Egypt receives $3.5bn; Promoting Palestinian talent; OSON digital wallet

January 09, 2026

Pulse of the Global Islamic Economy

Rajab 20, 1447 AH

Assalamualaikum,

As we step into a new year, we do so with hope for peace, dignity, and resolution for communities facing hardship across the world — especially the people of Gaza, whose resilience continues to inspire acts of solidarity far beyond borders.

We begin this week with a conversation with Kathrine Nicolaisen, founder of Olives & Heather, a remote-first marketing agency using global digital work to amplify Palestinian voices and create sustainable employment for highly skilled Palestinian professionals.

Meanwhile, OSON is scaling its fintech platform internationally by rolling out a multi-currency wallet and cross-border payment infrastructure across MENA as part of a wider global expansion.

And finally, Egypt has received $3.5 billion from Qatar as part of a landmark $29.7 billion investment to develop a large-scale project on its northwestern Mediterranean coast, underscoring renewed momentum in regional investment flows.

Did you know?

At the end of 2025, an estimated 318 million people face acute hunger – double pre-pandemic levels – with 41 million at Emergency levels or worse, including two famines in Gaza and parts of Sudan.

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