Egypt is moving decisively to position itself at the centre of Africa and the Middle East’s artificial intelligence economy, announcing it will host the region’s first dedicated, all-AI global summit at a moment when the technology is expected to become one of the largest drivers of economic growth across emerging markets.
The inaugural AI Everything Middle East & Africa – Egypt 2026 will take place on 11–12 February 2026 at the Egypt International Exhibition Center (EIEC) in Cairo, bringing together more than 350 global enterprises, startups, investors and innovation showcases from over 30 countries. Organisers say the event comes as AI is projected to contribute approximately US$1.5 trillion to Africa’s economy by 2030, underscoring the scale of opportunity now opening up across the continent and its neighbouring regions.
The summit is organised under the umbrella of GITEX, the world’s largest technology and AI events network. It is hosted by Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) in collaboration with the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA). It marks the first time the globally recognised AI Everything platform will be staged in Africa.
For Egypt, the hosting rights represent more than a symbolic win. They signal the country’s growing influence in shaping how AI is adopted, governed and commercialised across emerging markets that are often under-represented in global technology conversations.
According to the Oxford Insights Index, Egypt ranks first in Africa for Government AI Readiness and third in the Arab region for AI Resilience. The country is increasingly seen as a strategic gateway linking Africa and the Middle East, while also playing a leading role in the development of Arabic-language AI solutions, a segment of the market that has long lagged behind English and Mandarin systems.
The summit is designed to support the rollout of Egypt’s Second National AI Strategy, with a clear commercial and economic mandate: attract foreign and regional investment, accelerate knowledge transfer and connect local innovation with global markets.
Enterprise, Infrastructure and Real-world Use Cases
Ai Everything MEA Egypt 2026 will showcase real-world AI applications across cloud computing, cybersecurity, data centres, telecommunications, government services, healthcare, smart mobility, fintech and digital payments, sectors that are increasingly converging as AI becomes embedded in core infrastructure rather than remaining a standalone technology.
Global technology leaders confirmed to participate include Microsoft, Cisco, HPE, Red Hat, Amazon Web Services, Capgemini, Dataiku, e& Egypt and Fortinet, alongside regional players such as Alkan, CyShield and Link Data Center. Cairo will also host a growing cohort of AI-first companies using the summit as a launchpad into African and Middle Eastern markets, including WideBot AI, EZELINK, Odoo, ZIWO, Zakaa and Barq Systems.
For multinational firms, the appeal lies in Egypt’s combination of scale, skills and proximity to high-growth markets. For African and regional startups, the summit offers rare access to global buyers, investors and policymakers in one place.
Mohamed El Kassem, General Manager of Microsoft Egypt, framed the opportunity in strategic terms.
“Artificial intelligence represents a strategic opportunity for countries with a clear vision for adoption,” he said. “Egypt continues to move confidently toward building an AI-driven economy, supported by strong digital infrastructure and a growing pool of young talent that enables it to compete on a global scale.”
Hazem Metwally, CEO of e& Egypt, pointed to the productivity gains already emerging from enterprise AI adoption.
“AI has the potential of reshaping how businesses operate and accelerate productivity,” he said. “Ai Everything MEA Egypt comes at a pivotal moment, and e& Egypt is proud to be part of its inaugural edition, bringing integrated AI, cloud and communication services that accelerate long-term, technology-led growth for Egypt.”
African Entrepreneurship Moves to the Centre
The timing of the summit coincides with a surge in Egypt’s startup ecosystem. Egyptian startups accounted for approximately 31% of total African startup funding in the first half of 2025, according to industry data, placing the country among the continent’s most active venture markets alongside Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.
Participating startups reflect the increasingly international nature of Africa’s AI scene. They include UK-based Emotii, Germany’s Imensus and Egyptian firm Olimi AI, which specialises in voice AI solutions capable of understanding multiple Arabic dialects a critical capability for scaling AI adoption across the Middle East and North Africa.
Shaden El Olimi, Chief Commercial Officer at Olimi AI, emphasised the importance of localisation in AI development.
“Success in AI depends on rapid iteration, a deep understanding of real customer needs, and building solutions that truly reflect local and linguistic context,” she said. “Ai Everything provides a unique platform to demonstrate how Arabic-speaking AI can deliver tangible, real-world impact across industries.”
This focus on language, culture and context reflects a broader shift in African entrepreneurship: away from importing generic technology solutions and towards building products rooted in local realities, but scalable globally.
Policy, Finance and Governance in Focus
Beyond enterprise showcases, the summit will convene senior policymakers, financiers and AI infrastructure experts to address the economic and social implications of AI adoption in emerging markets.
Confirmed participants include Dr Michel Rogy, Digital Development Practice Head for Africa and the Middle East at the World Bank, Zsuzsanna Hargitai, Managing Director for SME Finance and Development at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Marc Zakher, Vice President and General Manager for the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa at Cerebras and Amr Elashmawi, Global Head and Vice President of Strategic Markets and Partnerships at Tenstorrent.
Discussions on AI governance and responsible deployment will feature Golestan Radwan, Chief Digital Officer at the United Nations Environment Programme and Dr Heather Domin, Vice President and Head of the Office of Responsible AI and Governance at HCLTech.
Their presence highlights a growing recognition that AI’s economic upside, estimated at US$1.5 trillion across Africa and the Middle East, will depend not only on capital and code but also on regulatory clarity, ethical frameworks and sustainable infrastructure.
A Signal Moment for the Region
As global investment in AI infrastructure accelerates, Egypt’s move to host the region’s first all-AI summit signals a shift in where the next phase of growth is expected to come from. For Africa, long framed as a passive consumer of global technology, the continent is becoming a site of production, innovation and policy leadership in its own right.
With Cairo positioning itself as a convening point for capital, talent and ideas, Ai Everything MEA Egypt 2026 is set to become a defining moment for African-led entrepreneurship and a test of whether the region can convert AI ambition into lasting economic transformation.
