Egypt has set its sights on becoming the Middle East’s hub for artificial intelligence (AI) with the unveiling of its second National AI Strategy. During the announcement, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi emphasized the transformative role of AI in driving global progress.
“We live in an era where AI lies at the core of global development, reshaping every aspect of life and unlocking unprecedented opportunities for sustainable growth,” El-Sisi said in his opening remarks.
The updated strategy builds on the foundation laid by the first edition launched in May 2021, which prioritized integrating its tool into education, enhancing professional skills, and fostering international collaborations. This second phase, however, goes a step further, projecting significant advancements for Egypt’s workforce and AI research capabilities.
By 2030, up to 26% of Egypt’s workforce, currently categorized as underutilized, will gain from the adoption of these tools and applications. The strategy also aims to grow the number of this tool professionals to 30,000 and double the annual volume of AI-related publications to 6,000. This expansion is expected to position Egypt as a regional research hub and a key player in this innovation.
El-Sisi stressed Egypt’s commitment to excellence in the field, highlighting the importance of skill development and capacity building to meet international standards. “Our goal is to cement Egypt’s role as a leader in AI across the Middle East and Africa while contributing meaningfully on the global stage,” he stated.
While Egypt accelerates its artificial intelligence ambitions, the broader region faces challenges in managing carbon emissions. The report underscores that many Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) energy firms still lack comprehensive carbon accounting systems at both corporate and product levels. This shortfall, combined with the ongoing development of regulatory frameworks in GCC countries, complicates accurate emissions reporting, particularly for shared facilities in complex operations.
Despite these obstacles, Egypt’s bold tech strategy reflects its commitment to sustainable progress and innovation, aiming to reshape its economic and technological landscape while leading the way in the Middle East’s AI transformation.
