Egypt is positioning its energy and digital infrastructure to attract investment in artificial intelligence and data centres, with 1 gigawatt (GW) of electricity capacity allocated to support data centres and AI infrastructure, according to a disclosure by Osama Kamal, Chairman of Trade Fairs International, during Westpost News’ coverage of Cairo ICT 2026. The announcement comes as the country’s technology sector increasingly identifies AI computing and data centres as major opportunities for economic growth and regional expansion.
The announcement highlights the growing importance of energy availability in attracting large-scale digital infrastructure investments. Data centres and AI computing facilities require substantial and reliable electricity supplies to operate servers, support cloud services, and process increasingly complex workloads. Egypt’s allocation could therefore strengthen its position in attracting operators and investors looking for locations to establish or expand their digital infrastructure, although the scale of the opportunity will also depend on grid readiness, cooling capabilities, connectivity, and the regulatory environment.
Mohamed El Zomor of Dell Technologies described AI and data centres as a golden opportunity for Egypt, highlighting the company’s 25 years of operations in the country and the growing global demand for technology infrastructure. He also cited Dell Technologies’ $95 billion backlog in the last quarter, illustrating the scale of demand across its global business. While the figure is not specific to Egypt, it reflects the broader market momentum surrounding technology infrastructure and the solutions required to support AI adoption.
Meinhardt also sees an opportunity for Egypt to strengthen its position in the regional technology landscape. The company established its Egyptian operations in 2016 as a back-office centre supporting its international operations before becoming more engaged with Egypt’s technology and AI sectors in 2023. Its assessment that Egypt is now positioned to become a regional AI hub reflects the potential for the country to move beyond providing operational support towards playing a larger role in the development and delivery of technology-related services.
The government’s growing focus on AI infrastructure was also reflected in the participation of six ministers at Cairo ICT’s opening ceremony, representing the ministries of communications and information technology, electricity and renewable energy, investment and foreign trade, finance, water resources and irrigation, and justice. The ministerial participation underscored the cross-sector nature of AI development, which requires coordination between energy, investment, digital infrastructure, and public policy. The exhibition’s 2026 theme, AI in Action, similarly places emphasis on moving artificial intelligence from experimentation into practical applications across industries.
However, allocating electricity capacity is only one component of building a competitive AI infrastructure ecosystem. Attracting hyperscale data centre operators and AI infrastructure investors will also require reliable power delivery, efficient cooling systems, high-capacity connectivity, access to skilled professionals, and a regulatory framework capable of supporting long-term investments. The ability to translate the announced allocation into operational capacity will be particularly important in determining how quickly Egypt can capitalise on the opportunity.
With international technology companies identifying AI and data centres as promising areas for Egypt, and local operations increasingly engaging with the sector, the country has an opportunity to strengthen its position in the regional digital economy. The 1GW electricity allocation could represent an important step in that direction, provided it is followed by the infrastructure development and investment commitments needed to turn available capacity into functioning data centres and AI computing facilities.
Cairo ICT, organised by Trade Fairs International in cooperation with the United Media Services Company, marks its 30th edition in 2026. Running from November 7 to 10 at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre under the theme AI in Action, the exhibition brings together government institutions, international technology companies, investors, and startups to explore developments in AI, data centres, cloud computing, fintech, cybersecurity, and digital transformation across Egypt, the Middle East, and Africa.
