Nawal El-Degwy: A Symbol of Private Education in Egypt
Nawal Osman Saleh El-Degwy was born in 1937 in Cairo into an educated and academic family. Her father was a philosophy professor and a school principal, instilling in her the values of education and ambition from a young age.



Beginning Her Educational Journey
At the age of 21, she founded the first private language school in Egypt, which later became the foundation of “Dar Al-Tarbeya,” one of the country’s most prominent private schools, with a strong focus on quality education and student skill development.



Founding October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA)
In 1996, she launched MSA University, one of Egypt’s first private universities, establishing partnerships with prestigious British universities that enabled students to earn internationally recognized degrees.

Building an Educational and Investment Empire
Nawal successfully transformed her educational career into a vast educational and investment empire, making her one of the leading businesswomen in Egypt’s private education sector.

The Controversial Theft Case
In May 2025, a major theft occurred at Nawal’s home in 6th of October City, where jewelry and cash valued at approximately 250 million Egyptian pounds were stolen. The case caused a significant media uproar, with security investigations focusing on the possible involvement of close associates.

Her Social and Cultural Contributions

Besides education, Nawal supported various charitable projects and organized cultural and artistic events at the Cairo Opera House to showcase her students’ talents, further enhancing her societal standing.