The activities of the 30th edition of the Cairo International Technology exhibition and conference (Cairo ICT 2026) concluded, held under the patronage and in the presence of Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Egyptian Prime Minister. This edition witnessed wide government and international momentum with the participation of 9 ministers, 29 deputies and heads of authorities, along with high-level delegations from Arab and African organizations and officials from Lebanon and Iraq, reinforcing the exhibition's position as a leading regional platform in the communications and information technology sector.
Record Growth in Visitor Numbers and Participation
The current edition recorded significant growth in purchasing power and public interest, as the total number of visitors exceeded 184,600 over four days, with a growth rate of 12% compared to last year. Additionally, the "Connecta" exhibition, dedicated to youth technologies and electronic games and held within the events, achieved a surge in attendance reaching 121,400 visitors, an increase of 23%, reflecting growing societal interest in digital solutions and emerging technologies.
Strategic Launches in Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence
The exhibition witnessed a prominent technical event represented by the Central Bank of Egypt launching the second edition of the "Comprehensive Egyptian Cybersecurity Framework," which represents a fundamental step in securing financial infrastructure amidst rapid digital transformation. Furthermore, 18 strategic partnership and cooperation agreements were signed between government entities and international and local companies, covering the petroleum, transport, and telecommunications sectors.
In the context of innovation, the "KHAYAL Show" was launched for the first time, a specialized track to support creativity and filmmaking using artificial intelligence technologies, which attracted promising investments. The exhibition also relied on a mobile application powered by AI analytics to facilitate the experience for visitors and exhibitors, highlighting the trend toward the full digitization of major events.
Momentum of Panel Discussions and Specialized Tracks
The exhibition included an intensive agenda of technical sessions and workshops, where various platforms hosted hundreds of speakers:
- PAFIX Conference: Focused on financial inclusion and digital payment systems through 7 sessions with 47 speakers.
- AIDC Center: Discussed data center technologies and cloud computing through 24 sessions and 115 speakers.
- AI Innovation Factory: Showcased 13 locally developed technical solutions and implemented more than 750 direct practical applications for non-specialists.
- Cybersecurity Track: Organized 10 specialized lectures and competitions between 10 technical teams to enhance digital defensive skills.
What Changes Practically After This Edition?
The results of Cairo ICT 2026 go beyond being just an annual gathering; the signed agreements and the new cybersecurity framework set a clear roadmap for the banking and service sectors in Egypt for the next phase. Furthermore, the intensive focus on locally developed AI solutions indicates a shift from the stage of consuming technology to the stage of localization and innovation, especially with the participation of startups in the main exhibition platforms, which opens the door to new funding opportunities and international partnerships that enhance the digital economy in the region.