At least eight Egyptian daily newspapers (including two state-owned) featured a half-page congratulatory note on 4 June for Egypt's new president Abd El-Fatah El-Sisi.
The note read:
"Congratulations to Egypt
Under your wise leadership Egypt will add more to its glory for eternity
Hasan Abdullah Ismaik,
Managing Director and CEO of Arabtec Holding, sincerely congratulates President Abd El-Fatah El-Sisi for the success of the democratic process and his election as president of the Arab Republic of Egypt"
The note occupied the bottom-half of the spread-sheet front pages of state-owned Al-Akhbar and Al-Gomhouriya. It also appeared in privately-owned papers of Al-Sherouk, Al-Masry Al-Youm, Al-Watan, Al-Tahrir, Al-Youm Al-Sabea, in addition to the liberal Al-Wafd Party's Al-Wafd.
It carried the logo of UAE-based Arabtec Holding, whose managing director and CEO is Hasan Ismaik, a Jordanian billionaire who recently came to Forbes' attention.
On 9 March, Ismaik's company and Egypt's defense ministry, then headed by El-Sisi, signed an agreement to construct one million housing units across Egypt.
This is not the only construction project the defense ministry, that has been led by the army's commander-in-chief, signed with Gulf-based companies.
In February, the ministry also signed a deal to build Emaar Square, part of the UAE-based Emaar company's project of Uptown Cairo.
Mohamed El-Shahed, an Egyptian researcher and blogger concentrating on urban planning and architecture, explains in this article what it means for the military,that owns vast areas of Egypt's land, to engage in such projects.
He also points out the possible consequences of these projects on Egyptian residents living near the projects' sites. He says they could be forced to move to make space for these new high-class residential areas serving a minimal percentage of Egypt's population - that enjoys a close relationship - of money & power - with the authorities.
For El-Shahed, there is a need to regard the revolution as an urban struggle as much as a struggle for bread and freedom - essentially an urban revolution shall reinforce and bring to life the other demands. However, further complexities arise here with regards to the "deep state" and the economy, in which the army reportedly plays a significant role.
And now with the ex-army head leading the country, fears are on the rise of the military further consolidating its grip on Egyptian economy, institutions, urban planning, society and freedoms.
In fact, a recent article in Israeli Haaretz, reflects a similar relationship between the state and Egyptian media tycoons - who are mostly business men enjoying "government tenders, and… benefits worth millions of dollars from the regime". These media persons then "better show [the state] some respect" in their outlets.
So perhaps, Ismaik, 37, congratulating El-Sisi across several significant newspaper dailies carries more business than diplomatic "support" to the new "ex-military man" president.
He also points out the possible consequences of these projects on Egyptian residents living near the projects' sites. He says they could be forced to move to make space for these new high-class residential areas serving a minimal percentage of Egypt's population - that enjoys a close relationship - of money & power - with the authorities.
For El-Shahed, there is a need to regard the revolution as an urban struggle as much as a struggle for bread and freedom - essentially an urban revolution shall reinforce and bring to life the other demands. However, further complexities arise here with regards to the "deep state" and the economy, in which the army reportedly plays a significant role.
And now with the ex-army head leading the country, fears are on the rise of the military further consolidating its grip on Egyptian economy, institutions, urban planning, society and freedoms.
In fact, a recent article in Israeli Haaretz, reflects a similar relationship between the state and Egyptian media tycoons - who are mostly business men enjoying "government tenders, and… benefits worth millions of dollars from the regime". These media persons then "better show [the state] some respect" in their outlets.
So perhaps, Ismaik, 37, congratulating El-Sisi across several significant newspaper dailies carries more business than diplomatic "support" to the new "ex-military man" president.
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And here are some articles discussing the Egyptian army's role in the country's economy.
[Note: The blog does not endorse, support or oppose the opinions and/or facts in the following articles.]
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