Egypt will host the inaugural edition of “AI Everything Middle East & Africa,” a major international summit and exhibition focused on artificial intelligence, taking place from February 10 to 12, 2026.

Organized by GITEX GLOBAL in partnership with the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), the event is expected to attract participants from over 60 countries, making it one of the most significant technology gatherings in the region.

The summit will bring together government leaders, global tech companies, startups, investors, and AI experts to explore emerging applications of artificial intelligence across various sectors, facilitate policy dialogue, and encourage investment and international collaboration.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Amr Talaat, highlighted the importance of the summit as a reflection of Egypt’s advancing role in the regional and global tech ecosystem.

He emphasized that Egypt’s digital transformation strategy places artificial intelligence at its core, recognizing its potential to drive economic growth, support sustainable development, and increase global competitiveness.

Dr. Talaat also noted that Egypt’s hosting of the summit underlines growing international confidence in the country’s digital capabilities and human capital, as well as its commitment to actively contributing to global efforts in developing and deploying responsible AI technologies.

The AI Everything MEA 2026 agenda includes a high-level ministerial summit on AI policies, an international exhibition of advanced technologies, and multiple expert-led sessions focused on key areas such as large language models, machine learning, cloud computing, and AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things). These sessions are designed to encourage cross-sector collaboration and accelerate the adoption of AI in critical areas like healthcare, education, transportation, and industry.

As part of its focus on innovation and talent development, the summit will feature an innovation hackathon targeting young tech professionals. Participants will receive mentorship and technical guidance to help them transform their AI ideas into viable, practical solutions.

The event will also provide networking opportunities with more than 200 global investors, including leading venture capital funds affiliated with the GITEX GLOBAL network.

Eng. Ahmed Elzaher, CEO of ITIDA, described the summit as a strategic milestone in positioning Egypt as a regional hub for artificial intelligence, innovation, and digital development. He explained that the event supports ITIDA’s long-term mission to embed Egypt at the center of global tech dialogue and establish the country as a key contributor to shaping the future of AI.

According to the CEO, the summit plays a pivotal role in enabling Egyptian startups and tech firms to build AI capabilities, access international markets, and form meaningful partnerships.

He also emphasized that AI is becoming increasingly central to a wide range of economic sectors, not just the technology industry, and that enabling local businesses to adopt AI tools is essential for long-term, sustainable growth.

The summit builds on several national efforts already underway to boost Egypt’s AI readiness. These include the launch of two editions of the National AI Strategy, the formation of the National Council for Artificial Intelligence, and the creation of the Applied Innovation Center, which focuses on AI research, experimentation, and commercialization.

In parallel, Egypt has continued to invest in digital infrastructure and in developing a highly skilled workforce capable of applying AI across various sectors.

These foundations are intended to support Egypt’s ambition to lead the regional digital transformation and position itself as a technology exporter in the AI domain.