During a panel discussion held on the sidelines of Ai everything Summit & Expo
e& Egypt, a leading integrated telecommunications and technology company, participated in the second day of the Sovereign AI Summit, held on the sidelines of the Ai Everything Summit & Expo, during a panel discussion titled “Reimagining Banking in the Middle East & Africa – How AI is Powering the Next Era of Financial Intelligence”
The session featured Eng. Ahmed Yehia, CEO of e& FinTech and Digital Lifestyle at e& Egypt and Ahmed Abdelaal, Group Chief Executive Officer of Mashreq Bank. The discussion explored the opportunities and challenges associated with the adoption of artificial intelligence in the banking sector, and its role in accelerating digital transformation, fostering innovation, and enhancing customer experience.
The panel also addressed the rapid growth of the fintech sector, particularly across Africa, amid expanding adoption of digital solutions and the growing need to advance financial inclusion by leveraging technology as a key enabler.
During the session, Eng. Ahmed Yehia outlined e& Egypt’s vision for the transformative role of artificial intelligence in reshaping the technology landscape. He emphasized that the challenge is no longer about offering smart technologies as add-on services, but about embedding them at the core of operational processes and digital infrastructure. He noted that customers increasingly expect seamless and integrated experiences, necessitating the consolidation of services into a single application that meets diverse financial and digital needs, supported by predictive analytics and real-time risk management, while maintaining trust as the cornerstone of the financial ecosystem.
Yehia further stressed that investment in artificial intelligence should be viewed as a long-term commitment to building sustainable institutional capabilities, rather than merely adopting cutting-edge technologies. He highlighted that the integration of robust digital infrastructure, advanced data analytics, and strategic partnerships with financial institutions enables the delivery of smarter, more proactive solutions that support growth and enhance resilience amid rapidly evolving economic conditions in the region.
For his part, Ahmed Abdelaal noted that the key distinction between traditional banks and fintech companies lies in their starting points: banks operate within stringent regulatory frameworks, while fintech firms prioritize customer experience from the outset. He underscored that competitive differentiation today is driven not only by access to advanced technologies, but by speed of execution and the ability to continuously innovate. He added that AI technologies have significantly accelerated data analysis, decision-making, and productivity, while also strengthening fraud detection systems and data protection mechanisms.
Abdelaal further emphasized that collaboration with e& Egypt represents a model of integration between deep-rooted banking expertise and advanced technological infrastructure, contributing to the development of innovative digital solutions that respond to evolving market demands. He affirmed that this partnership enhances the ability to deliver more efficient and secure financial services, while accelerating digital transformation in alignment with the highest standards of compliance and regulation.
e& Egypt’s participation in these events reflects the company’s commitment to strengthening its pivotal role in enabling digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence applications. It also underscores the continuation of its strategic transformation from a telecommunications operator into an integrated enabler of AI ecosystems and digital financial services, supporting the advancement of the digital economy in Egypt and across the region.
