Author: Staff Editor

In a world brimming with possibilities, it’s easy to get lost in the vast sea of digital distractions. But fear not, dear creative souls, for we have scoured the internet to uncover hidden gems that will ignite your imagination and jet-propel your creativity. Buckle up and prepare to be amazed as we introduce you to eight mind-blowing websites you probably didn’t know existed.

1. A Soft Murmur

Take a break from those tiresome deadlines and submerge yourself into a world of ambient bliss with A Soft Murmur. This website allows you to create custom audio scapes, blending different soothing sounds like rain, thunder, waves, and more. Whether you need a tranquil background for meditation or an inspiring audio backdrop for your creative projects, A Soft Murmur provides a sanctuary for the auditory creative.

2. This Person Does Not Exist

Prepare to be perplexed and fascinated in equal measure by this beguiling website. Powered by artificial intelligence, This Person Does Not Exist generates eerily realistic portraits of people who – you guessed it – do not exist. Each refresh reveals a new face and each new face leaves you pondering the boundaries between reality and fiction. A goldmine for character-inspired creatives.

3. Silk

Unleash your inner artist with WeaveSilk (Silk), a mesmerizing website that lets you create intricate, symmetrical designs with just a few strokes of your mouse or touchscreen. As you glide your cursor, the vibrant colors blend and weave together, forming breathtaking digital masterpieces. Silk is a playground we should all play in. Ideal for the creative seeking meditative and visually stunning experiences.

4. The Useless Web

Embrace the absurd and embrace creativity with The Useless Web. With a single click, you’ll be transported to a random and quirky website that defies explanation. From virtual cat pianos to button-clicking games, this digital rabbit hole is a constant reminder that creativity knows no bounds and that sometimes you’ve got to take the blue pill. Or was it the red one? For the curious creative.

5. Little Alchemy

Unleash your inner alchemist with Little Alchemy. This addictive online game challenges you to combine various elements to create new objects. From simple combinations like fire and water to complex creations involving mythical creatures, Little Alchemy offers endless hours of experimentation and discovery. For the creative that likes a bit of trial and error.

6. The Noun Project

The Noun Project is a treasure trove of high-quality icons and symbols that can breathe life into your creative projects. With over two million icons contributed by a global community, this website ensures that you’ll find the perfect visual representation for your ideas. Expand your visual vocabulary and let The Noun Project be your creative companion. Calling all visual storyteller creatives!

7. FutureMe

Step into a time machine and send a message to your future self with FutureMe. This unique website allows you, to write yourself, a letter, in the future. Get it? Simply select a date for it to be delivered, commit to the ether, and allow it to stew in the space-time continuum. Whether you want to set goals, share dreams, or capture a state of mind, FutureMe adds a touch of creative reflection to your journey through time. For the Time Traveller’s Creative.

8. Incredibox

Prepare to be dazzled by Incredibox, an interactive website that turns you into a badass beatboxing maestro. Mix and match different musical elements, such as rhythms, melodies, effects, and voices, to create your own banging tunes. With its playful interface and addictive audio combinations, Incredibox is for the funky creatives amongst us. And I’m willing to bet that’s all of us. Let’s get it on.

In a world where imagination knows no bounds, image generators have become a powerful tool for artists, designers, and enthusiasts alike. And yet we all know using image generators is not as easy as it first seems and, to get the best results, you need the best input prompts.

You also need a platform that is keeping pace with the boundless change of the industry. Take a bow Midjourney 5.2. Packed with mind-boggling features and infinite magical potential, this image generator is a creative marvel that pushes the boundaries of visual expression.

Let’s take a look into the fascinating world of Midjourney 5.2 and explore its latest and most enchanting features.

1. Zoom Out Feature: Unlock a Whole New Perspective

Prepare to have your mind blown, folks, because Midjourney 5.2 brings you an exhilarating feature that allows you to zoom out of your created images. Gone are the days when you were limited to exploring your creations up close. With the zoom-out feature, you can now witness the grandeur of your art from a macro perspective.
Imagine starting with a detailed portrait of a majestic eagle and gradually zooming out to reveal it soaring above an awe-inspiring mountain range, contained in a snow globe on the mantelpiece of a giant.

The zoom-out feature in Midjourney 5.2 unleashes your creativity and enables you to construct breathtaking landscapes and mind-bending scenarios like never before.

Watch Video

2. Dreamscape Mode

Prepare to be transported to a realm where dreams become reality with the all-new Dreamscape Mode. Midjourney 5.2 introduces an ethereal dimension that merges fantasy and reality seamlessly. Want to turn an ordinary photo into a breathtaking fairy tale landscape? Simply activate Dreamscape Mode and watch in awe as majestic castles rise from humble buildings, and lush forests spring to life from barren landscapes. With just a click, Midjourney 5.2 brings your wildest dreams to vibrant existence.

3. Time Warp Filter

Ever wondered what it would be like to travel back in time? Midjourney 5.2 allows you to do just that with its mesmerizing Time Warp Filter. This innovative feature lets you transform modern-day photographs into vintage treasures as if they were captured decades ago. Whether you want to evoke the charm of the Roaring Twenties or relive the nostalgia of the ’80s, the Time Warp Filter flawlessly transports your images to a bygone era. Get ready to explore the realms of history through the lens of Midjourney 5.2!

4. Shape Shifter Brush

Prepare to witness true magic unfold as Midjourney 5.2 introduces the Shape Shifter Brush. With this bewitching tool at your disposal, you can transform ordinary objects into extraordinary creations. Want to turn a pumpkin into a carriage fit for a princess? Or perhaps you’d like to turn a cat into a dragon? The Shape Shifter Brush grants you the power to reshape reality and create captivating visuals that defy logic and reason. Unleash your inner sorcerer and let your imagination run wild!

5. Kaleidoscope Pattern Generator

Step into a world of dazzling symmetry with the Kaleidoscope Pattern Generator. Midjourney 5.2 offers a mesmerising feature that takes mundane patterns and elevates them to kaleidoscopic marvels. Watch as simple geometric shapes twist and twirl into intricate and hypnotic designs. Perfect for creating mesmerising backgrounds, vibrant textiles, or captivating album covers, the Kaleidoscope Pattern Generator adds a touch of wonder and elegance to your visual creations.

6. Emotion Infusion

Say goodbye to static and lifeless images, for Midjourney 5.2 brings your creations to life with the Emotion Infusion feature. Utilising state-of-the-art emotion recognition technology, this feature imbues your images with a range of emotions, breathing personality into every pixel. Witness the joyous laughter of children, the melancholic gaze of a lonely wanderer, or the fiery determination of an athlete in action. With Emotion Infusion, your images become windows to the soul, capturing the essence of human emotions.

7. Shorten command and Turbo mode explained

Two other features that deserve special mention are the ‘Shorten’ command and Turbo mode. The Shorten command serves as your prompt optimiser, pruning your prompts down to the most impactful keywords. It’s a valuable tool for ensuring the AI responds to the heart of your creative intent. Meanwhile, Turbo mode boosts the speed of image rendering. It’s a time-efficient feature, especially when you need quick results. Bear in mind that Turbo mode comes with a higher token cost, but it’s a trade-off many users find worthwhile.

Midjourney 5.2 takes image generation to a whole new level, elevating the art of visual storytelling to an enchanting experience. From transporting you to whimsical dreamscapes to rewinding time and shaping reality, this image generator offers a treasure trove of creative possibilities. Whether you’re an artist, designer, or simply a lover of all things magical, Midjourney 5.2 is the perfect companion on your journey.

Make sure you stay tuned to Digital Boom for more Midjourney updates.

Egypt’s Fuel Automatic Pricing Committee (FAPC) has announced an increase in the prices of various octanes by EGP 0.75 to EGP 1 per litre. The prices of diesel, on the other hand, will remain unchanged. This decision has been made in response to the volatility of Brent crude prices and fluctuations in the exchange rate of the pound against the dollar.

The FAPC, which is responsible for setting fuel prices in Egypt based on market conditions, reviews fuel prices every quarter. The new fuel prices will take effect immediately and are expected to impact millions of drivers across the country.

The Egyptian government had previously subsidized fuel prices to ease the financial burden on its citizens. However, the rising global oil prices and the weaker Egyptian pound have made it necessary for the government to adjust its pricing policy to reflect the changing economic conditions.

The recent fuel price hike is likely to have a significant impact on the cost of living for many Egyptians, who are already facing economic challenges due to various factors. Nevertheless, the FAPC remains committed to ensuring a fair pricing system that reflects the prevailing market conditions.

Egypt’s Fuel Automatic Pricing Committee (FAPC) has announced a 20% increase in the price of Mazut for non-electricity and bakery uses, from EGP 5,000 per ton to EGP 6,000 per ton. The price increase will impact various sectors, including power generation and the bakery industry.

Moreover, Egypt’s Fuel Automatic Pricing Committee (FAPC) has announced another increase in the price of natural gas for vehicles to EGP 4.50 per metre. This marks the first fuel price adjustment of 2023 by the committee, which convenes quarterly to assess petroleum product prices and provides non-committal recommendations for fuel price movement.

The FAPC’s last meeting in October 2022 resulted in a decision to maintain fuel prices until the end of December, following a previous increase in July 2022. Any price adjustments are limited to a cap of 10%.

As part of the IMF’s $3 billion loan programme, which commenced in late December, Egypt has committed to a flexible exchange rate monetary policy regime and eliminating fuel subsidies for each product subject to the mechanism in the FY2022/2023. Over the past year, the country refrained from formulaic decreases in fuel prices despite rising oil prices.

Despite the devaluation of the Egyptian pound, with one US dollar currently worth EGP 30.6, the average annual price of Brent crude oil was around $82.5 per barrel as of January 2023, according to Statista, approximately $18 lower than the average in 2022. The FAPC’s latest price adjustment reflects its ongoing efforts to ensure fair pricing in accordance with market conditions.

Paymob, the leading omnichannel payments gateway in the MENAP region, has appointed Imane Adel as Executive Vice President of Strategy. Adel will guide Paymob’s vision and strategy as it continues to deliver forward-thinking, sustainable, and inclusive financial technology solutions in the region.

Adel brings a wealth of experience and industry knowledge in fintech and payments. Before joining Paymob, she led Mastercard’s acceptance business in the MENA region and was integral in developing strategies to digitize cash-heavy market segments. Adel was an avid driver of Mastercard’s vision of a “World Beyond Cash.” She also developed & executed the Microlending & BNPL segment strategy in EEMEA. Before her time at Mastercard, Adel also held senior positions at Yahoo! and Visa.

Headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, Paymob is the largest payments facilitator in North Africa and employs 1,100 team members across MENAP. The company launched operations in Pakistan in 2021.

Its omnichannel gateway offers more than 30 payment methods. It empowers over 120,000 SME merchants to manage and scale their businesses by giving them access to financial services not readily available in emerging markets.

“Imane is a great addition to our senior leadership team,” said Islam Shawky, Paymob’s co-founder and CEO. “She is passionate about leading value-based digital transformation in our region, which delivers meaningful financial inclusion and literacy. Driving growth, transparency, and value creation across the ecosystem are core elements of our mission to fuel SMEs in the digital economy throughout MENAP,” he added.

“I am truly delighted to take on this key role at Paymob after closely observing the business flourish over the past few years and breaking many boundaries of what is possible,” Adel said. “I look forward to working with the team to build a better, more inclusive, and sustainable digital future.”

Adel holds a Master of Science in Strategic Planning from Edinburgh Business School and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the American University in Cairo.

Yesterday, Facebook released a new metric called “distribution score” to measure the performance of Facebook pages.

The company defined the new distribution score as:

Key metrics

• Audience retention/average minutes watched The average amount of time that viewers spent watching your video before they scrolled past or clicked away.
• 1-minute views The number of times that your video was watched for 1 minute or longer.
• Reactions The number of reactions (Likes, Loves, etc.) on your video post.
• Comments The number of comments that viewers posted on your video over a certain period of time.
• Shares The number of times that viewers shared your video over a certain period of time.

Startup incubators in the UAE are an integral part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Even for the most experienced of campaigners, building a business from scratch is an enormous task. Today, with more youth flocking to the ecosystem in the UAE, a helping hand is not only useful but necessary.

Startup incubators have many proven advantages. They act as a platform for the most innovative ideas to be spun into successful businesses. Such platforms often provide tertiary services that support a business under their membership. Thus they free up entrepreneurs to focus on fine-tuning their ideas.

They also act as learning hubs, fostering creative & tech minds under the same roof. Conversely, incubators act as tools for private investors & governments to find vetted startups that are ready to hatch. Startup incubators in the UAE provide a well-established network & infrastructure to carry forward businesses. Such support can be crucial to startups in different industries.

Six startup incubators in the UAE

Astrolabs

At its heart, Astrolabs is a co-working space that brings together digital technology companies. Its partnership with the Dubai Metals & Commodities Centre (DMCC) sets it apart.

Membership comes with a DMCC Free Zone Trade License, fast-track company setup, five residential visas and more. Their community spans businesses across the technology spectrum.

Robo advisors, custom earphone makers, tech concierge solutions and more under one roof. If you are a startup under the digital tech sector, this startup incubator is the right place for you.

Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Centre (DTEC)

Located at Silicon Oasis, DTEC is home to over 100 startups from more than 60 different countries. It is also home to the Dubai Smart City Accelerator, the first of its kind in the MENA region. Startup incubators are key to Dubai’s strategy of becoming the smartest city in the world by 2021.

DTEC actively looks for accelerator candidates within its ecosystem and has six global strategic partners. Its key focus is on IoT, AI, sustainability, urban automation and similar fields.

It is also host to the ‘Intelak’ aviation & travel incubator. If you have disruptive ideas that redefine the travel experience, this incubator is looking for you.

In5

In5 describes itself as “An enabling platform for entrepreneurs & start-ups”. It has 3 different innovation centers, for tech, media, and design for focused growth.

This startup incubator regularly hosts workshops and takes pride in its mentorship program. With top advisors from across the UAE & GCC on board, In5 provides a great capital of network to its startups.

They have partnerships with The Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI), The Dubai Design and Fashion Council (DDFC) and more. In5 is a great choice to groom ideas into businesses. It is an especially attractive destination for FinTech startups, with Remmitr being a featured member.

FinTech Hive

This UAE startup incubator was set up by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in January 2017. As the name suggests, it has a clear focus on supporting startups in the FinTech sector.

Its unique selling point is the seamless amalgamation of global businesses & innovative startups. Working towards its 2024 growth strategy, DIFC aims to take innovation from UAE truly global. An umbrella of partners comprising almost every global financial institution underlines the DIFC’s commitment.

Some of UAE’s most promising FinTech startups are alumni of this incubator, with Bridg at the forefront. FinTech Hive is the place to be for ideas that can transform the way the world interacts with their finances.

Turn8

With its 7-year history in the UAE, Turn8 is a startup incubator with an impressive list of alumni. It has invested in over 60 startups at the pre-seed level. Its network of VCs have raised over the US $4 million as co-investment.

As the above facts suggest, Turn8 focuses on nourishing startups from seed phase to the scale phase. Their extensive list of global mentors adds tremendous value and experience.

Turn8’s focus areas include some innovative niche sectors. The fields of 3D printing, nanotechnology, storage solutions, etc. are waiting for your big idea!

Techstars Dubai

As a fresh entrant to the UAE, it is Techstars’ global success that puts it on this list. Over its 12-year history, Techstars has grown to a scale of 30+ programs across the world.

It practices an inclusive & diverse philosophy, adding to a wealth of business experience. It enters Dubai in partnership with GINCO, the leading construction engineering conglomerate.

Major retailers Macy’s and Kohl’s have continued their sales on Cyber Monday, offering slashed prices in various departments including women’s, men’s and children’s clothing, home, kitchen appliances and more.

On December 2, customers shopping at Kohl’s can also get $15 worth of “Kohl’s Cash” for every $50 spent in-store or online on all regular-priced, sale and clearance items.

The Kohl’s Cash coupon will be sent to you via email and the coupon can be used for online purchases by entering the coupon code or be printed out to be used at a store checkout. The coupon is valid December 3 to December 9.

In addition, Kohl’s customers can get $10 off any online purchase of $50 or more on December 2 by entering promotional code JACKPOT at checkout, as well as an extra 20 percent discount for in-store or online purchases using the promotional code GOSHOP20 until December 4. See the Kohl’s website for full terms and conditions.

Here we look at some of the best Cyber Monday discounts at Macy’s and Kohl’s.

Electronics

Save $150 on a Polaroid 2900 Camera Drone, priced at $149.99 (reduced from $299.99) at Kohl’s

Save $70 on a Fitbit Versa 2 Smartwatch, priced at $129.99 (reduced from $199.99) at Kohl’s.

Get a $350 discount on a Canon EOS Rebel T6 DSLR camera, with EF-S 18-55mm, EF 75-300mm lenses and an 18-Megapixel sensor, priced at $399.99 (reduced from $749.99) at Kohl’s.

Bag an Xbox One Wireless Controller for $39.99 (reduced from $59.99) at Kohl’s.

Save $30 on JBL Live 400BT Wireless On-Ear Headphones, priced at $69.99 (reduced from $99.99) at Kohl’s.

Save $100 on a Swift Stream 33 inch Wi-Fi Camera Helicopter, priced at $99.99 (reduced from $199.99) at Kohl’s.

Home and kitchen appliances

Get an iRobot Roomba e5 Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum Bundle for $329.99 (reduced from $529.99) at Kohl’s.

Save 73 percent off a 14-piece nonstick cookware set from Rachel Ray, priced at $79.99 (reduced from $299.99) at Macy’s.

Save up to 70 percent on a selection of items from the Lenox Dinnerware Holiday Collection, priced from $5.99 (reduced from $20) to $410.99 (reduced from $1,176) at Macy’s.

Get an Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-in-1 programmable pressure cooker, priced from $89.99 (reduced from $99.99) to $159.99 (reduced from $189.99) at Kohl’s.

Save 48 percent on a Nespresso by Breville VertuoLine coffee & espresso machine, priced at $161.99 (reduced from $312.99) at Macy’s.

Save $500 on a European white goose down medium weight king-sized comforter from the Hotel Collection, priced at $379.99 (reduced from $880) at Macy’s.

Get 55 percent off a Charter Club Damask striped, king-sized 4-piece sheet set, made with 100 percent Supima cotton, priced at $89.99 (reduced from $200) at Macy’s.

Get a 38 percent discount on a KitchenAid 4.5 Qt. Classic Plus Stand Mixer KSM75, priced at $199.99 (reduced from $324.99) at Macy’s.

Clothing

Save 60 percent on a Michael Kors hooded long packable down puffer coat, priced at $95.99 (reduced from $240) at Macy’s.

Save $165 on a Tommy Hilfiger single-breasted peacoat, priced at $109.99 (reduced from $275) at Macy’s.

Bag a Polo Ralph Lauren men’s estate-rib quarter-zip pullover for $49.99 (reduced from $89.50) at Macy’s.

Get suit separates from the Calvin Klein Infinite Stretch Solid Slim Fit collection, priced from $49.99 (reduced from $125) to $173.99 (reduced from $450) at Macy’s.

Buy a pair of DKNY Abri Wedge Booties for women, priced at $74.99 (reduced from $119) at Macy’s.

Save 40 percent on Clarks Tilden Zip Waterproof Leather Boots for men, priced at $68.99 (reduced from $115) at Macy’s.

Get 50 percent off Kate Spade Phoebe Flats for women, priced at $49.99 (reduced from $99) at Macy’s.

Bag a pair of Nike Air Max Torch 4 running sneakers for men for $56.25 (reduced from $85) at Macy’s.

Source: NewsWeek

The inflight magazine of EgyptAir airline apologised over a confusing interview with actress Drew Barrymore that went viral after it was spotted by a passenger who was en-route to Cairo.

With misspellings and grammatical errors, led with a description of Barrymore as “being unstable in her relationships” and quoted her as saying that motherhood was “the most important role in my life.”

This interview with Drew Barrymore in the Egypt Air in flight magazine is, umm, surreal. pic.twitter.com/fN3lNHXbL0

— Adam Baron (@adammbaron) October 2, 2018

The quotes attributed to the actress are also rendered in imperfect English.

The airline, in a statement late Monday, said it has an agreement with Al-Ahram advertising agency, which edits articles and interviews for the Egyptian carrier’s in-flight magazine, Horus.

According to EgyptAir, the agency is “totally responsible” for the magazine’s editorial content.

The editor-in-chief of Horus magazine and the head of Ahram advertising agency which publishes it released a letter on Tuesday suggesting the problem lay in translating from English to Arabic and back again.

“We apologise for any misunderstanding that might be interpreted as an offence to the great artist,” they wrote.

A separate statement by the advertising agency said the introductory paragraphs of the purported interview were not written by the interviewer, Aida Tekla.

The bylined journalist, Aida Takla, tweeted on Oct. 3 that the magazine may have heavily edited her piece but: “This doesn’t negate the fact that the interview with Drew Barrimoor which took place in New York is genuine  and far from fake.”

This doesn't negate the fact that the interview with Drew Barrimoor which took place in New York is genuine &far from fake.
As far as Drew we interviewed her several times I saw her grow up before my eyes she is charming and talented.@EGYPTAIR

— Aida (@Aidatakla1) October 3, 2018

The editor and publisher did not directly answer claims the interview had been fabricated but said all material submitted in a foreign language is translated into Arabic and then into English.

As for the lead of the article, which says Barrymore “has been subconsciously seeking attention and care from a male figure”, they said any such introduction could be a “product of the editor’s creativity on the condition that it contains no information that is contrary to the truth.”

“We are about to investigate this by checking thoroughly the source-material that the translator depended on to write the interview,” they said.

U.S. press reports have quoted Barrymore’s representatives as denying any such interview took place, with some suggesting the author must have based her article on misinterpretations of a press conference.

Barrymore has yet to issue an official statement on the interview, but the Al-Ahram agency said a representative of the actress contacted Tekla about the interview to say that the American actress never spoke to Horus.

The representative did not know that Tekla, a senior member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, contributed to Horus, said the agency.

The article says Barrymore had failed relationships because her parents divorced.

“It is known that Barrymore had almost 17 relationships, engagements and marriages” psychologists believe that her behavior is only natural since she lacked the male role model in her life after her parents’ divorce,” Tekla wrote.

In another passage, she quoted Barrymore as being pleased with recent weight loss after having a second daughter. Another quote describes Barrymore as celebrating women’s achievements in “the West” because they handle tasks men cannot.

“Women exert tremendous efforts that men are incapable of exerting due to their numerous commitments and obligations,” the article quoted Barrymore as saying.

Reuters – Egypt’s Manpower Ministry ordered the closure of leading market research firm Ipsos’s business in the country, citing workplace health and safety violations, a ministry decree dated June 20 showed.

See Also: NGOs Ad Value Exceeds EGP 250 Million in Ramadan 2017

The decree was made public by local media late on Saturday. The spokesman confirmed its authenticity to Reuters. He said Cairo local authorities had not yet carried out the order.

“As of June 20, 2017, Ipsos Egypt for Consulting Services is to be shut down completely for not carrying out a natural disasters assessment and not making a contingency plan to protect the building and employees in case of a disaster,” stated the decree.

Ipsos, a global market research firm headquartered in France, conducts audience research on Egyptian television networks and provides the results to advertisers.

Egypt’s Interior Ministry last year warned citizens against taking part in surveys conducted by foreign media organizations, saying it was a threat to national security.

An Ipsos official in Egypt who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the closure order on Sunday but said the company would not comment publicly on the matter.

“What I can tell you is we have no work safety violations whatsoever, these are all false claims,” he told Reuters.

Ipsos officials in France were not immediately available for comment.

The company had been criticized by pro-government talk show hosts and state-aligned newspapers, which accuse it of sympathizing with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, links to foreign intelligence agencies, labor law violations and tax evasion, all of which it denies.

The media organizations say Ipsos misrepresents their ratings, showing them to be lower for political reasons, which the company denies. In parliament last month, MPs in the pro-government majority coalition called Ipsos reports biased.

Administrative court rejected on Monday a government plan to transfer two uninhabited Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, in a final ruling that prompted cheers in the courtroom but could deepen tensions with the country’s erstwhile financial backer.

Egypt’s government announced during a visit by the Saudi king in April a maritime demarcation accord that would see it cede control of Tiran and Sanafir.

The deal prompted protests from Egyptians who said they had been taught in school that the islands belonged to them.

It has become a source of tension between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which showered its ally with tens of billions of dollars in aid in recent years but suspended petroleum supplies in September amid growing differences.

Two leading lawyers challenged the legality of the accord at the Higher Administrative Court, a powerful judicial body which deals with cases involving the government and public entities.

In June, the court annulled the agreement, saying Egyptian sovereignty over the islands could not be given up.

The Egyptian government received a boost last month when the court upheld its appeal but it lost the final appeal on Monday.

Celebrations erupted as the judge read out the verdict confirming Egyptian sovereignty over Tiran and Sanafir and saying that the government had failed to provide evidence that the islands belonged to Saudi Arabia.

Outside the courthouse, hundreds of people waving Egyptian flags chanted “Egyptian, Egyptian” and “Bread, Freedom, the islands are Egyptian”.

Khaled Ali and Malek Adly, the two human rights lawyers who led the legal challenge to the government’s plan, were carried out of the courtroom by jubilant supporters.

“This verdict is a victory for Egypt,” Adly said.

There was no immediate response from the government.

Saudi and Egyptian officials had argued that the islands belonged to Saudi Arabia and were only under Egyptian control because Riyadh asked Cairo in 1950 to protect them.

But the lawyers who opposed the accord said Egypt’s sovereignty over the islands dated back to a treaty in 1906, before Saudi Arabia was founded.