How Cairo is positioning itself as a regional intelligence hub

Artificial intelligence in Egypt has moved decisively from aspiration to infrastructure. Once discussed largely as a future ambition, AI is now shaping national economic policy, investment priorities and public debate. Across government, enterprise and civil society, it has become a strategic lever for competitiveness, technological sovereignty and long-term growth.

This evolution explains why Cairo is increasingly viewed as a focal point for regional AI collaboration and investment. In early 2026, that momentum will be reinforced by the launch of Ai Everything Middle East & Africa (MEA) Egypt, a large-scale, AI-first platform bringing together governments, global technology firms, investors and startups in the Egyptian capital.

Organised by GITEX GLOBAL, the world’s largest technology and AI events network, and hosted by Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) in partnership with the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), the event signals Egypt’s intent to play a convening role in shaping the region’s intelligent future.

From digital services hub to AI infrastructure economy

Egypt already occupies a critical position in the global digital services economy, ranking among the world’s leading outsourcing destinations. Each year, the country produces more than 750,000 university graduates, many specialising in engineering and ICT disciplines. This deep talent pool is now being channelled into AI-enabled services, cloud operations and applied research.

According to the Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index, Egypt ranks first in Africa for AI readiness, driven by policy maturity, skills development and public-sector adoption. Meanwhile, Fitch Solutions forecasts that growth in cloud, cybersecurity and data services will push Egypt’s ICT market beyond US$9 billion by 2030.

This trajectory is underpinned by Egypt’s Second National AI Strategy (2025–2030), which explicitly frames AI as a sovereign capability. The strategy prioritises access to compute, local model development, data governance and sector-level deployment, reflecting a shift from experimentation to national infrastructure planning.

Combined with United Nations Development Programme estimates that AI could add US$1.5 trillion to Africa’s GDP by the end of the decade, Egypt’s policy choices around AI are no longer theoretical—they are economically consequential.

Sovereign intelligence

Sovereignty has emerged as a defining theme in Egypt’s AI agenda. As generative AI models become larger and more resource-intensive, questions around data localisation, model training and governance have moved firmly into mainstream policy discussions.

This has accelerated investment in sovereign cloud infrastructure, regional data centres and energy-efficient compute architecture. Egypt’s geography, energy mix and digital connectivity position it as a practical base for serving Africa, the Middle East and parts of Europe. As a result, global AI and infrastructure providers are showing growing interest in partnerships that combine local talent, compliant hosting environments and regional reach.

Applied AI with measurable impact

Unlike markets dominated by consumer-facing AI tools, Egypt’s focus remains firmly applied. Priority sectors include financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, agriculture and public administration, areas where automation, predictive analytics and computer vision can deliver immediate productivity gains.

Of particular significance is the rise of local AI startups developing Arabic language models, computer vision systems and enterprise automation tools. Arabic remains under-represented in global AI systems, creating both a commercial opportunity and a strategic imperative. Locally trained models offer improved linguistic accuracy, cultural relevance and regulatory alignment.

Investor appetite reflects this pragmatism, with regional and international capital increasingly directed towards infrastructure-level solutions rather than consumer novelty.

Cairo as a platform for global AI dialogue

Against this backdrop, Cairo’s emergence as a convening hub for AI governance and deal-making is structural rather than symbolic. Large-scale AI gatherings now function as marketplaces for policy alignment, investment and infrastructure partnerships.

Ai Everything MEA Egypt, taking place in Cairo on 11–12 February 2026, reflects this recalibration. Its flagship Summit will convene leaders from institutions including the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Cerebras, HCLTech, FIS and Tenstorrent.

Alongside the Summit, global technology leaders and high-growth startups will showcase live AI use cases across multiple sectors. Participants include Fortune 500 companies such as AWS, Capgemini, Cisco, HPE and Microsoft, alongside cloud, AI and cybersecurity specialists including Dataiku, e&, Fortinet, F5 Networks, Red Hat, SentinelOne and Trend Micro.

By bringing policymakers, hyperscalers, startups and investors into a single forum, the event aligns global expertise with Egypt’s national priorities and regional demand.

Egypt’s AI momentum is tangible, but its long-term positioning will depend on sustained investment in skills, energy capacity, regulatory clarity and public trust. What is already clear, however, is that AI in Egypt has moved well beyond experimentation.

As AI becomes embedded in how nations compete and collaborate, Cairo’s role as host of Ai Everything Middle East & Africa reflects a deeper reality: Egypt is no longer on the margins of the AI economy, but firmly at its negotiating table and development forefront.