Egypt is once again taking a leading role in Africa’s artificial intelligence journey. The country is set to host Ai Everything MEA Egypt 2026, the first all-AI expo and summit of the year. Announced just four months ago, the event has already gathered a global AI community, making it one of the biggest AI showcases in Egypt before it officially starts on February 11-12, 2026. The event will be held at the Egypt International Exhibition Center and is organized by GITEX, one of the world’s largest tech and AI events networks. Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, along with ITIDA, are partnering to make it happen.

Why Egypt’s AI Push Matters

This summit comes at a crucial moment for Africa, where AI is expected to add over US$1.5 trillion to the continent’s GDP by 2030. Governments across Africa are investing heavily in cloud computing, digital services, and industrial intelligence to keep pace with the global AI revolution. Egypt stands out as a regional leader, especially as the only Arab country in Africa ranked first for Government AI Readiness and third for AI Resilience in the Arab world. Egypt is also known for pioneering Arabic-first AI models, making it a key hub connecting Africa, the Levant, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The event aims to support Egypt’s national AI strategy by attracting international investments, fostering local talent, and turning AI innovations into real economic gains across various sectors. It aligns with the country’s Second National AI Strategy, helping Egypt strengthen its sovereign AI capabilities and position itself as a rising digital economy on the global stage.

Global and Regional Tech Leaders Show Support

More than 350 AI companies and startups from over 30 countries are expected to participate. They will showcase AI deployments in areas like cloud computing, cybersecurity, healthcare, finance, public services, and transportation. Major global tech giants such as Microsoft, Cisco, AWS, HPE, Red Hat, Capgemini, Dataiku, and Fortinet will be present. Regional companies from the Middle East, such as Alkan, Cyshield, and Link DataCenter, will also join the event. Several regional startups, including WideBot AI—MENA’s leading Arabic-first AI-as-a-Service platform—will debut AI solutions tailored for the Middle East and North Africa. Other notable companies like EZELINK, Odoo, Ziwo, Zakaa, and Barq Systems will also participate, highlighting the region’s growing AI ecosystem.

Mohamed El Kassem, General Manager of Microsoft Egypt, emphasized Egypt’s emerging role in AI. He noted that generative AI is transforming what countries can do, and Egypt is confidently stepping into that future. Companies like Microsoft are committed to supporting Egypt’s government, businesses, and young innovators with secure AI tools and resources, fostering a vibrant AI community in the country.

This summit is more than just a showcase; it’s a step towards turning Egypt into a regional AI hub. By bringing together international leaders, startups, and government officials, the event aims to accelerate AI adoption and innovation across Africa and the Middle East, helping the region unlock new economic opportunities and technological breakthroughs.

Inspired by

• https://ai-techpark.com/africa-middle-east-reinforce-1-5t-ai-ambitions-at-egypt-summit/