Implementing AI with Equality in Mind: An Egyptian Approach for Developing Countries

In January 2025, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi unveiled the second National AI Strategy (2025-2030), a significant step forward in Egypt's commitment to AI as a pillar of its Egypt Vision 2030 for sustainable development. This strategy, built around six pillars, aims to position Egypt as a regional AI hub while prioritizing transparency, fairness, and inclusivity.

The draft legislation, currently being drafted, introduces a risk-based classification framework for AI systems, aligning with global best practices. It also includes clear definitions of AI systems, data protection, mandates for algorithmic fairness, transparency, and auditability, and incentives for innovation.

Involving all stakeholders in AI policy-making is crucial to building public trust in digital policy and reinforcing the legitimacy of technology laws. To this end, the policymaking table must be round, diverse, and representative, ensuring the representation of women, youth, and marginalized groups. Multistakeholder participation leads to more practical and sustainable AI policies.

President El-Sisi's support has elevated AI from a tech topic to a national priority. His recent instruction to the government to consider introducing AI as a compulsory subject in pre-university education reflects this commitment. Bridging the future digital divide begins in the classroom, and Egypt is taking steps to equip its young generation with the necessary skills.

The Ministries of Education and Communications are now exploring how to integrate AI concepts, ethics, and basic programming into school curricula. AI ethics should be embedded in all levels of education, fostering a generation that understands and values fairness, transparency, and non-discrimination.

Egypt hosts AI research centres, university departments, and partnerships with global tech companies. These initiatives, such as the "Our Future is Digital" programme to train 100,000 young people, are part of Egypt's efforts to advance regional AI policy partnerships across the Middle East and Africa.

The draft law also objectives such as supporting education and scientific research in AI, providing protection for vulnerable individuals, and enhancing Egypt's position as a regional AI hub. Building trust and shared ownership is crucial in AI policy-making, and Egypt's AI legislation has already received praise from international organizations like the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Governing AI requires courage to legislate before all the answers are known and humility to listen to every voice. Egypt's approach demonstrates a commitment to this ideal, aiming to create a future where AI serves people, not controls them, and bridges the digital divide, rather than widening it.

Implementing AI with Equality in Mind: An Egyptian Approach for Developing Countries