Cairo ICT 2026 concluded its 30th edition with 184,600 visitors, marking a 12% increase compared with 2025, as Osama Kamal, Chairman of Trade Fairs International, the company organizing the exhibition, highlighted the event’s growing influence, international reach and commitment to making technology accessible. Speaking during the closing ceremony, Kamal outlined the achievements of this year’s edition, including 18 signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs), the participation of 12 ministers in the opening ceremony, and an extensive programme of discussions, workshops and demonstrations built around the theme “AI in Action.”
The event, held from November 7 to 10 at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre in New Cairo, marked three decades of Cairo ICT’s contribution to Egypt’s technology ecosystem. According to Kamal, one of the exhibition’s founding principles has always been to maintain free entry without tickets or attendance fees, reflecting the organizers’ belief that Cairo ICT should not be treated simply as a commercial trade exhibition, but as a platform for building a generation of people interested in improving, developing and shaping the future through technology.
This philosophy was particularly relevant to the 2026 edition, which sought to move the conversation around artificial intelligence beyond the presentation of new technologies and towards demonstrating how these technologies can be used across different industries. Under the slogan “AI in Action” the exhibition brought together applications spanning financial services, cybersecurity, telecommunications, healthcare, education, media, entertainment, creative production and entrepreneurship.
One of the notable developments highlighted by Kamal was the introduction of the Cairo ICT application, which attracted international attention and reportedly generated discussions with companies interested in purchasing the platform. Beyond its potential commercial value, Kamal explained that the application provided the organizers with deeper insights into visitors’ interests and demands, offering a broader understanding of audience behaviour and how people interact with the exhibition. This demonstrated how digital solutions and data can improve the organization of large-scale events while helping organizers make more informed decisions about future editions.
The exhibition also witnessed significant engagement from Egypt’s financial sector. Kamal pointed to the announcement of the Egyptian Central Bank’s cybersecurity strategy, which attracted considerable attention, with more than 30 bank presidents attending the session. Their presence reflected the increasing importance of cybersecurity and digital resilience to the banking industry, particularly as financial institutions accelerate their adoption of digital services and AI-powered technologies.
Beyond the financial sector, Cairo ICT 2026 demonstrated the practical dimensions of artificial intelligence through its different specialized platforms. Khayal, introduced as a technology and art summit, brought together the creative industries and emerging technologies, exploring how AI is changing the production of films, music, advertising, animation and other forms of digital content. Rather than limiting discussions to the technical capabilities of AI tools, the platform examined their potential role in creative processes, storytelling and the future of content production.
Khayal hosted 65 panels featuring 109 speakers, creating a space for discussions between filmmakers, creative professionals, technology specialists and industry leaders. Its programme reflected a broader shift in how creative industries are approaching artificial intelligence, with the technology increasingly becoming part of the production process rather than simply a subject of discussion. By bringing creative work and technological innovation together, Khayal extended the meaning of “AI in Action” beyond conventional business and enterprise applications.
Another important dimension was the exhibition’s focus on startups, entrepreneurship and emerging technologies, particularly through the Technology, Startups and Innovation activities and the Innovation Arena. These platforms provided Egyptian startups with opportunities to present their solutions, discuss their business models and engage with audiences, industry professionals and potential partners. The participating ventures covered different areas of innovation, illustrating how local entrepreneurs are applying technology to address practical challenges across multiple sectors.
Connecta further strengthened this direction by focusing on young talent, entrepreneurship and the development of future technology skills. According to Kamal, the platform hosted more than 100 workshops and panel discussions, providing opportunities for students, young professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs to engage with industry experts, explore emerging technologies and learn about the skills required in an increasingly digital economy. Its programme complemented the broader exhibition by connecting technological innovation with the people expected to develop and use it in the coming years.
The achievements announced during the closing ceremony also reflected Cairo ICT’s position as a meeting point between the public and private sectors. With 18 MoUs signed during the edition, the exhibition continued to provide a platform for organizations to establish partnerships and explore opportunities for collaboration. The participation of 12 ministers at the opening ceremony further demonstrated the government’s engagement with the event and the strategic importance of technology across Egypt’s economic and institutional development.
For Kamal, however, the figures represent only part of the exhibition’s broader purpose. The continued commitment to free entry, alongside the introduction of digital tools that provide insights into audience needs, reflects an approach that places accessibility, knowledge exchange and development at the centre of the event. The growing international interest in the Cairo ICT application also suggests that the exhibition’s organizational experience and digital infrastructure could have relevance beyond its annual gathering in Egypt.
As part of Westpost News’ coverage of Cairo ICT 2026, the 30th edition stood out for the way it connected technological innovation with tangible applications across industries. From cybersecurity strategies and financial-sector engagement to AI-assisted filmmaking, music production, startup solutions, and youth development, the exhibition demonstrated that artificial intelligence is no longer confined to technical presentations or future projections. Instead, it is increasingly becoming a tool used to create, operate, solve problems, and develop new business opportunities.
With 184,600 visitors and a 12% increase in attendance, Cairo ICT 2026 concluded its milestone edition by reinforcing its role as a platform for technology, business and innovation in Egypt and the wider Middle East and Africa region. Thirty years after its establishment, the exhibition continues to build on its founding principle of making technology accessible, while adapting its programme to an industry increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and its real-world applications.