Egyptian University for Informatics wraps up AI for Education hackathon with one thousand participants, six winners and a European research project

The Egyptian University for Informatics, in the heart of the Administrative Capital, hosted the final rounds of the 2026 AI for Education Hackathon, under the patronage of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The event was not merely a technical competition; it brought together one hundred and sixty educational institutions and a startup, and produced one thousand participants from twenty-five governorates, each carrying a practical attempt to employ artificial intelligence in Arabic educational solutions.

The international research project “GAINAfrica”, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, was launched in tandem with the hackathon’s conclusion. The Egyptian University for Informatics leads the education strand of the project, developing Arabic-language artificial-intelligence solutions that support teachers and learners. This timing is not accidental: both initiatives target the same gap, namely how to make AI serve education in Arabic in a way that aligns with community needs.

In the student track, the “Hikaya” team from the German University took first place and received a cash prize of 80,000 Egyptian pounds, plus a special award of 20,000 pounds for the best Arabic-language technical solution. The “Shafahi” team from October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA) placed second and earned 60,000 pounds, while the “Play2Be” team from the Egyptian University for Informatics secured third place and 40,000 pounds. Play2Be developed a program that creates an interactive experience between teacher and students in the classroom, allowing students to explore a three-dimensional world while an AI-driven mentor poses questions instead of providing answers, enabling the teacher to assess each student’s skills through their responses.

In the startup track, SKAYZ won first place and a prize of 120,000 pounds. NaFees AI, Anatomy Lab took second place with 80,000 pounds, and DARS secured third place with 50,000 pounds. The finals involved 228 teams, of which 153 passed the initial assessment before the competition narrowed to 32 teams that presented their projects to the judging panel.

The startup-track judging panel included Dr. Huda Mukhtar, dean of the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences at the Egyptian University for Informatics; Dr. Mohamed Hanafi of Telecom Egypt; Dr. Fadi Azouni of EdVentures; and Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Hamid of the Kheilan Group. The student-track panel comprised Dr. Ahmed Kamal of Telecom Egypt; engineer Wafaa Al-Sawah of Intel; Bilal Yahya of EdVentures; Dr. Ahmed Essam of the Kheilan Group; Dr. Sherry Ezzat of the Egyptian University for Informatics; and engineer Engy Abbas of Intel.

What remains after the competition subsides is not only the numbers. Engineer Taha Khalifa, general manager for the Middle East and Africa at Intel, framed the broader context: AI is redefining ways of learning, creativity and dealing with complex challenges, and the company’s sponsorship of the hackathon fits within preparing the next generation of AI innovators in Egypt. Ahmed Al-Folly, executive vice-president of Telecom Egypt, linked building a competitive digital economy with investing in talent, citing the “WE Innovate” programme that supports innovation in cybersecurity and emerging technologies, and has so far awarded thirty-one scholarships to outstanding students. Dr. Amani Issa, director of the university’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, confirmed that a number of teams succeeded in combining educational technology and AI to support teachers and learners, noting the importance of helping distinguished teams move to the next stages.

For those working in technical education or entrepreneurship in the region, the message is clear: the gap between academic research and the market is beginning to narrow through platforms that combine funding, mentorship and real-world data. The winning projects have not remained ideas on paper; they include prototypes, cash prizes and judging panels that bring together industry and government, all indicating that the support structure for Arab educational innovation is taking shape. The next step worth monitoring is how well these teams can turn prototypes into sustainable products that serve millions of Arabic-speaking learners, not only in Egypt but also in regional markets with a shared context.