Cairo Hosts Major AI Summit for Middle East and Africa

Cairo is stepping into the spotlight as the hub for artificial intelligence progress in the Middle East and Africa. From February 11-12, the city will host Ai Everything MEA, a gathering designed to move AI from boardroom buzzword to tangible solutions that improve daily life.

The event comes at a pivotal moment for Egypt. The country just launched its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025-2030, betting that smart technology can modernize public services and boost economic growth.

Organized by GITEX GLOBAL and Egypt's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the summit tackles AI through a practical lens. Instead of abstract predictions about the future, sessions focus on what's working now and what needs to happen next.

Healthcare gets special attention with AI DigiHealth and Biotech tracks exploring how algorithms can speed up disease detection and help discover new medicines. For regions where patients often travel hours to see specialists, AI-powered diagnostics could bring expert-level care to remote clinics.

The AI Government theme examines how data-driven tools can make public services faster and more responsive. Cities across the region are testing AI systems for urban planning, safety monitoring, and streamlining citizen requests that once required days of paperwork.

Financial inclusion takes center stage too. AI Digital Finance sessions will showcase how smart systems detect fraud, assess lending risk, and expand banking access to people previously left out of formal financial systems.

The Ripple Effect

What makes this summit different is its focus on infrastructure that makes AI possible. Sessions on AI Semicon dive into chip manufacturing and supply chains, acknowledging that sophisticated software means little without the hardware to run it. Discussions about data centers and connectivity highlight the unsexy but essential building blocks of the AI revolution.

The creative economy gets its moment through sessions on AI in arts, music, and content creation. These conversations grapple with tough questions about protecting artists while embracing new tools that can democratize creative production.

Robotics and autonomous systems bring AI into the physical world through factory floors, delivery networks, and transportation. These applications promise efficiency gains but also raise important questions about workforce transitions and safety standards.

With participants from more than 60 countries, the event creates space for entrepreneurs, researchers, policymakers, and investors to share what's working in their contexts. For Africa and the Middle East, where technological leapfrogging has already transformed mobile banking and connectivity, AI represents the next frontier of practical progress that can improve millions of lives.