Black Friday carries a different name in Egypt, with some calling it “White” or “Yellow” Friday. The discounts that are traditional on this day are also limited to it, but they stretch throughout the month of November with the goal of revitalising retailing.
Producers and retailers are anticipating an increase in sales across various sectors at the end of this month, saying that they had earlier experienced a decline compared to November 2024.
Their expectations coincide with the disbursement of November salaries for public- and private-sector employees.
George Zakaria, head of the Home Appliances Division at the Giza Chamber of Commerce, told Al-Ahram Weekly that despite a 15 to 20 per cent decline in electrical appliance prices this November, sales during the Friday promotions have dropped by around 40 per cent compared to the same period last year.
He anticipates retailers introducing deeper markdowns on the final Friday of the month, surpassing the five to 15 per cent reductions applied since early November. He noted that overall appliance sales have seen a significant downturn, which has weighed heavily on both buying and selling activity during the month.
He attributed this decline to consumers delaying their purchases in anticipation of further reductions during the Christmas promotions in January, encouraged by the sustained price drops following a period of sharp inflation.
Consumers are also hopeful that appliance prices will continue to decrease as the Egyptian pound strengthens. The currency has been appreciating slightly in recent months on the back of an improved economic outlook.
The prices of appliances had fallen by nearly 70 per cent from their December 2023 peak, Zakaria said.
He pointed out that deals such as the $29.7 billion deal with the Qatari Diar real-estate company signed earlier this month to develop the Alam Al-Roum area of the North Coast and the February 2024 announcement of the Ras Al-Hekma development project between Egypt and Abu Dhabi’s Sovereign Wealth Fund ADQ had triggered confidence in the economy and ensured further inflows of hard currency.
This has helped strengthen the value of the pound against the dollar, resulting in a downward trend in local product prices.
Zakaria anticipates a further 10 to 20 per cent decline in prices in 2026. Nonetheless, factories will maintain their 2025 production output in 2026 due to the state of home appliance sales, amid monitoring of the dollar exchange rate, he added.
In the leather sector, Yehia Abu Halaka, deputy head of the Leather Industry Chamber at the Federation of Egyptian Industries, told the Weekly that the market had experienced a substantial contraction in sales during 2025, prompting retailers to offer year-round discounts ranging from 10 to 20 per cent in an effort to stimulate demand.
He too anticipated that the final Friday of November will bring discounts of 20 to 40 per cent, which may enhance consumer appetites and revive sales.
Abu Halaka noted a shift in consumer culture, as buyers increasingly wait for discount periods before making purchasing decisions across various sectors, including footwear.
Some brands have begun producing lower-quality items specifically for deep-discount Black Friday promotions, offering reductions of 50 to 60 per cent, Abu Halaka said.
He explained that manufacturing plans for 2026 remain uncertain, as factories are operating at no more than 50 per cent of capacity due to weak demand. The domestic market absorbs around 70 per cent of production, while the rest is exported.
November promotions traditionally offer retailers a long-awaited boost at the beginning of the winter season following months of sluggish demand. According to Mahmoud Al-Daour, former head of the Ready-Made Garments Division at the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, clothing retailers have been offering discounts ranging from 30 to 70 per cent.
Producers and retailers are also awaiting the outcome of sales in the final days of November, particularly as the delayed onset of winter has further depressed seasonal demand, raising the possibility of extending promotions into December.
Al-Daour said that factories in the garment sector are currently operating at around 60 per cent of capacity, a level expected to continue into 2026 due to the persistent weakness in purchasing power and a shortage of skilled labour that has compelled manufacturers to reduce production levels.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 27 November, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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