Egypt’s Electronic Signature Law 15 of 2004 established the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) to act as the e-signature regulatory authority and to further develop the information technology sector in Egypt. An e-government initiative was implemented in 2009 to allow public and private companies to offer e-signature authentication, increase government efficiency, reduce service-provision time, establish new service-delivery models, reduce government expenses and corruption, and encourage e-procurement. As of 2025, Egypt offers over 100 digital services, from ID renewals to tax payments, through a unified portal, reducing wait times by 40 percent and administrative costs by 25 percent. Company registration and licensing are now digitized, with e-signatures widely accepted in legal and commercial transactions.
Moreover, Egypt was recognized in 2024 as having the fastest fixed internet in Africa, reflecting major investments in broadband and fiber optics and it climbed to 95th out of 193 countries in the UN’s E-Government Development Index in 2024, up from 140th in 2003.
However, despite progress, 30 percent of the rural population still lacks fast internet access, and Egypt’s e-government rollout has not fully addressed data protection.
As part of Egypt’s Vision 2030 “Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS),” the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology launched an ICT strategy to support the development of the sector and contribute to economic growth through initiatives that encourage, among other things, e-commerce and e-government, electronics design and digital manufacturing, and talent and human resources development.
Egypt has the largest population of internet users in the MENA region, with 96.3 million users and an internet penetration rate of 81.9 percent, as of January 2025. E-commerce continues to expand, driven by rising smartphone adoption and improved digital infrastructure. However, only 8.3 percent of Egyptians make regular online purchases, with most transactions concentrated in electronics, entertainment, food delivery, airline tickets, and fashion.
Despite growth, challenges persist. Cash remains the dominant payment method, and only 10–12 million Egyptians hold credit or debit cards—less than 10 percent of the population. Payment security concerns limited digital literacy, and fragmented last-mile logistics, especially in rural areas, continue to hinder broader adoption.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated Egypt’s digital transformation, prompting the government to implement long-term measures under the Digital Egypt Strategy. In Upper Egypt, eight technology parks have been completed and are now operational, supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs with access to training institutions, integrated systems, startup incubators, hardware design labs, and AI, data science, and cybersecurity training halls. These parks are part of the Silicon Waha initiative, which aims to decentralize tech innovation and create job opportunities in underserved regions.
In the New Administrative Capital (NAC), Phase 1 of Knowledge City was completed in 2024, establishing a national hub for research, innovation, and advanced technologies. The city hosts the Egypt Informatics University, the first specialized informatics university in Africa and the Middle East, offering degrees in partnership with U.S. institutions. Knowledge City integrates all ICT ecosystem elements, including international and local tech firms, training centers, incubators, and business accelerators. Foreign companies are actively involved, and the site presents strong commercial opportunities for vendors in AI, IoT, embedded systems, and digital infrastructure.
The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology is working to provide 36 electronic services for private businesses, including changing the company’s listed activities, adding board members, or other similar modifications. Moreover, e-signatures will be approved to facilitate and expedite several investment transactions as well as filing lawsuits.