The Arabian Gulf Investments Company has acquired undisclosed stakes in three Egyptian companies, including mobile payments company EasyCash, according to a company statement. The company, which also acquired shares in the Egyptian Company for Embedded Systems and Industry and Health Technology for Advanced Technology and Public Health, is eyeing more Egyptian investments in the real estate, services and logistics, said Chairman Khalifa Saif Al Muhairbi.

Also worth noting:

• Universal health ins. is coming to Suez: The government will begin trialling the universal health ins. system in Suez Governorate early next year. The system, which is already up and running in Port Said, Ismailia and South Sinai, will be gradually rolled out across the country over the next 10 years.
• Hola, Luxor: EgyptAir began operating a weekly flight between Luxor and Madrid yesterday.
• Cabinet isn’t happy with state bodies’ unilateral contract-making: Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly directed state institutions not to sign contracts with financial implications without his approval and a review from the Central Agency For Organization and Administration and the Finance Ministry, according to a circular to state agencies. The directive came after several unnamed state bodies reportedly signed contracts without the cabinet's approval.