Egypt rises five places in Global Entrepreneurship Index, retains North Africa’s top ranking

Egypt climbed five places in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Entrepreneurship Index 2025/2026 to rank 35th out of 53 economies, while retaining its position as North Africa’s leading entrepreneurship ecosystem for the fifth consecutive year, a report released by the Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) shows. The report attributes the rise to improvements in financing, infrastructure and cultural support for entrepreneurs, alongside a series of government measures aimed at strengthening the startup ecosystem and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

"Egypt in International Indicators: From Challenges to Achievements," reads the IDSC report title, underscoring the study’s focus on measurable progress across multiple international indices.

The GEM Entrepreneurship Index gauges ecosystems across 53 economies using 13 key indicators that assess a country’s ability to support entrepreneurial activity. Egypt’s jump from 40th place in the 2024/2025 edition to 35th in 2025/2026 was accompanied by gains in related rankings: the country climbed 16 positions over six years to 65th in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index for 2026, which covers 118 countries.

Key findings and policy measures

• Cairo accounts for nearly 90% of the country’s startups, hosting around 632 startups and Egypt’s only unicorn; the capital recorded annual ecosystem growth of 0.7% in 2025.
• The IDSC highlighted structural advantages supporting entrepreneurship, including a domestic market of more than 110 million people, a growing pool of highly skilled graduates and expanding digital infrastructure.
• Nearly 47% of Egyptians who are not currently entrepreneurs reported an intention to start a business within the next three years, signalling strong latent entrepreneurial ambition.
• Policy reforms cited include SME Development Law No. 152 of 2020; requirements for banks to allocate at least 25% of their credit portfolios to SMEs; the creation of dedicated SME banking divisions; and government procurement policies reserving at least 40% of public contracts for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Targeted support for women entrepreneurs has been expanded through dedicated initiatives, and the government has invested nearly EGP 300 billion over the past five years in programmes related to education, healthcare, social protection and employment that benefit women.

Startup support and ecosystem initiatives

The report highlights a range of initiatives intended to nurture startups and innovation. Government-backed and public-sector programmes referenced include technology incubators, the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ MOYS Sports Technology Incubator, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology’s Creativa Innovation Centres, and the Digital Egypt Pioneers initiative, which aims to equip students and graduates with advanced digital skills. Cairo’s rising attractiveness to investors was noted especially in fintech and transportation technology, supported by increased deal activity and expansion of digital financial services and financial inclusion efforts.

Outlook

Looking ahead, the IDSC notes government targets to support up to 5,000 startups, create approximately 500,000 direct and indirect jobs, and attract $5 billion in venture capital investment as part of efforts to further embed entrepreneurship within Egypt’s Vision 2030 strategy for sustainable economic growth. The combination of regulatory measures, targeted funding and a large domestic market will be central to whether Egypt can sustain momentum and translate improved rankings into broader economic and employment gains.