The first awards built for AI across the Middle East and Africa.
Twenty-eight honours, twelve categories, two continents. Recognising the people, products and research shaping AI from Casablanca to Cape Town to Doha. Free to nominate until 25 October; winners crowned on 7 November, on the opening night of Cairo ICT 2026.
Being first is the whole point.
There are no incumbents to beat and no template to fit. The 2026 laureates set the standard every later edition will chase.
Inaugural edition
The start of an annual regional award. Every entry is judged on its own merits; nobody is defending a title, and nobody is chasing last year's winner.
The region's biggest stage
Winners are crowned on the opening night of Cairo ICT 2026, the region's largest technology event: 161,000+ visitors in 2025, and 580+ exhibitors and 550+ speakers this year.
A permanent distinction
Whoever wins in 2026 holds founding-laureate status for good. No later cohort can claim it.
Twenty-eight awards, given for the first time.
The categories
Twelve categories, twenty-eight awards. Enter as many as apply; each nomination is scored independently.
The categories
01AI Leader of the YearFive awards: Innovation, Scale, Public Sector, Ecosystem, Frontier.Details 02AI Startup of the YearTwo awards: Early Stage and Growth Stage.Details 03AI Product of the YearThree awards: Consumer, Enterprise, Developer Tools & Platforms.Details 04Enterprise AI DeploymentThree awards: Transformation, Customer Experience, Operational Excellence.Details 05AI Research BreakthroughTwo awards: Academic and Industry.Details 06Responsible AITwo awards: Governance & Policy, and Safety, Fairness & Privacy.Details 07Language & CultureTwo awards: Arabic AI and African Languages AI.Details 08AI Investor of the YearTwo awards: Venture & Growth, and Sovereign & Strategic.Details 09AI for Public GoodTwo awards: Citizen Experience and Social Impact.Details 10Rising TalentTwo awards: Emerging Founder and Emerging Researcher, both under 30.Details 11AI Solution ProviderTwo awards: Consulting & Advisory, and Implementation & Integration.Details 12AI Adoption PioneerOne award: for moving an entire industry toward useful AI.Details
The road to Cairo.
Nominations open
Submit online, free, across twelve categories.
Nominations close
Final deadline for all entries and supporting material.
Finalists announced
Shortlists published and finalist badges issued.
Awards ceremony
Winners crowned live on stage at the Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo, on the opening night of Cairo ICT 2026.
Oversight and judging.
The Awards are overseen by Secretary General Dr. Nidal Abou Zaki, Founder and Managing Director of Orient Planet Group, alongside a distinguished panel of judges to be announced soon.
One night in Cairo.
The inaugural ceremony takes place on 7 November at the Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo, on the opening night of Cairo ICT 2026 (7-10 November).
Held alongside Cairo ICT 2026, with AIDC², the AI in Action Conference.
Middle East AI News
Questions, answered.
Who can enter?
Companies, products, individuals and institutions doing AI work in or for the Middle East and Africa.
What does it cost?
Nothing to nominate. Entry is free across all twenty-eight awards, in the first edition and as a matter of principle. Attending the ceremony is a separate matter, below.
Can we enter more than one category?
Yes. Enter as many categories as genuinely apply. Each nomination is scored independently against that category's criteria.
Is the ceremony open to the public?
No. The awards night on 7 November 2026 at the Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo, is by invitation. Nominating, by contrast, is free and open to everyone.
When is the deadline?
Nominations close on 25 October 2026. Finalists are announced in early November, and winners are crowned on 7 November at the Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo, on the opening night of Cairo ICT 2026 (7-10 November).
Why are there no past winners on this site?
Because 2026 is the first edition of an annual regional award. Founding laureates will be the first names on this record, permanently.
Who runs the Awards, and how do I contact the team?
The Awards are organised by MEA AI Awards and overseen by Secretary General Dr. Nidal Abou Zaki. For questions about nominations or the ceremony, email support@meaawards.ai.
It only happens once.
The first edition closes on 25 October. Put your name on the first trophy.