Egyptian Startup Raises Pre-Seed Funding
Egyptian startup Roomz.rent has closed a pre-seed funding round led by Qora71, Hub71’s angel syndicate, with participation from other regional angel investors. Founded in 2024 by Ahmed Mandour and Yasser Al-Sarrag, Roomz.rent provides AI-powered room and flatmate matching services for furnished rentals on flexible leases.
The new capital will be used to scale operations in Egypt, enhance the platform’s technical capabilities, and expand into new urban centers across the MENA region. The company aims to establish a leading regional co-living brand focused on convenience and compatibility.
09/07/2025
Exxon, QatarEnergy JV Asks US Regulators for Permission to Re-export LNG from October
Golden Pass LNG, which is owned by Exxon Mobil and QatarEnergy, has asked U.S. regulators for permission to re-export liquefied natural gas from October 1, as the export plant nears production after previous delays. The company said it wants to re-export a cargo of LNG that it plans to import to cool down its export plant in Texas, which is still under construction. Cooling down the plant is often the final step before producing LNG.
Golden Pass is building an 18 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) LNG export facility in Sabine Pass, Texas, and plans to start exporting LNG later this year. The project has been plagued with problems and is behind schedule and over budget.
In March 2024, its then-lead contractor, Zachry Holdings, filed for bankruptcy and said the project was at least US$2.4 billion over the original budget. Zachry has since been replaced by McDermott International as lead contractor for Train 1 and the company has been in negotiations to take over the construction of the other two trains, or plants, associated with the project. Golden Pass could become the 9th U.S. LNG exporter after it starts shipping. The U.S. is the world's top LNG exporter.
09/07/2025
Minister Launches Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari Rail Link to Iran's National Network
The rail-laying operation in the southwestern province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari commenced on Tuesday, as announced by Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadeq Malvajerd.
At the inauguration ceremony, Sadeq Malvajerd stated that railways are an effective factor in the country's infrastructural development and noted, Shahrekord, the provincial capital and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari are being connected to the country's railway network," IRNA reported.
The minister of roads stated that with the commencement of this rail-laying, another city will be connected to the railway network, and "the whistle of the Shahrekord train will probably sound by the next [Iranian] year (to begin on March 20, 2026)."
The minister stated that Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari was a province whose employment and agricultural sectors were highly effective.
She added that if the railway were completed as soon as possible, it would impact passenger transportation and support the agricultural industry. She also expressed appreciation for the efforts of all individuals active in the project over the past 15 years.
Sadeq Malvajerd, referring to the implementation of unfinished projects in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, stated that the existence of many unfinished projects, particularly within the roads and urban development sector, was among the issues she had encountered during that trip.
"Efforts are being made to inject resources to complete and utilize projects of which five to ten kilometers is left," the minister said. - Iran Daily
09/07/2025
500 Flights Handled in Single Day amid Operational Recovery: Iran Airports Co.
The head of Iran Airports Company (IAC) said that approximately 500 international and domestic flights received services from the company on Monday.
Referring to the increasing number of flights, IAC head Mohammad Amirani said, "Yesterday, approximately 500 flights, including transit, domestic, and international flights, received services from the Iran Airports and Air Navigation Company," IRNA reported.
Airlines began avoiding Iranian airspace on June 13 when the Israeli regime launched unprovoked aggression against the country. The eastern half of Iran’s airspace reopened to domestic and international flights on June 25, a day after the United States claimed it had brokered a unilateral ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
The Civil Aviation Organization in a statement on Friday announced the first international flight landed at Imam Khomeini International Airport.
Amirani added that the company's committed specialists "quickly operationalized the damaged areas in the country's airports in the shortest possible time." According to Amirani, "The country's radar, navigation, and surveillance systems are in an operational status and ready for the safe guidance of flights." - Iran Daily
09/07/2025
Egypt's Nowlun Secures Seed Round Extension Led by Ingressive Capital
Egyptian logistics startup Nowlun has secured a US$600,000 seed round extension led by Ingressive Capital, raising its total funding to US$2.3 million. The Cairo-based company provides an online freight forwarding platform that lets users compare and book shipping services tailored to their needs.
Founded in 2021 by Moataz Khamis, Mahmoud Khaled, and Ahmed Emara, Nowlun plans to use the funds to scale its AI-powered Smart Logistics Assistant, expand operations across Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and improve decision-making in the region’s fragmented shipping industry.
“This is more than just funding; it’s a strategic push to embed AI at the core of logistics,” said CEO Moataz Khamis. “We’re building your smart Logistics Assistant — a tool that puts decades of industry expertise in the palm of your hand, helping you make faster, smarter shipping decisions every day.”
09/07/2025