Entlaq and El Gouna Red Sea by Orascom Development have renewed their strategic partnership to host the fourth edition of the Egyptian Entrepreneurship Sector Diagnostics Report (SDR) 2026 Summit, an initiative aimed at strengthening Egypt’s entrepreneurship ecosystem through data, innovation, investment and collaboration.
The summit, which will take place from September 10 to 12, 2026, in El Gouna under the theme “Data × Innovation: Re-imagining Egypt’s Entrepreneurship Landscape,” is expected to bring together more than 500 participants from over 12 countries. These will include government officials, investors, startup founders, development institutions, venture capital funds, corporates and innovation ecosystem leaders.
The event has become one of Egypt’s leading entrepreneurship and innovation gatherings, providing a platform for stakeholders to discuss challenges facing startups, explore investment opportunities and examine the latest research and data shaping the country’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Beyond being a networking event, the summit is designed to serve as a catalyst for economic growth by helping policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs and development organizations make informed decisions based on reliable data and sector insights. The annual report has increasingly become an important reference for understanding Egypt’s startup environment and identifying opportunities that can drive innovation-led development.
Building a Data-Driven Future for Entrepreneurship
According to Omar Rezk, Managing Director of Entlaq, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to creating meaningful dialogue and stronger collaboration across the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
“We are proud of our partnership with El Gouna by Orascom Development to host the Summit, especially given what El Gouna represents as a leading model combining sustainability, innovation, and quality of experience,” he said.
Rezk noted that bringing together decision-makers, investors and entrepreneurs requires the right environment to encourage productive conversations and partnerships.
“We believe that building impactful dialogues and genuine partnerships requires an environment that brings together decision-makers, investors and entrepreneurs in an inspiring and distinctive space, which El Gouna provides in an exceptional way,” he added.
He further emphasized the importance of the SDR Report itself, describing it as “an important step toward building a data-driven national reference” that can support policy development and strengthen Egypt’s position as a regional center for innovation and investment.
The 2026 edition of the report will cover ten of Egypt’s fifteen key economic sectors, including FinTech, Artificial Intelligence, HealthTech, AgriFood, CleanTech, EdTech, Tourism, Creative Economy, Logistics and Mobility, as well as Policy and Ecosystem Development. The sectors were selected to align with Egypt’s economic priorities and development agenda.
El Gouna Reinforces Its Role as a Hub for Innovation and Investment
For the second consecutive year, El Gouna has been selected as the host destination, reflecting its growing reputation as a center for sustainability, innovation and business development.
Haytham Samir, Chief Commercial Officer at El Gouna, said hosting the summit again highlights the destination’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and cross-sector collaboration.
“Hosting the SDR Summit for the second consecutive year reflects El Gouna’s long-standing role as a hub that supports business growth, innovation and cross-sector collaboration,” he said.
Samir pointed to the success of the previous edition and its international reach as key reasons for continuing the partnership.
“Beyond tourism and hospitality, El Gouna stands as a model for how integrated destinations can contribute to economic development by creating an environment where businesses, entrepreneurs and emerging industries are able to grow and thrive within a connected ecosystem,” he said.
He added that the partnership aligns with El Gouna’s broader vision of supporting innovation and sustainable economic growth across Egypt and the wider region.
Organizers selected El Gouna because of its world-class infrastructure and its experience in sustainability, tourism and innovation. The destination also offers an environment that encourages dialogue, relationship-building and partnership creation, reinforcing the summit’s role as a meeting point for key players in entrepreneurship and investment.
The summit will officially begin on September 10 with the launch of the SDR 2026 report, followed by a high-level dialogue involving government representatives, policymakers, investment funds, financial institutions and multinational companies. An official reception will conclude the opening day.
Over the following two days, participants will engage in sector-focused discussions, networking activities, partnership-building sessions and exclusive investment events that will connect leading regional and international venture capital funds with some of Egypt’s most promising startups.
With participation expected from 15 to 20 international investors and more than 29 speakers, the summit is expected to play a significant role in shaping conversations around entrepreneurship, innovation and investment in Egypt while creating new opportunities for startups and businesses seeking growth in one of the region’s most dynamic markets.
