Egypt is placing greater focus on its startup ecosystem as it seeks to help companies grow locally before expanding into the UAE, Saudi Arabia and wider MENA markets, according to comments by entrepreneurship consultant Essam Hawash.
Speaking on the Al Oula program “Economy 24,” Hawash said startups need capital, supportive policies and an environment that enables growth and expansion. He added that their core objectives are to scale and increase their value.
Hawash pointed to a significant difference in startup funding flows between Egypt and the UAE. The UAE recorded a 67% increase in capital flows to startups in 2025, he said, while more than 2,000 startups were part of the country’s ecosystem, most of them founded by Egyptians.
Egypt is working to build its own startups and retain them in the local market before supporting their expansion into regional markets, Hawash said. The government has also started giving the sector greater attention, alongside increased involvement from investors and major business leaders seeking to support startups.
Source: El Balad
