American University in Cairo
New Cairo Campus, Room 2175, Tel 02 2615 2694
University Garden
Sat 18, 12pm – 6pm: “Campus to Startup Live: A Multi-Panel Alumni Entrepreneurial Experience” discover the journeys of AUC alumni entrepreneurs at Campus to Startup Live, featuring dynamic panels, inspiring stories and valuable networking opportunities.
Programme flow: Registration and networking 12pm – 12:45pm, opening remarks, 12:45 – 1pm, panel one “She Leads: Inspiring Stories of Success
Featuring Businesswomen Across Generations” speakers: Aya Saleh ’25, founder, V60 Social Space and Coffee, Farah El Mosalami ’18, co-founder, Pepla, Kesmat El-Mehelmy ’88, founder, Cake Café (1pm-2pm).
(2pm– 3pm) Networking, (3pm– 4pm) Panel two | From Campus to Business
Featuring developers & entrepreneurs: Abdallah Sallam ’02, president and CEO, Madinet Masr, Ayman Ismail '95, '97, associate professor, Heikal Department of Management; chair of entrepreneurship and founding director, AUC Venture Lab, and Hazem Helal ’04, CEO, Orascom Real Estate. (4pm – 5pm) Networking. (5pm– 6pm) Panel three | From Zero to Beyond
Featuring entrepreneurs across sectors: Akram Farag ’89, founder & managing partner, Oxygen Consulting S.A.L., Doaa Gawish ’02, ’05, founder and CEO, The Hair Addict, Marwan Naim ’16, co-founder, Life Snacks, and
Mohamed Aboul Naga ’09, co-founder and global CEO, Exits MENA.
AUC New Cairo (Multiple Venues)
Sun 19 to Thurs 23, 1pm – 2pm: Mental Health Week 2025 offers engaging mental health activities, panel discussions and exciting giveaways.
Diwan Bookstore
105, Abu Bakr El-Seddiq St, Heliopolis, Misr Algedida, Tel 02 2690 8184/85/ 0122 6000168
Sat 18, 5-8pm (Free): Join the “Heritage Playdate” in the Nareng play launch by Built Environment Collective. It’s a bilingual event for families and friends.
Sat Grandma’s Recipe: Cooking Up Kindness Camp
Storytelling & Animation, Exploring Egypt’s Culinary Heritage
1, Road 254, Degal, Maadi, Tel 010 98887326
Fri 17, 11am to 12pm: “Healthy Habits” a fun and purposeful storytelling experience, with Heba, that helps children connect everyday habits to their health and wellbeing. Through story, play, and guided discussion, children will gain valuable awareness of how their choices shape their bodies and minds.
Italian Cultural Institute
3 El-Sheikh El Marsafy St, Zamalek, Tel 02 2735 5423/2735 8791
Registration for the General Italian Language Courses (November 2025 - January 2026 session) is open from 15 to 29 October 2025. For information and registration: [email protected]
Tahrir Cultural Centre (TCC)
AUC’s Tahrir Campus, Al-Sheikh Rihan St, off Tahrir Square, Tel 02 2615 2694/01280009077
Hill House, Room 602 and Online
Mon 20, 6.30pm – 8.30pm: “Tahrir Dialogue Series No. 111: The Khaleeji State and the Future of the Arab Region” lecture explores the evolving political, economic, and social role of Gulf states in shaping the Arab world’s future. The event examines regional power dynamics, governance models, and strategic alliances. It highlights how Gulf leadership and resources influence stability and development across the region. Speakers: Abdul-Khaleq Abdullah, Professor of Political Science, UAE, Lisa Anderson, Special Lecturer and Dean Emerita, Columbia University, SIPA. The link https://e.cglink.me/2kZ/r300116558
Moataz Al Alfi Hall
Tues 21, 1pm-2pm: “The Khaleeji State Beyond the Rentier State Model” talk featuring Abdul-Khaleq Abdullah, Professor of Political Science, UAE, delves into how Gulf states are redefining their political economies beyond oil dependency. The event explores diversification strategies, governance reforms, and evolving social contracts in the post-rentier era.
Oriental Hall
Sun 19, 7-8pm (free and open to the public): Join the launch of I Can Imagine It for Us: A Palestinian Daughter's Memoir by Mai Serhan, a deeply personal and lyrical exploration of memory, belonging, and the landscapes that shape us. Award-winning author, Mai Serhan, will be in conversation with Samia Mehrez, Professor Emerita of Arabic Literature at AUC, to discuss the book’s themes of identity, language, and home, as well as the creative process behind Serhan’s evocative prose. A Q&A session and a book signing will follow the discussion.
Tues 21, 6pm – 8pm: If you are interested in inequality, global justice, and the future of democracy, you should definitely attend this seminar to check out the Arabic translation of Gabriel Zucman’s book The Hidden Wealth of Nations: The Dilemma of Tax Havens. The book examines the history of tax havens, provides the most comprehensive and accurate quantitative assessment of the global financial importance of tax havens in today’s world economy and proposes a course of action for change. Join the seminar for a free copy of the book and to hear interventions from writer Gabriel Zuckman, translator Magdi Abdel-Hadi and discussant journalist Ahmed Fatiha.
Ewart Memorial Hall
Thurs 23, 7pm: Join a special event with Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub in celebration of the release of the paperback edition of his authorized biography, A Surgeon and a Maverick: The Life and Pioneering Work of Magdi Yacoub. Yacoub’s life is an enthralling journey through the worlds of scientific research and medical politics, and ethics at the highest levels.
Yacoub will be in conversation with Ahmed Elghandour '16, founder and host of the hit YouTube show El Daheeh, the most popular science show in the Middle East, with over 500 videos that have garnered more than 2.5 billion views, making him one of the most influential 30 under 30 in the region, according to Forbes. Authors of the book, Simon Pearson and Fiona Gorman are a husband-and-wife team of author-editors who worked for The Times newspaper in London for more than thirty years. The discussion will be held in English.
Open to the public (pre-event registration is required).
Since space is limited, we encourage early arrival, as seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration doesn't guarantee a seat. A valid photo ID is required at the entrance.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 14 October, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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