Egypt’s Foreign Minister Opens AIDC 2025 Summit on AI and Data Centers
Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Expatriates’ Affairs, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, inaugurated the second edition of the Artificial Intelligence, Data Centers, and Cloud Computing Conference and Exhibition (AIDC 2025), held under the theme “AI Everywhere.” The event is launched within the 29th edition of Cairo ICT 2025, under the patronage of Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dr. Amr Talaat.
In his opening remarks, Abdelatty stated that AIDC reflects Egypt’s firm national commitment to establishing itself as a leading regional hub for data centers and artificial intelligence. He emphasized that this direction is rooted in a comprehensive strategic vision guided by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, leveraging Egypt’s unique geographic position to support the growth of these vital industries.
The Minister highlighted the government’s determination to equip Egyptian youth with skills aligned with global markets, noting that the global AI market is projected to reach USD 1.8 trillion by 2030. “Artificial intelligence is not the future; it is the present—and those who fail to keep pace will inevitably be left behind,” he said.
Abdelatty revealed that Egypt took early steps under presidential directives, including the establishment of the National Council for Artificial Intelligence and the adoption of a multi-phase national AI strategy focused on integrating AI into public services, advancing scientific research, preserving cultural and linguistic heritage, and developing human capabilities.
He noted that generative AI had “surprised the world” with capabilities far beyond expectations, creating a knowledge shock that exposed the gap between the speed of innovation and the slowness of global regulatory responses. Egypt, he said, recognized early the need to engage actively in global forums on AI governance and strengthen regional and international cooperation to ensure AI serves humanity.
The Foreign Minister also referenced UN Security Council sessions discussing AI-related risks, Egypt’s role in shaping the forthcoming Global AI Compact, and its participation in launching an international dialogue on AI governance. He pointed to Egypt’s work on the Arab Unified AI Strategy and its leadership in drafting the African AI Strategy, alongside studies addressing AI’s socioeconomic impact on the continent.
Abdelatty stressed the urgent need to bridge the technological gap between developed and developing nations—particularly in the Arab and African regions—to ensure their ability to compete in the global AI landscape. AI, he underscored, offers vast opportunities to advance sustainable development in areas such as water management, agriculture, education, conflict analysis, criminal network monitoring, and supporting law enforcement.
He also warned of AI’s serious challenges, including its potential for manipulation and disinformation. Citing the war in Gaza, he pointed to the use of AI-driven military technologies in targeting civilians and destroying infrastructure, emphasizing the need to develop regulatory frameworks for military AI applications.
Abdelatty noted that the Foreign Ministry is closely monitoring emerging technologies that could transform the global system—particularly agentic AI and quantum AI, which could redefine the future of economics, research, and politics.
He concluded by stressing that AIDC is not merely a showcase of advanced technologies but a platform for exchanging insights and strategies in a world undergoing unprecedented change, while thanking Eng. Osama Kamal, Chairman of Trade Fairs International, for hosting this timely and critical dialogue.
Regional and Global Perspectives
Osama Kamal, Chairman of Trade Fairs International — the organizer of both AIDC 2025 and Cairo ICT 2025 — welcomed attendees from across the Arab, African, and international communities. He emphasized the strong alignment between the Foreign Ministry and AIDC, noting that artificial intelligence, though often seen as a non-political topic, is now fundamentally tied to the future of nations. He described the Ministry’s participation as a first-of-its-kind milestone that signals broader engagements in the years ahead.
Kamal added that competition in AI has become a global race, with the Middle East taking concrete steps to keep pace. He highlighted Egypt’s pioneering role in hosting AIDC, enabling Arab and African regions to reap direct and indirect benefits from the world’s fastest-evolving sector.
He noted that the slogan “AI Everywhere” is not just a theme but a reality reflecting the integration of AI into all aspects of life—from resource management to water and food security, and from smart analytics to education and public services.
Insights on the Global Market
AIDC Vice President Ahmed Abdel Latif said the exhibition aims to maximize the value derived from AI and data center technologies over its four-day run. Citing a newly released global report, he stated that 1.2 billion people—out of 1.8 billion worldwide—are now using AI technologies.
He added that the UAE and Singapore are currently the world’s leading adopters of AI, while Egypt continues to work on strengthening its capabilities in AI and data center infrastructure. AI, he explained, relies on interconnected layers including data, data center infrastructure, processing units, AI models and interaction mechanisms, and practical applications.
Abdel Latif emphasized the importance of “digital sovereignty,” warning that nations lacking AI capabilities risk losing control over their own data. He referenced the ongoing US–China race for AI dominance and highlighted regional competition, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE investing heavily in local large-language models. He noted that the UAE recently launched an Arabic generative model trained on Egyptian dialect, among others.
Globally, five major companies now spend USD 100 billion every 90 days on data centers — a figure that reflects the sector’s explosive growth. He urged Egypt to draw lessons from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam, which are emerging as major data hub centers.
Role of International Companies
Ehab Ibrahim, Regional General Manager of Meinhardt — the official sponsor of AIDC 2025 — said the Singapore-based company has a strong presence in the UAE, one of the world’s most advanced data center markets. He added that AIDC represents a major milestone for Egypt, creating vital synergy between manufacturers, government entities, and regulators.
He described the exhibition as an important step toward a more dynamic, rapidly evolving future, expressing hope that participants will achieve their objectives and strengthen knowledge exchange, which he identified as a cornerstone of the event’s success.
Cairo ICT 2025 Continues with Strong Regional Presence
Cairo ICT 2025, held under the patronage of Dr. Amr Talaat, features more than 500 exhibitors representing leading companies and institutions from Egypt and the region. The event transforms the Egypt International Exhibition Center into a major platform for showcasing next-generation smart technologies and digital transformation solutions under the theme “AI Everywhere.”
The exhibition is sponsored by Dell Technologies, eFinance Group, WB Engineers + Consultants, CIB, Huawei, Orange Egypt, EgyptAir, Egypt Trust, Mastercard, Medar, Fortinet, Salesforce, Benya Group, Khazna, the National Bank of Egypt, Arab African International Bank, Bank of Alexandria, Shaker Group, ICT Misr, IoT Misr, Network International, and Meinhardt