“Ask Mariam” enhances passenger experience through smart digital interaction
Service to expand to Sphinx Airport ahead of Grand Egyptian Museum opening
By Mohamed Attia
In cooperation between the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation and Orange Egypt, Cairo International Airport has become the first airport in the world to introduce an artificial intelligence-powered digital assistant to serve passengers.
The new service, called “Ask Mariam,” is part of an integrated plan to modernize airport operations and enhance the passenger experience through smart technologies. The launch ceremony was attended by Eng. Ayman Fawzy Arab, Chairman and Managing Director of the Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation; Hisham Mahran, CEO and Managing Director of Orange Egypt; and Magdy Ishaq, Chairman of Cairo Airport Company.
Using modern smart interactive devices (SIDs) installed across the terminals, travelers can instantly obtain information about flights, travel procedures, airport facilities, and available services such as transportation, taxis, and nearby attractions. The AI-powered system communicates fluently in both Arabic and English, providing a seamless and user-friendly digital experience for passengers.
Engineer Ayman Arab described the launch as “a major milestone in the digital transformation of Egyptian airports,” highlighting that the initiative reflects the Civil Aviation Ministry’s commitment—under Minister Dr. Sameh El-Hefny—to align Egypt’s airport operations with global standards. He added that a version of the service for people with special needs will be introduced soon.
Arab further revealed that the “Ask Mariam” service will be rolled out next at Sphinx International Airport, in time for the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, before being expanded to other airports nationwide.
For his part, Orange Egypt’s CEO Hisham Mahran expressed pride in partnering with the Holding Company to support Egypt’s digital transformation goals. “Through this collaboration, we aim to reinforce Cairo Airport’s position as a leading regional hub that offers smart, world-class services,” he said.
Orange Egypt continues to support the modernization of Egypt’s airports by providing free Wi-Fi, device charging stations, and technical service kiosks as part of the broader effort to enhance the country’s digital infrastructure and passenger comfort.
