Egypt has been recognized as one of the world’s top-performing nations in cybersecurity, earning a perfect score of 100 points in the 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI). The announcement, made by the Egyptian Cabinet Media Centre, coincided with World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, highlighting the country’s accelerating strides in digital governance and infrastructure development.
The GCI is published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations agency, and benchmarks countries based on their commitment to cybersecurity policies, legal frameworks, technical capabilities, capacity building, and international cooperation. Egypt now ranks among just 12 countries globally to achieve a perfect score, positioning itself as a regional leader in digital resilience.
“This recognition is not just symbolic—it affirms Egypt’s growing digital sovereignty and its ability to safeguard critical infrastructure,” said Dr. Nader Kamel, a cybersecurity consultant at the Arab Institute for Digital Strategy.
The accolade crowns a decade-long national effort to strengthen the country’s ICT ecosystem. Egypt’s digital sector recorded a growth rate of 14.4% in 2023/24, up from 8.4% in 2013/14. The government’s public investment in ICT has surged more than 45-fold, while digital services exports quadrupled, hitting $6.9 billion.
According to figures released by the Cabinet, Egypt’s digital technologies now contribute 5.8% to GDP, a sharp rise that experts say could turn the sector into a cornerstone of national economic strategy.
“The digital economy is no longer a luxury—it’s now Egypt’s strategic buffer against regional economic fluctuations,” commented Eng. Rania Hegazy, an ICT policy analyst based in Cairo.
Infrastructure milestones underline Egypt’s transformation: average fixed internet speed has tripled to 77.9 Mbps, and mobile internet usage has quadrupled to 88.8 million users. The country has also rolled out more than 3,000 new telecom towers, alongside licensing for 5G and eSIM technologies.
Meanwhile, the New Administrative Capital—a flagship national project—is becoming a digital model city. All government buildings there are now linked via a nationwide fiber-optic network, enabling real-time, secure communication and governance.
Egypt also climbed dramatically in other international rankings:
- Network Readiness Index: Jumped six positions to 85th globally in 2024.
- Government AI Readiness Index: Soared from 111th in 2019 to 65th in 2024.
“This trajectory reflects not just increased investment, but also a shift in public policy toward digitization and AI integration across ministries,” said Prof. Leila Tarek, Chair of Digital Transformation Studies at Ain Shams University.
Insiders believe that these achievements may pave the way for Egypt to become a regional ICT hub, attracting foreign investment and talent across Africa and the Middle East.
The developments also hold strategic geopolitical significance. With cybersecurity becoming a top-tier priority among governments worldwide, Egypt’s ascent signals its readiness to play a larger role in global digital diplomacy.As world’s investors seek to build their business hubs around secure digital infrastructure, Egypt may soon find itself successfully placed in the arena of secured business cultures.
