Artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities for Egyptian startups, but it is also raising the bar for competition, according to Ahmed El Daher, CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA).
Speaking at Techne Summit Alexandria 2026, El Daher said access to AI models does not give companies equal competitive strength. The advantage, he said, comes from understanding real problems and building products with lasting value, supported by specialised data, sector expertise and strong customer relationships.
He identified healthcare, education, fintech, agriculture and government services as key areas for innovation in Egypt. Local market knowledge can help founders build solutions for domestic needs before expanding into regional and international markets, according to the announcement.
Egypt’s information and communications technology sector recorded 19.2% growth, El Daher said. He outlined four areas needed to help startups benefit from AI: skills and knowledge, research and development resources, testing in real-world environments, and the ability to scale.
ITIDA and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology are supporting access to training, cloud services and computing resources, including through the AWS partnership under the StartIT programme. El Daher also said the ministry is preparing an AI competition focused on real-world challenges.
The national AI strategy for 2025-2030 aims to support the creation of 250 AI-based startups by 2030. ITIDA’s support includes the CREATIVA innovation hubs, partnerships with Plug and Play and 500 Global, and the Venture Ready programme in the Delta, launched with GIZ.
Source: Youm7
