Egypt adopts Open Data Policy to boost transparency, digital economy

Egypt’s National Artificial Intelligence Council has officially adopted the country’s first comprehensive Open Data Policy, the government said on Wednesday, aiming to increase transparency, support innovation, and strengthen the digital economy.

The policy, drafted by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, entered into effect in August 2025 as a transitional framework ahead of Egypt’s forthcoming Data Governance Law and its executive regulations. It sets guidelines for making publicly held, non-sensitive government data accessible, while aligning with international best practices and national sustainable development priorities.

According to a ministry of communications and information technology statement, the policy will enable the private sector, academia, and the public to reuse government data to develop new applications and services. It also provides a clear framework for inter-agency data sharing, encourages machine-readable formats, ensures data accuracy, and promotes public engagement to enhance trust and accountability.

Under the policy, the National AI Council will oversee implementation, including the appointment of Open Data Officers in each government body. Once Egypt’s Data Governance Authority is established, it will take over full responsibility for managing and supervising the initiative.

The government said the move supports Egypt’s digital transformation agenda, aligns with international standards, and helps advance the Sustainable Development Goals by fostering innovation and improving public service delivery.

The full policy is available in Arabic and English on the National AI Council’s website: https://ai.gov.eg

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: Y.Yasser