AI Everything MEA 2026: Egypt paves the way to become Africa’s AI epicenter

• Already ranking top 10 globally on AI usage, Egypt is inviting players in the emerging tech to explore best use cases even as it woos investments in deep tech as Cairo evolves into hub of innovation.
• Organised by GITEX GLOBAL, flagship Ai Everything MEA expo in February 2026 is poised to become the most empowering AI tech week across the Middle East and Africa.
• Tech heavyweights trailblazing AI adoption such as Atos, Cyshield, HPE, and IBM are expected to showcase at the event.

As the spirited push for the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across Africa gets underway, Egypt has stepped forward, announcing plans to host AI tech week, a global forum that is poised to attract stakeholders in the continent’s AI ecosystem next year.

Scheduled for 10 to 12 February 2026 in Cairo, organizers of AI Everything Middle East and Africa (MEA) showcase say the expo will seek to demonstrate how economies can borrow a leaf from Egypt in embedding AI applications across various segments of their economy.

At the moment, Egypt ranks among the top 10 countries internationally in AI and Machine Learning, and the only African country in that category under the 2024 GBS World Competitiveness Index.

The report shows that players across Egypt’s economic ecosystem are leading the charge in fusing AI in key industries under the northern Africa’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2025-2030).

AI Everything MEA to attract AI enterprises, startups, thought-leaders, and decision-makers

Organized by GITEX GLOBAL, and hosted by Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and held in strategic partnership with the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), Ai Everything MEA showcase will see the meeting of leading AI enterprises, startups, thought-leaders, and decision-makers drawn from over 60 countries.

Dr. Amr Talaat, Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology stated: “Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the architecture of global competitiveness, and Egypt is determined to not only adapt to this shift – but to shape it. Our National AI Strategy reflects a bold vision: to position Egypt as a leading force in responsible AI adoption, policy innovation, and inclusive digital development.”

According to the organizers, AI Everything will demonstrate AI use cases and frontier technologies that are already in use in the northern Africa country. These applications of AI are in sync with the country’s national AI agenda and sector leadership, tailored to address specific needs such as outsourcing and shared services, semiconductor design, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, manufacturing, digital health, fintech, energy, education, and digital public services.

The forum will cement Egypt’s position as a regional fortress in fostering collaboration in AI applications, further connecting international experts and better fusing national development goals with the need to speed up adoption of emerging technologies.

According to Egypt’s ministry of ICT, the nation is fast-tracking the growth of its digital economy by among others scouting for investors keen on deep-tech innovation and investments.

Egypt as centre for AI-led innovation and co-creation

Additionally, AI Everything MEA conference will mark a strategic milestone in the nation’s push to position itself as a regional leader, and centre for innovation and co-creation.

“Egypt is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing AI for public good across our region. Ai Everything Middle East & Africa offers a timely platform to align global expertise with national priorities — and to accelerate meaningful deployment of AI across sectors that matter most to our citizens,” stated the minister.

Additionally, Eng. Ahmed El Zaher, CEO of ITIDA, commented: “This event embodies our commitment to placing Egypt at the heart of the global tech conversation, by attracting deep-tech investments, empowering local startups, and nurturing an ecosystem where transformative ideas turn into real-world solutions. Hosting this global summit in Cairo reinforces Egypt’s ambition to be a key contributor in shaping the future of AI, forging impactful partnerships that scale technology from our region to the world.”

Trixie LohMirmand, EVP of Dubai World Trade Centre, global organizer of GITEX, added: AI has leveled the digital playing field, and new opportunities are emerging for countries. Egypt is intent on harnessing this tech uplifphenomenon to regenerate its social fabric and economic landscape, forging a future where innovation ts its citizens and redefines the nation’s global stature.  Ai Everything MEA shall be the force multiplier to support Egypt’s most strategic AI mission to build empowering outcomes at scale.”

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Egypt’s AI-ledtransformation journey

AI Everything MEA is structured to open with a high-level summit in a two-day immersive expo that aims at speeding up collaborative AI research and development, industry applications, and the growth of startups.

Equally, the summit will spotlight global investment inflows in the segment while also highlighting opportunities and challenges in digital capacity-building. According to the organizers, tech heavyweights trailblazing AI adoption and usage in the region and globally such as Atos, Cyshield, HPE, and IBM are expected to showcase at the flagship AI event in Egypt.

What’s more, at least 200 venture capitalists from the GITEX network, who are currently managing over US$1 trillion in assets, are expected to explore investment opportunities in Egyptian and regional startups.

Additionally, one of the region’s largest youth-tech academy will also be launched, channeling fresh engineering talent into pilot projects and mentorship programs – empowering Egypt’s annual pool of over 750,000 university graduates.

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