
Egypt has announced its intention to lead in promoting artificial intelligence (AI) for the public good across the Middle East and Africa. This initiative is supported by a comprehensive national roadmap to drive AI-related transformation.
Amr Talaat, Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, made the announcement ahead of the upcoming AI Everything MEA event in February 2026.
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) will organise the event in collaboration with the Information Technology Industry Development Agency and GITEX GLOBAL.
Minister Talaat emphasised that AI is significantly changing the dynamics of global competition. He stated that Egypt is committed to adapting to these changes and taking an active role in shaping them.
“Our National AI Strategy embodies a visionary aim: to establish Egypt as a key player in responsible AI adoption, driving policy innovation, and fostering inclusive digital development,” he remarked.
In parallel, the MCIT has introduced a national technology competition named Digitopia. This initiative has already seen over 25,000 participants registered for its inaugural edition. The contest is open to a broad demographic, welcoming contestants from 10-year-old students to young entrepreneurs aged 35 and under.
With prizes totalling over US$205,000, including a grand prize of over US$20,500, the contest has garnered participation from over 6,500 teams across Egypt. These teams will compete in various digital categories, such as software and AI solutions, digital arts and gaming, and cybersecurity.