for alert and use their brains t and convincing, mastering El Sherif’s performance is brillian clone robot of himself), and both characters ( Zain and the erence between them—espedeftly portraying the great diff n he’s acting as the robot. whe eyes cially the look in his cold seamless performance reflects There is no overacting and the understands both characters how comprehensively El Sherif react. and and knows how they feel, think been praised for their also e hav cast The series’ supporting was previously the numturns. The hashtag #Sahar el-Saigh

el Geliel was trending number one trend, while #Amr Abd and natural performance of ber 3 after the brilliantly unique e when the veteran Abdel both actors, especially in the scen Sabah (El-Saigh) is building Geliel playing Aziz discovers that , who has married another Zain a clone robot of her beloved loneliness and loss of the of f grie woman. She conveys the d sincerely both poignantly only kind man she met and love her that Zain married the and convincingly. When Aziz tells iny to be together and dest r thei other woman because it was again, Sabah replies, “I need that she should try to fall in love alone in this world; if I don’t him more than she does. I am t.” speak, people will not realize I exis sn’t depend on her looks; Unlike other actresses, Saigh doe most Ramadan actresses, she doesn’t wear make-up like es. Sabah’s character is very which adds credibility to her scen turning points, as she turns rich and goes through several ly girl to a one full of hatred. from a kind, miserable and lone admirably and is very conSaigh portrays this huge change vincing in both phases. k master their characNahed El-Sebaie and Ahmed Wafi t job performing the grea a s ters and Mohamed Lotfy doe el Mahroky, with the corole of the gang leader Mourad or adding a lot to this evil median’s natural sense of hum character.

taken a monumental risk Director Ahmed Yasser Samy has , fully aware that he would directing such a huge production director of the first-ever Arab either go down in history as the es or fade into oblivion if the and Egyptian science fiction seri ge very seriously and paid soap failed. Samy took the challen starting from actors’ perforattention to every single detail outfits, décor and so far his mances, drones, visual effects, es creating quite the buzz. seri efforts have paid off, with the the futuristic production.

But not everyone is happy with ned the series because it preIsrael’s Foreign Ministry condem issuing a statement declaring dicts the destruction of Israel, cceptable especially that the una that the show is completely signed a peace treaty 41 years two countries, Egypt and Israel, series, Zain tells his students ago. In the first episode of the m,” which he says occurred about “the war to liberate Jerusale been founded in 1948, had el less than 100 years after Isra rned to their countries of oriadding that the Israeli Jews retu gin in Europe. l, scriptwriter of the series Speaking to a local news channe Israeli ministry’s statethe on Amr Samir Atef commented entertainment through this ment: “We present meaningful all the possibilities were on science fiction series. That’s why e considered but the Israeli the table. All the possibilities wer at all, was not.” ut abo reaction, which I do not care

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Regalet El-Beit (Men of the House)

Layalina 80 (Our Days) The series takes place between the 1950s and 1980s, highlighting the changes in the lives of different Egyptian families. Layalina 80 stars Ghada Adel, Eyad Nassar, Khaled El-Sawy, and Sabrine. The series is written

by Ahmed Abdel Fattah, directed by Ahmed Saleh and produced by Synergy.

Catch it on CBC channel.

Regalet El-Bait is one of the most anticipated Ramadan series thanks to the great chemistry between the duo Ahmed Fahmy and Akram Hosny, which always leads to great success whether in movies or series. During the past few years, the duo managed to present several successful works together, starting with the film Kalb Baladi, Hosni’s first acting performance. They also cooperated in the successful series Rayah el-Madame in 2017.

Hosni then appeared as a guest of honor in the movie El-Kowayeseen starring Fahmy in addition to the series El-Wad Sayed El-Shahat. Fahmy also appeared as a guest of honor in Hosni’s series El-Waseya (The Legacy).

This comedy revolves around two men, Timon and Bomba, who have responsibilities and live with their grandfather and the rest of the family in the same house.

However, through comical situations, the pair proves that they cannot handle any responsibilities. Wizo, Bayoumi Fouad, Arefah Abdel-Rasoul and Lotfy Labib co-star in the series, and guests of honor include Ayten Amer. Regalet El-Bait is written by Ayman Wattar, directed by Ahmed el Gendy and produced by Synergy.

Game’e Salem A murder takes place during the series’ events, and puts the heroine in danger. Documents soon appear which reveal that she was given up by her parents as a baby. Game’e Salem is written by Mohammed Nair and directed by Iman El-Haddad. The series stars Zeina, Dalal Abdel Aziz, Mohammed Shaheen, Salwa Khattab, Reem El-Baroudi, Malak Qura, Mido Adel, Mohamed Alaa, Sameh El-Serieti, Mohammed Desouki, Ayman Azab, Ahmed Sultan and Hanan Suleiman.

Al-Fetewa (The Strongman)

Omar Wi Diab The comedy revolves around two unemployed youths are looking for a job to pay off debts. Starring the two popular comedians Ali Rabie and Mostafa Khater along with Mohamed Mahmoud, Mohsen Mansour, Nihal Anbar, Wizzo and Ahmed Fathy among others, the series is written by Farouk Hashem and Mostafa Omar, directed by Moatez ElTony and produced by Synergy.

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Lama Kona Soghayreen (When We Were Young) A group of friends experience many disasters in their lives as a result of a crime they have committed in the past. The series houses a notable group of stars such as Mahmoud Hemeida, Khaled El-Nabawy, Riham Haggag, Nesrine Amin, Karim Kassem, Mahmoud Hegazy among others. The series is written by Ayman Salama and directed by Mohamed Ali and Mohamed Salama.

The series is set during the era of the fetewas (strongmen) in Egypt, in the world of ghettos and shabby neighborhoods which were controlled by a group of thugs who bore the responsibility of the people. Yasser Galal stars alongside Ahmed Salah Hosni, Naglaa Badr, Mai Omar, Riyad El-Kholy, Ahmed Khalil, Hanady Mahanna, Ahmed Khaled Saleh, Laila Ahmed Zaher, Maha Nassar, Ahmed Gamal Said, Aida Reyad, and Magdy Fekry, among others. Written by Hani Sarhan, directed by Hussein al-Manbawi and produced by Synergy, the series is the second successive cooperation between Yasser Galal, Hany Sarhan, Hussein al-Manbawi and leading production company Synergy.

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The All New Chevrolet Captiva with its contemporary and modern design is now in Egypt

Feature Valantino To celebrate Adel Emam’s birthday in 2019, CEO of United for Media Services Tamer Mursi signed the contract with Egyptian megastar Adel Emam to produce the series Valantino. The series will screen exclusively on WATCH iT!, in addition to DMC channel and is produced by the leading production company Synergy.

The legendary Emam, Egypt’s biggest actor with over four decades of box office hits, series and plays under his belt, plays role of an international school owner named Nour Abdel Mageed, Valantino, whose gloomy wife drives him to fall in love with another woman. Written by Ayman Bahgat Qamar and directed by Ramy Emam, the series stars Dalal Abdel Aziz, Dalia El-Beheiry, Hamdy ElMerghany, Amr Wahba, Huda El-Mufti, Samir Sabry among others.

Leibet El-Nessyan (The Forgetting Game) Leibet El-Nessyan tackles the story of a young woman whose life is turned upside down after she loses her memory. Featuring conflicts, flashbacks and suspense, the series stars Dina El Sherbiny, Ingy Al-Moqaddem, Aly Kassem and Mahmoud Qabeil, among others. The series is written by Tamer Habib and the soundtrack is composed by megastar Amr Diab.

Forsa Tania (Another Chance) Forsa Tania tells the story of Malak, a young engineer who experiences many failures in her relationships because she always puts her work first. Later, Malak finds herself prey to greedy predators. The series is directed by Morqus Adel, written by Mostafa Gamal Hashem and produced by Synergy. Yasmine Sabri, Ahmed Magdy, Edward, Ayten Amer, Diab, Heba Abdelghani, Amr El-Shennawy, Sarah el-Shamy, Mahmoud el-Bizawy, Ahmed El-Shamy, Mohamed Gomaa, Nihal Anbar, and Ahmed El-Naggar star in the series.

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eneral Motors and Al Mansour Automotive have launched today the all new Chevrolet Captiva for the Egyptian market, revealed for the very first time in the Middle East region through Dubai’s International Motor Show, which was held in the United Arab Emirates last November.

The all new Chevrolet Captiva was featured using the latest technologies to-date via Zoom Web Conferencing, in its first precedence for an automotive company to showcase its newest vehicle in that context.

The conference was attended by senior officials from General Motors Egypt and Al Mansour Automotive, on top of which was Eng. Tarek Atta, Chairman and Managing Director of General Motors Egypt and North Africa, and Eng. Adel Khadr, Chief Executive Officer of Al Mansour Automotive and Mr. Ankush Arora, Chief Operating Officer at Al Mansour Automotive. The meeting commenced by speeches from the senior officials followed by a demonstration of the all new Chevrolet Captiva key features. Building on Chevrolet’s global SUV experience, Chevrolet Captiva delivers on the brand’s ‘3S’ concept of the modern SUV; Stylish, Spacious and Smart technologies.

Tarek Atta, Chairman and Managing Director of General Motors Egypt and North Africa expressed his excitement for this event saying “Chevrolet Captiva has got a stylish and elegant exterior design, a spacious interiors, which qualifies it to be the largest vehicle in its segment, it also has various high- tech options and is equipped with all safety features to accommodate our customers’ needs and aspirations.”

He added “The All New Chevrolet Captiva will strongly compete and reinforce the brand presence in the Egyptian market. We fully support and stand behind our new vehicle by offering the highest quality product, equipped with features that meet our customers’ expectations at an affordable price in collaboration with Al Mansour Automotive exceptional services to ensure its success in the Egyptian Market, which in turn, will reinforce Chevrolet’s brand equity and its leadership position in Egypt.”

Adel Khadr, Chief Executive Officer of Al Mansour Automotive stated “Al Mansour Automotive and General Motors have a strong relationship dating back for 45 years of success, and we continue to launch new models and offer the best after sales experience to our customers to ensure their optimum satisfaction, which in turn reinforces our leadership in the Egyptian market”. He added “In light of the rapid growth in SUV sales and its increased demand, I am honored to present the all new Chevrolet Captiva which encompasses of an elegant and

stylish design, strong performance and a value proposition at a very competitive price”. As for the provided services, Khadr stated “Al Mansour Automotive investment plans are on track and executed according to the agreed upon timeline. We are expanding in showrooms, service and parts centers in Abu Rawash, Al Amereya and Tanta which will be ready to welcome our customers in the upcoming 3 to 18 months.

The All New Chevrolet Captiva is remarkably distinguished in its segment for its strong performance and stylish and modern design, equipped with the latest safety and smart driving technologies. Powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, in-line 4-cylinder engine, a Double Overhead Camshaft (DOHC), provide 148 horse power and a torque of 255 Nm, to deliver a fuel consumption of 8.4 liters for every 100 km, along with a CVT transmission, electric power steering and available in three trims; LS, LT and Premier.

The All New Chevrolet Captiva has a contemporary design, thoughtful touches such as the elegant grille design with Chevrolet badge offering a striking look and equipped with the halogen head lamps with LED daytime running lights (DRL), front and rear fog lamps, and sporty alloy wheels 17 inches with a 215/ R60 17 tires. The vehicle also comes in various colors that add another dimension to its elegance.

The All New Chevrolet Captiva offers a spacious and comfortable 5 seats cabin design, and available with 7 seats in the Premier trim, making every moment on board enjoyable for the whole family. The LT and Premier trims are geared with multifunction steering wheel, leatherette seats, cruise control, power sunroof, chrome door handles, push start engine ignition and air conditioning system with digital display. The Premier trim is equipped with 7-inch TFT digital color driver information screen designed to be easy to see while on the road, front parking sensor to assist the driver in a tight spot, power folding outside mirrors, tire pressure monitoring system. In addition to a 6-way poweradjustable driver seat for a more pleasant driving experience.

All the trims are equipped with all the safety features including: Airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Hydraulic Brake Assistance (HBA), Hill Start Assist(HAS) and a rear-view camera.

The All New Chevrolet Captiva is distinguished with a center-mounted 8-inch infotainment touch screen, linked via Bluetooth and USB ports, and audio speakers to listen to your music and enjoy a safe and comfortable ride with the entire family.

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In Thought and Deed Neya’s new app allows you to access a number of charities, making the act of doing good convenient, simple, and interactive.

N Netflix for Muslim Kids This Ramadan, keep your kids entertained with informative animated shows, songs and nasheeds as well as short documentaries in English and Arabic.

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ired of looking for something family friendly for your kids to watch? This Ramadan Ali Huda, dubbed “Netflix for Muslim kids,” will keep them both entertained and informed about the Holy Month. With the goal to “Entertain and Educate Your Kids without compromising your Islamic values,” Ali Huda is a streaming service offering entertaining content catering to kids from ages 2-12. Featuring a variety of well-produced animated shows, songs and nasheeds as well as short documentaries in English and Arabic, the website and app will keep your kids entertained for hours. According to their website, Ali Huda brings you “educational content that teaches kids about Islam and does this the fun way, with hundreds of ad free shows exclusively for Muslim kids and bringing peace of mind for Muslim parents.”

Growing steadily since its launch in 2017, the platform has garnered quite a following, with users hailing it as “an excellent app that is an alternative to Disney Junior which I’ve been looking for. Now my children have access to pure Is42

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lamic content which is unlimited and very, very educational,” as one satisfied father put it.

In addition to the animated shows and mini docu-series, Ali Huda has a community “Mommy Bog” where parents are invited to share their expertise and advice on everything from screen time, parenting, and conscientious cooking. Users can also weigh in on the offered shows, with content reviews frequently posted by parents.

Streaming exclusively now on Ali Huda are shows such as “Mosques From Around the World,” “Marvelous Stories from the Quran,” “Ibn Battuta” and “Saladin.” This month be sure to tune in to “Ramadan in the Muslim World,” a 30-episode series that looks at the ways the Holy Month is celebrated in 30 different countries across the globe.

And don’t miss Ali Huda’s exclusive 50 percent discount, on offer till the end of Ramadan.

For more information, visit their site at alihuda.com or download their iOs or Android app. The content can be viewed across various services such as Apple TV, Android TV and Amazon Fire TV.

eya brings all your charity needs into one place. We want to level the playing field and give all charities and causes an equal chance to access donations.

Through Neya you can explore charities and causes that tackle different problems in the community and choose those that you want to support most. We don’t want doing good to be a cumbersome process of tirelessly searching for causes that you want to support, figuring out how to support them, and never knowing the extent of your support. Neya wants to make that act of doing good convenient, simple, and interactive. We champion all those in need and give the underserved a chance.

With Neya you can: DONATE TO CHARITIES AND CAUSES OF YOUR CHOICE..Explore and find the perfect causes and charities that you want to support the most. See which charities are tackling what problems and how they are helping the underprivileged.

And with the tap of a button donate with an amount and frequency of your liking.

CREATE YOUR OWN CAMPAIGN..You can create your own campaign and help a high-need underserved community through Neya. Request to create a campaign and we will contact

you to take care of the rest.

VOLUNTEER AND HELP SPREAD JOY..Browse different charity events and volunteering opportunities that match your preferences. We facilitate all the logistics and all you need to do is bring a helping hand.

SHOP LOCALLY MADE HANDCRAFTS..You can shop handcrafts locally produced by artisans and NGOs and help support them and spread prosperity in their community.

MAKE THE ACT OF DOING GOOD A SOCIAL THING..

ShareYourNeya with the Neya community and post pictures of all your charitable activities to help motivate people to do good.

FOR ORGANIZATIONS: WE MAKE REACHING YOUR CSR GOALS EASIER..You can create a giving environment for your employees and have them engage in their communities and tackle initiatives as a company and in adherence to your CSR goals.

Say Hello!..We would love to hear from you. Please send us your feedback and suggestions to hello@elneya.org

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n a d a m a R f o h c A Tou

he gatherings, the outings with friends, the streets alive with prayers and that special Ramadan buzz. We won’t get to enjoy Ramadan as we know it this year but brands like Spring Bloom are working to at least bring in some of that seasonal warmth that we wait for all year long to our iftar tables.

Founded by Yasmeen Adel and Lamis Abd ElAziz in 2018 to bring great taste and quality at competitive prices, the home accessories brand reflects love and passion for small details.

“We love to do every single step of the process by ourselves from designing to staging and photographing our products; it brings us great joy when we finally see our products in our customers’ homes,” Adel tells Egypt Today.

When it comes to Spring

on to your iftar table.

rmth of the festive seas oom helps you bring the wa

Spring Bl

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Bloom products, Adel tells us that “we care about every step, the quality of the fabrics we use, the finishing and even the packaging.”

Inspired by spring, Adel and Abd El-Aziz always create for spring in spring.

“We would always start in the spring because it inspires us with its flowers and colors.” After facing obstacles two years ago, they were finally able to launch their brand. “There are a lot of surprises and obstacles in the way [just] like [today] when we have to hold our plans . . . but we always let the spring give us hope that God will help us reach our dreams.”

With an elegant tableware range infusing spring with a Ramadan theme, Spring Bloom will bring that warmth of the season right to your iftar table.

Their message to our readers this month is to “stay positive, get ready for Ra-

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madan, and decorate your home to spread joy and happiness in your home.”

You can order items from Spring Bloom on Facebook and Instagram @springbloomegy, and they’ll deliver it straight to your door within seven days.

You can also reach them on Whatsapp 01100788883/ 01098311388.

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Feature et Shake & TakePersonal BlenderTheGiftery.com

Bose Noise Cancelling HeadphonesThe Giftery.com

Kaf Platter filled with Nuts-TheGiftery.com

Foldable Yoga MatTheGiftery.com

Ahlan Ramadan Bean Bag Set-TheGiftery.com

Ramadan Kareem Cushion -TheGiftery.com

Ellie Home Decor Cresent Moon Silver Metal Platter Filled with Ramadan Sweets-TheGiftery.com

Ramadan Goodies - Gift BAsket

Fanous Ramadan - TheGiftery.com

Ramadan J

By Maria Fathy

ust because this year we’re spending Ramadan under lockdown, that doesn’t mean we will let this pandemic win and take over our spirit and happiness at welcoming the holy month. To get yourself in the mood of season, deck your home out with these local brands for that Ramadan spirit. Shop from the comfort of your sofa and www. thegiftery.com will deliver these beautiful pieces right to your door.

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Vibes

Puzzle-TheGiftery.com

Gourmet Ramadan Basket- TheGiftery.com.

Air Hockey Table-TheGiftery.com

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Five-Star Ramadan Hospitality Enjoy these exclusive accommodation, catering and iftar offers from the hospitality industry’s most exclusive hotels.

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JW Marriott Cairo

This Ramadan is like no other … the true vibes of Egyptian Nights and homemade delicious food are brought to your doorstep. Enjoy iftar and stay healthy with an ultimate selection of oriental mezzah, main dishes and the chef’s signature Ramadan desserts from Cairo Marriott’s kitchen. Place your order 24 hours in advance and enjoy a special gift when you pick up your iftar from the hotel.

Delivery service is available at an additional fee.

This Ramadan the Cairo Marriott invites you to enjoy a relaxing stay over experience in the heart of Zamalek in a Deluxe Room. At only LE 1,500 per room per night including iftar for two at the outdoor Garden Promenade Café. Enjoy the open air restaurant amidst the gardens of the Palace as you savor the hotel’s delicious specials and refreshing Ramadan beverages coming straight from the Egyptian Nights. Rate includes service charge and taxes.

For more information, orders and reservations call 202 27283000.

Your health is the JW Marriott Cairo’s number one priority, and their teams have taken the necessary precautions and safety measures to make your stay with them safe. Enjoy breathtaking golf views, iftar at Plateau with its al fresco ambiance and much more. Book “Your Welcome Awaits” Ramadan package for LE 2,700. The package includes accommodation for one night in a deluxe room for two persons, iftar at Plateau restaurant for two persons, complimentary parking, free WiFi and late check-out at 4pm. Offer is inclusive of service charges and all taxes (terms and conditions apply).

For reservations contact +20 2 2411 5588 / +20 2 2406 5777 or mhrs.caijw.reservations@ marriott.com, #JWMarriottCairo #Cairo #Egypt

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Feature et Four Seasons Hotel Cairo At Nile Plaza Brings Heartwarming Ramadan Vibes Home Experience Ramadan with inspiring views overlooking Cairo’s magical skyline from your balcony at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza. Throughout the month of Ramadan, book your room at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza at special rates starting LE 2,990 for two including iftar by the Pool, early check-in at 12pm and late check-out at 4pm.

This year Ramadan comes with an additional precious gift, time—time to spend with loved ones, enjoy the chance to cook at home or achieve those postponed fitness goals. To further support those goals, the family at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza will be sharing some of their best-loved tips to create a series of Four Seasons @Home experiences, designed to inspire guests to recreate a little of Four Seasons flair at home.

Executive Chef Gianluca Visani and his culinary team have created a Ramadan To-Go Iftar menu to bring Four Seasons dining experience and warmth to people at home throughout this month. The menu features a wide range of favorite authentic Egyptian Ramadan delicacies to satisfy every taste.

The expert team of Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza will share their tips to recreate heartwarming Four Seasons experiences @Home through social media series #FourSeasonsAtHome. Follow the Hotel’s Instagram @FSCairoNP and Facebook page to learn from

Marriott Mena House Enjoy an Indian taste of Ramadan at the Marriott Mena House.

With Ramadan being halfway through with all its oriental dishes and flavorsome menus, many of us will be craving a different taste. What’s more exotic than The Moghul Room’s delicacies for a one-of-a-kind iftar in the comfort of your home? The hotel’s talented chefs have prepared an exquisite menu including all the famous Indian specialties for a unique iftar experience. Enjoy your favorite Indian dishes with all the aromas and authentic flavors with the signature of the Moghul Room.

For orders and information call 01068817733.

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Safir Cairo Treat your family to a relaxing escape with Safir Cairo’s special rate of only LE 450 per person per night in a double room. The offer includes a Ramadan iftar, early check-in and late check-out and a 10 percent discount on food and beverages. Children up to 10 years old get to stay for free (one child per room).

The rate is inclusive of service charges and taxes, net non-commissionable.

Staying home? Treat your family to a special iftar, crafted by Safir’s talented chefs who present a variety of Ramadan menus to your liking, delivered to your doorstep.

For reservations and catering and takeaway menus, call 02 37482424 / 02 37482828.

Four Seasons craftspeople as they will be sharing recipes pre-iftar workouts to stay active and healthy and secrets to creating a relaxing wellness experience at home.

For more details and To-Go orders, contact Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza on 20 (2) 2791-7000.

Enjoy Your Peaceful Eid Stay at the Westin!

The Westin Cairo Golf Resort; Spa Katameya Dunes has always been known for its tranquility and now is the time we all need a stress free environment. The Westin is offering you exclusive rates this Eid to unwind and relax. Starting from LE 2,800 all inclusive, including complimentary breakfast, Free Wi-Fi and free usage for sundecks and access to the Hotel gardens and walkways. The Eid package is valid from May 22-26. Terms and conditions apply.

To book your tranquil experience call + (202) 23228000 or email reservations.04091@westin.com

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Steigenberger Cecil Sonesta Hotel, Tower & Casino Cairo Enjoy Ramadan while Sonesta Hotel, Tower & Casino Cairo takes care of your iftar preparations. Their chef has prepared various delicious catering menus that will bring the authentic Ramadan spirit to your table with free transportation. You can also enjoy their take away service by picking up your order from their hotel out-

lets, every day from 11am to 6pm. For special requests or large orders contact the hotel 24 hours in advance.

For catering and take away orders call 02 2264.1111 or email conventions@sonestacairo.com. Follow Sonesta Hotel, Tower & Casino Cairo on facebook.com/SonestaCairo/ and @sonestahotelcairo

Renaissance Cairo Discover the hotel’s “Your Welcome Awaits” Ramadan package for two persons and a mouthwatering iftar at Citron. The package costs LE 2,300 and includes accommodation for one night in a deluxe room, iftar at Citron restaurant for two persons, complimentary parking, free WiFi, late checkout at 4pm.

Offer is inclusive of service charges and all taxes (terms and

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conditions apply). Your health is the Renaissance’s number one priority, and their teams have taken the necessary precautions and safety measures to make your stay with them safe.

For reservations contact +20 22406 333 or reservations.rhicairo@marriotthotels.com #Renaissance #Cairo #Egypt

If you’re looking for five-star catering in Alexandria, the Steigenberger Cecil has a variety of set menus to suit a number of tastes. Priced at LE 130 to LE 140 per person all inclusive, the four set menus include two chicken options, one meat option as well as a seafood entree for non-meat lovers.

All four come with salads, sides, fruits and juice. And if you’re looking for a change from regular iftar fare, the hotel also offers three boxed meals featuring sandwiches, pickles, chips and juice.

For orders call +20 3 487717 or email sales.cecil@ steigenberger.com

Rejuvenate and Enjoy the Beauty of Nature at Hyatt Regency Sharm El Sheikh Hyatt Regency Sharm El Sheikh is your ultimate blend of upscale relaxation, beach activities, leisurely atmosphere and flavorful food, unique sports and diving experiences. Whether you are seeking an idyllic getaway or a family blast, you will definitely have it all in this superb oasis.

Nestled in Garden Bay overlooking the captivating azure waters of the Red Sea and surrounded by a spectacular landscape with a close-up view of the Sinai Mountains, Hyatt Regency Sharm El Sheikh’s ideal location is considered one of the world’s best diving spots, in proximity to Sharm El Sheikh International Airport and near all the city’s landmarks. The hotel’s 432 spacious guestrooms and suites all have a breathtaking beach view and offer luxurious room amenities.

With an array of seven exquisite restaurants and bars that serve tempting, sensational cuisines from all corners of the world, you are spoilt for choice at Hyatt Regency Sharm El Sheikh.

Situated on the hotel premises is the Regency Club, offering outstanding services and ame-

nities in a separate area with its own lounge, beach, terrace, swimming pool and whirlpool.

The hotel offers an exceptional fitness club, diving and water sports center, a three-pool complex, jogging track, racquet center and kids club.

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Immune-Boosting Ramadan Drinks

C helps to increase the absorption of the iron, which is great for maximum rewards all around.”

These traditional drinks are not just a delicious staple at any iftar table, they are full of vitamins and antioxidants that can help boost your immunity.

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ith the weather heating up there’s nothing like a cool and refreshing traditional Ramadan drink to break your fast. Mind you these five staples associated with the holy month are not only popular for their delicious taste: they’re full of natural sugars, vitamins and antioxidants that will help rejuvenate your body after hours of fasting and boost your immunity.

Qamar El-Din (Dried Apricot) Long associated with Ramadan ever since an apricot season reportedly coincided with the sighting of the new moon marking the beginning of Ramadan, this sweet drink made of apricot paste soaked in water is a great source of vitamin C.. Research has shown that vitamin C plays an essential role in the immune system, helping the body’s natural defense mechanisms fight off bacteria and viruses. Qamar El-Din is traditionally served thick and cold, but is often also eaten as a starchy pudding topped with nuts. Naturally sweet, the drink replenishes blood sugar, rehydrates the body and is a good source of much-needed energy after hours of fasting, Karkaday (Hibiscus) Known for lowering blood pressure, this tart drink is caffeine free and loaded with antioxidants that help reduce oxidative damage. Research published in The Journal of Nutrition has shown that oxidative damage “exacerbates the aging process while also raising your risk for illness and disease. Various studies have shown links between free radical damage and prevalence of dementia, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, among others.

The high dose of antioxidants in hibiscus might be able to slow this process, lower inflammation in the body, and keep your skin looking dewy and youthful.”

Thanks to its diuretic properties, hibiscus (if unsweetened) has been associated with weight loss and is also an anti-inflammatory, “which can keep cortisol (the stress hormone), which contributes to fat storage, at bay. It is generally believed to support your immune system as it contains high levels of vitamin C and is also high in iron, a mineral that keeps the immune system balanced and helps the body to maintain red blood cells. Plus, the vitamin 56

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Kharoub (Carob) Rich in antioxidants, calcium and fiber, carob has recently been hailed as a superfood. Fat-free, carob is a great source of phosphorus and vitamin D and E, and together with it being a rich source of calcium, helps it support healthy bones and teeth, as well guarding against osteoporosis, according to research. Research has also shown that carob “has high levels of gallic acid, a well-known and powerful antioxidant, which can work as an analgesic, and is also known to help guard against allergies, and is antibacterial, antiviral and antiseptic. Gallic acid has shown to prevent neural mutations and has anti-cancer properties which help guard against leukemia, and prostate, colon and lung cancers.”

Various studies have cited carob in supporting bone health due to its being a rich source of “not just calcium, but vitamin D and trace minerals such as magnesium and phosphorus; fighting high blood pressure; treating colds, cough and flu as a protein source and a digestive aid and also to guard against anemia, since it contains iron, a mineral highly regarded due to its necessity in creating hemoglobin in the blood.”

Tamr Hindi (Tamarind) Tamarind is packed with antioxidants that strengthen your immune system. Research has shown that it “contains a significant level of vitamins C, E and B, calcium, iron, phosphorous, potassium, manganese and fiber, offering an effective way to remove fluoride, the dangerous mineral toxin linked to bone loss, hormone imbalance, arthritis, infertility, thyroid disease and more.”

Often mixed with hibiscus for a balanced taste and texture, tamarind is known to have “high levels of vitamin C. With its antioxidant effects, tamarind is a wonderful way to boost your immune system and ensure long-term health, keeping away from microbial and fungal infections. It also reduces the occurrence of parasites in the body due to its antiseptic and antimicrobial effects,” studies confirm.

Erqsous (Licorice) Hailed as one of the most powerful plants in boosting the immune system, licorice isn’t to everyone’s taste but is nonetheless a Ramadan favorite. Outside the holy month it is drunk cold as a refreshing juice or hot to combat coughs, colds and the flu. Research has shown that licorice can expel respiratory mucus or phlegm.

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