Cairo — 7 December 2025 — Egypt is broadening its technology ambitions beyond its capitalcity, with the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) presenting newdata that underscores the rise of regional innovation centres and the country’s growing appeal asa hub for digital services, engineering, and offshoring.In a trend rarely seen across the Middle East and Africa, Egyptian tier 2 cities are emerging ascredible alternatives for global companies seeking distributed, multilingual talent. ITIDA’slatest update spotlights Creativa Innovation Hub in Mansoura — now one of the most activelocal centres supporting tech upskilling, freelance employment and startup creation.A Regional Model for Tech GrowthSince its establishment, Creativa Innovation Hub in Mansoura city has:• Trained 11,600+ young people in digital and technical skills• Supported 2,000+ entrepreneurs• Helped develop 1,500+ digital prototypes• Enabled more than 2,030 freelancers to access new income streams• Hosted 19 hackathons and innovation challenges• Built a growing pipeline of healthtech and AI-driven solutions startupsIn 2025 alone, ITIDA supported 32+ startups, trained 2,400+ new participants, and providedservices to 900+ freelancers, who reported an average annual income of $18,200 — a figure thatmarks a growing contribution of the gig economy to small and mid-sized cities.The Creativa Innovation Hub in Mansoura is one of nationwide network of 26 centers supportingstartups, freelancers & tech youth.A Shift in the Geography of Egypt’s Tech Economy
“Egypt’s tech growth is no longer a Cairo-only story,” said Ahmed El-Zaher, CEO of ITIDA.“We are building capabilities in cities like Mansoura, Assiut, Luxor and Alexandria — placeswhere talent is abundant, motivated and increasingly connected to global opportunities. Thisdecentralization is becoming one of Egypt’s biggest competitive strengths.”The shift is notable in a global context. While many emerging markets continue to concentratetech work in capital cities, Egypt is actively steering investment and training programs into tier-2locations — a strategy designed to ease urban pressure, expand economic inclusion and create abroader national talent base for international investors.Private-Sector Momentum: qTech as a Regional AnchorMansoura’s rise is further reinforced by the growth of qTech, one of the region’s mostestablished engineering and digital transformation companies. Backed by a team of 200 Egyptianengineers and IT specialists, qTech in Egypt operates across a broad spectrum of high-valuetechnology disciplines, including software development, artificial intelligence, data engineering,quality assurance, business analysis, and digital product management, reflecting the depth oftechnical capabilities emerging in Egypt’s tier-2 cities.The company’s footprint is part of a broader trend highlighted by Dr. Amr Talaat, Egypt’sMinister of ICT, who noted that Mansoura is now home to more than 90 local and multinationalIT firms exporting services and operating offshoring centres, in addition to Egypt’s nationwidenetwork of over 270 global delivery centres.Global Demand Driving Local CapabilityDemand for Egypt’s digital services has accelerated as companies in Europe, the Gulf and theUnited States are choosing Egypt as part of a deliberate strategy to access high-quality,multilingual talent and a mature offshoring ecosystem while diversifying their delivery models.Egypt offers:• An abundant talent pool, digital skills, and a multilingual workforce with strongEnglish, German, French and Gulf-Arabic capability• Competitive cost structures• A maturing engineering R&D, technology innovation ecosystem• Robust government support coupled with modern, scalable infrastructure• Policy stability and a cohesive, long-term national offshoring strategyITIDA’s recent Global Offshoring Summit highlighted this shift, positioning Egypt as astrategic partner rather than just a services destination — with growing strengths in high-valuedigital services, IC & chip design, embedded systems, AI-driven CX and multilingual businessservices.
Supporting Freelancers and the Digital WorkforceITIDA also continues to expand ITIDA Gigs, a national initiative designed to supportfreelancers through training, mentorship, and access to global job platforms. New initiativesunder development include solutions for healthcare coverage, professional documentation,digital project verification, and easier access to international clients.A National Strategy Built on InclusionEgypt’s broadened tech narrative aligns with its ambition to create an economy where talent inany governorate can take part in the digital future. With new hubs coming active and private-sector partners expanding beyond Cairo, ITIDA’s approach is reshaping Egypt’s nationalinnovation map and creating new entry points for international firms seeking scale and diversity;further expanding Egypt’s offshoring footprint and the national presence of global players.About ITIDAThe Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) is Egypt’s national agencyfor developing the IT industry, expanding digital exports, and enabling global technologyinvestment. ITIDA works with international companies, training partners and innovation hubsacross Egypt to build talent pipelines, support startup growth and strengthen the country’sposition as a leading offshoring destination and technology services.—ENDS—Media Contact:Mostafa Gabr – ITIDAEmail: mg***@*******ov.egWebsite: www.itida.gov.eg
Egypt Pushes Tech Growth Beyond Cairo asITIDA Highlights New Momentum inRegional Digital Hubs
