Shaping the Future: QNB Group’s Bold Leap into Egypt’s Digital Banking Era

A Landmark Step for Financial Innovation

DOHA, Qatar – QNB Group, the largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa, has achieved a significant milestone with the license approval for its digital-first banking entity, **ezbank**, from the Central Bank of Egypt. This strategic move represents much more than an operational expansion; it signals a bold commitment to shaping the future of Egypt’s banking landscape.  

By securing this license, QNB Group aligns itself with the Central Bank of Egypt’s vision for financial inclusion and digital transformation, which also supports the government’s broader economic development strategy. This is not merely about opening another bank; it is about creating a financial institution designed to function in harmony with the digital lives of modern consumers. Consequently, **ezbank** is poised to redefine accessibility to banking services in Egypt, fostering inclusion and innovation at every stage.  

Harnessing Technology for Seamless Service**  

At its core, **ezbank** will merge advanced digital technology with internationally recognized best practices to offer customers efficient and intuitive financial solutions. Mobile-first platforms will ensure that every transaction is swift and user-friendly, while AI-driven tools and intelligent risk management will guarantee both security and convenience. As a result, customers will experience a new standard of banking designed around their needs and lifestyles.  

Furthermore, this venture solidifies Egypt’s growing role as a hub for technological innovation within the region. With QNB Group’s presence already established in over 28 countries across Asia, Europe, and Africa, and backed by over 31,000 professionals, the launch of **ezbank** marks a strategic intersection of global expertise and local opportunity. Through this, QNB aims to not only contribute to Egypt’s digital economy but also inspire similar transformations across the Middle East and Africa.  

With **ezbank**, QNB Group is not simply keeping pace with modern banking trends—it is actively setting them. This initiative reflects a future where financial services are more inclusive, efficient, and tailored to the digital age.  

Beneath the Sands: How GeoMap™ Middle East Unveils a Geothermal Renaissance

Revealing the Gulf’s Geothermal Promise

Project InnerSpace today announced the launch of GeoMap™ Middle East, a groundbreaking geothermal exploration tool that reveals vast geothermal potential in the Gulf region for cooling, long-duration energy storage, and round-the-clock power applications.

Geothermal energy, the heat naturally occurring in the Earth's crust, is an abundant and ubiquitous source of energy. Advances in drilling and subsurface technologies are making geothermal affordable and scalable in regions once thought inaccessible. In the Middle East, that progress is especially important, since geothermal can deliver the constant, low emissions energy needed to meet rising demand for cooling in some of the world's hottest, fastest-growing cities.

Technical Insights and Regional Opportunities

In the Middle East, geothermal can also complement record-breaking solar investments by providing long-duration energy storage. Importantly, the Middle East is uniquely positioned to scale geothermal quickly, given the region's decades of drilling expertise and robust oil and gas industry presence, providing the know-how, workforce, and assets needed for rapid deployment.

`GeoMap™` evaluates geothermal development potential by integrating millions of subsurface data points into an interactive, freely accessible platform. Initial findings in the Gulf region identify:

Urban cooling applications: In Gulf states, cooling drives up to 70% of peak electricity demand. Geothermal district cooling could slash that peak, easing grid strain in cities like Riyadh, Dubai, and Doha. GeoMap™ shows ~14,000 GW of cooling potential, with Iran, Egypt, Iraq, and Turkey providing two-thirds of capacity; Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar also hold major opportunities.

Subsurface storage opportunities: Geological formations across Iraq, Syria, the Gulf states, northern Saudi Arabia, and Yemen could serve as "earth batteries," storing excess solar and wind energy as heat in deep sedimentary basins and releasing it on demand to balance the growth of intermittent renewables.

High-potential geothermal zones: The Red Sea Rift (western Saudi Arabia/northern Yemen) holds potential for gigawatt-scale power production and desalination; eastern Turkey and northern Iran also have strong power potential. Both areas hold opportunities for geothermal powered data centers.

Strategic and Economic Implications

“One of the most exciting things about the geothermal development potential in the Gulf region is the fact that the resource sits below some of the world's most capable and resourced oil and gas companies - the very entities with the required expertise to develop these resources, and the ability to deliver the speed and scale necessary to make geothermal relevant for the world,” said Jamie Beard, Executive Director of Project InnerSpace.

`GeoMap™ Middle East` builds on previous releases of GeoMap™ in Africa, North America, India, Asia, and Oceania, advancing a global effort to map geothermal opportunities and make next-generation geothermal data freely accessible. Consequently, policymakers, investors, and industry leaders can now evaluate concrete projects, accelerate pilot deployments, and leverage existing drilling capacity to transform regional energy systems.

Deli Group's Bold Step: Elevating Office and School Supplies in Egypt

On July 9, 2025, Deli Group, a distinguished manufacturer of office and school supplies, marked a significant milestone with its inaugural brand promotion conference in Cairo. Organized in collaboration with the esteemed Egyptian distributor 3A, the event welcomed over 120 key clients and channel partners. This gathering not only celebrated the launch of Deli's operations in Egypt but also underscored the company's strategic expansion into the MENA region. The implications of this event resonate deeply within the context of Deli’s global ambitions.

The Deli Group, recognized as one of Asia's largest stationery manufacturing bases, has made impressive strides in international markets. With operations extending across more than 140 countries and regions, its investment in Egypt represents a pivotal step in its global strategy. During the conference, key members of Deli's leadership team provided comprehensive presentations, elucidating the company's commitment to innovation and quality. Notably, Global Marketing Manager Mr. Jeremy emphasized the organization's prowess and its meticulous overseas development strategy. In tandem, Mr. Ashraf Ali Faid, Deli's national partner, offered valuable insights into the Egyptian market, highlighting the partnership's potential for driving mutual growth.

Pioneering the Future of Office Supplies

A highlight of the conference was the presentation by MENA Regional Manager Mr. Mohamound, who detailed Deli's ambitious globalization efforts and introduced plans for a manufacturing hub in 10th of Ramadan City. This facility is set to produce over 12,000 diverse products, catering to the demands of both local and international markets. By focusing on office and school supplies, sports equipment, manual and electric tools, and office furniture, Deli aims to serve a wide array of clients across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Turkey, and the USA. Such a robust manufacturing capacity not only positions Deli as a key player in the region but also signifies its commitment to enhancing local economies.

Furthermore, the event featured a product showcase led by Deli Egypt's Product Manager, Mr. Mohamed Mekkawi. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with innovative solutions tailored to local preferences, including ergonomic writing tools and durable organizational products. This hands-on experience allowed participants to appreciate the quality and utility of Deli's offerings firsthand. As a result, the brand's commitment to meeting the specific needs of the Egyptian market became abundantly clear.

Deli Group's successful brand launch in Cairo serves as a testament to its strategic focus on the MENA region. With a strong product portfolio and a localized manufacturing approach, Deli is well-positioned to become the preferred office and school solutions provider in Egypt. The company's investment not only showcases the ambitions of global enterprises but also promises to deliver dual benefits of employment and technological advancement to the Egyptian economy. As Deli Group embarks on this exciting journey, it sets a new standard for quality and innovation in the office supplies sector.

Cultivating Sustainability: Phoenix Contact's Revolutionary Approach to Precision Agriculture in Egypt

A New Era of Agriculture in Egypt

In the heart of Egypt, a collaboration between Phoenix Contact and HITS Solutions is setting a new standard for sustainable farming through the innovative application of technology. As a global market leader in industrial automation and connectivity, Phoenix Contact has embraced its 100th anniversary as an opportunity to launch a transformative sustainability initiative aimed at addressing pressing agricultural challenges in the region. The Precision Agriculture solution prototype signifies a remarkable shift towards hydroponic farming, a method that not only conserves vital freshwater resources but also enhances food security amidst looming shortages.

Egypt, facing a grim reality of freshwater scarcity, finds itself at a crossroads where innovative technology can provide much-needed relief. The partnership between Phoenix Contact and HITS Solutions heralds a new approach to farming, integrating IoT and bioinformatics to optimize agricultural practices. By automating irrigation and fertigation based on real-time sensor data, the collaboration ensures that water usage is minimized while maximizing crop yield. This initiative aligns seamlessly with Egypt's Vision 2030, which aims to eradicate hunger and poverty by the year 2030, showcasing a commitment to sustainable development.

Transforming Agricultural Practices Through Technology

The establishment of a "Center of Excellence" featuring two greenhouses—one dedicated to traditional cultivation and the other to hydroponics—demonstrates the practical application of this innovative model. HITS Solutions has developed a sophisticated cloud-based platform that combines metagenomics with IoT sensor data to analyze microbial communities in the soil and environment. This integration enables farmers to make informed decisions regarding irrigation, fertilization, and crop management, thereby enhancing overall plant health and productivity.

The results of this pioneering approach are nothing short of remarkable. Water consumption has been reduced by an impressive 86.67%, with the hydroponic system utilizing only 3,200 liters of water for 1,200 plants, compared to the 24,000 liters consumed in conventional methods. Furthermore, the vertical farming setup requires a mere 9.5 square meters of space—17 times less than traditional farming practices. Such efficiency not only optimizes resource use but also sets a new benchmark for sustainable agriculture in Egypt and beyond.

The collaboration between Phoenix Contact and HITS Solutions illustrates the profound impact of advanced automation and intelligent software on the future of agriculture. As the world grapples with increasing food shortages and water scarcity, initiatives like this provide a glimmer of hope for a more sustainable and food-secure future. Through innovative solutions, Phoenix Contact is truly paving the way for a livable and sustainable tomorrow.