Date: May 20, 2025
Dubai
Dr. Mohammed Sami Abdel Sadek, President of Cairo University, emphasized during his participation in the Seamless Middle East 2025 conference hosted by Dubai, that Arab academic institutions possess the competencies and infrastructure to play a pivotal role in supporting the digital economy and accelerating the pace of innovation in the region.
In a speech during a session titled “The Role of Higher Education in Promoting Digital Transformation,” the President of Cairo University said: “Arab universities, led by Cairo University, are witnessing a remarkable boom in scientific research and technological development.” He noted that the QS World University Rankings 2025 showed a marked improvement in the performance of a number of Arab universities, with 13 Arab universities entering the list of the top 500 universities globally for the first time.
He pointed out that Cairo University ranks first locally and 148th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2025, and second in the Arab world after King Saud University. He added that the university spends more than 700 million Egyptian pounds annually on scientific research projects, equivalent to approximately $36 million, while the number of studies published internationally last year exceeded 9,000.
Dr. Abdel Sadek explained that these achievements are the result of continuous investment in research infrastructure and the establishment of specialized centers such as the Center for Artificial Intelligence and the Technology Innovation Institute, along with international collaboration with universities and research institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan.
He added that Cairo University works closely with private sector institutions and civil society organizations to transform research findings into practical solutions that contribute to the development of digital services and support startups in the fields of financial technology, the Internet of Things, and big data.
Concluding his speech, Dr. Mohammed Sami Abdel Sadek extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to the United Arab Emirates for its generous invitation to Cairo University to participate in this important international event. He emphasized that Dubai’s hosting of the Seamless Middle East 2025 conference is further evidence of the country’s leadership in supporting digital transformation and building strategic partnerships between academia and the economic sector.
He emphasized that such events represent a national platform for dialogue between universities, decision-makers, and technology companies, serving the future of higher education and the shared Arab digital economy.
