SITA opens first regional hub in Middle East with new command center in Cairo
Egypt's Minister of Civil Aviation, Sameh El-Hefny, inaugurated SITA's new command center in Cairo—its first regional hub in the Middle East and Africa—marking a key milestone in Egypt's strategy to become a digital leader in the global aviation industry.
The launch of the center aligns with the Ministry of Civil Aviation's broader vision to accelerate digital transformation and position Egypt as a regional hub for both aviation and information technology. SITA, the global IT provider for the air transport industry, began operations at the Cairo center in September 2024.
Speaking at the inauguration, Minister El-Hefny said the new facility reflects SITA's confidence in Egypt's investment climate and underscores the country's growing appeal as a destination for high-tech, high-impact investments. He noted that the center will not only enhance the region's aviation digital infrastructure but will also generate high-quality job opportunities and foster partnerships with universities to develop a new generation of aviation IT professionals.
He also highlighted the Ministry's commitment to fostering effective public-private partnerships that support Egypt's ambition to lead in innovation, technology, and digital services across the region.
El-Hefny praised the ongoing collaboration between SITA and EgyptAir, which has already led to the implementation of advanced digital solutions aimed at enhancing operational performance and passenger experience. Among these are SITA Connect Go, a next-generation infrastructure that delivers responsive and scalable connectivity, and the Community DCS system, which streamlines departure processes and improves airline efficiency.
The minister emphasized that investing in technology is 'the investment of the era,' adding that Egypt has the infrastructure, talent, and vision to become a global gateway for innovation in aviation. He affirmed the Egyptian government's commitment to creating a secure, supportive investment environment to attract top international firms, pointing to SITA's expansion as a model of successful global partnership.
Selim Bouri, SITA's President for the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey, described the new command center as a 'significant milestone' in the company's historic relationship with Egypt, which began in 1954. He explained that Egypt's strategic location, supportive investment climate, and abundance of skilled talent were key factors behind the decision to establish the regional hub in Cairo.
'Digital transformation is the driving force behind the future of air transport,' said Bouri. 'With this center, we reaffirm our commitment to deepening our collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and EgyptAir. Together, we aim to develop the region's digital infrastructure and enhance the travel experience for millions of passengers worldwide.'
Bouri added that the launch represents both the continuation of a decades-long partnership and a new starting point for expanded cooperation. He emphasized SITA's dedication to supporting Egypt's development goals by investing in local talent, empowering youth, and contributing to the creation of a world-class digital ecosystem.
Founded in 1949, SITA is a global leader in air transport technology. The company provides integrated digital solutions for airports, airlines, and governments, with a focus on improving efficiency, safety, and sustainability across the aviation sector.
SITA supports operations at over 1,000 airports worldwide, serves more than 2,500 customers, and offers border management solutions to over 70 governments. Its expansive network spans more than 200 countries and regions, playing a critical role in the digital transformation of global air travel.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
an hour ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
CAPMAS: Egypt's Exports to UAE Jump 46.9%
Taarek Refaat The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) announced that Egyptian exports to the UAE rose to $3.3 billion in 2024, compared to $2.2 billion, year-on-year, a 46.9% increase. CAPMAS added that trade exchange between Egypt and the UAE also reached $6 billion during the same year. In a statement issued on the occasion of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's visit to Abu Dhabi Wednesday, the agency explained that Egyptian exports to the UAE increased to $3.3 billion in 2024, compared to $2.2 billion, a year earlier, with a 46.9% increase. While Egyptian imports from the UAE reached $2.7 billion in 2024, compared to $2.3 billion in 2023, a 16.8% increase. The agency's data also showed that the value of trade between Egypt and the UAE increased to $6 billion in 2024, compared to $4.5 billion in 2023, a 31.6% increase. The value of Emirati investments in Egypt reached $38.9 billion in the 2023/24 fiscal year, compared to $3 billion in the 2022/23 fiscal year. Meanwhile, the value of Egyptian investments in the UAE reached $1.4 billion in the 2023/24 fiscal year, compared to $1.7 billion in the 2022/23 fiscal year. The value of remittances from Egyptians working in the UAE reached $1.8 billion during the FY2023/24 compared to $2.1 billion during the FY2022/23. Meanwhile, the value of remittances from Emiratis working in Egypt reached $31.6 million during the FYFY2022/23. Egypt's population reached 107.7 million in June 2025, while the UAE's population reached 11.3 million during the same period. According to official mission estimates, the number of Egyptians residing in the UAE reached 975,000 by the end of 2023. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream
See - Sada Elbalad
3 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Scatec's Egypt Green Hydrogen Project signed 20-year offtake agreement with Fertiglobe, based on H2Global award
SeeNews Scatec ASA's Egypt Green Hydrogen project, in partnership with Fertiglobe, Orascom Construction, The Sovereign Fund of Egypt and the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company, reaches a key milestone, after Fertiglobe secured a green ammonia offtake agreement with Hintco in Germany, through the first ever H2Global auction. Based on the award, Fertiglobe and Egypt Green Hydrogen have entered into a 20-year ammonia offtake agreement. The agreement was signed at the Egypt-EU Investment Conference in Egypt on 29 June 2024. 'The H2Global award represents a key milestone for the Egypt Green Hydrogen project in Ain Sokhna, Egypt. This demonstrates the competitiveness of green hydrogen and ammonia production in Egypt, driven by its abundant renewable energy resources and strategic geographical location. We are grateful for the Egyptian government´s leading role in supporting this pioneering project and we look forward to continuing to work with the relevant stakeholders to establish Egypt as a regional green hydrogen hub. With Fertiglobe securing an offtake agreement for the ammonia, Egypt Green Hydrogen will accelerate the project's development and advance it towards financial close,' says Scatec CEO Terje Pilskog. In 2021, Scatec and partners agreed to develop, build, own and operate a 100 MW electrolyser facility to produce renewable hydrogen to be used as feedstock for the production of renewable ammonia at Fertiglobe's existing ammonia plant in Ain Sokhna, Egypt. The project will be powered by about 270 MW of solar and wind power capacity and deliver approximately 13,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen and up to 74,000 tonnes of renewable ammonia annually. Scatec is the lead developer and majority sponsor of Egypt Green Hydrogen with an ownership share of 52% and will provide EPC services in collaboration with Orascom Construction. Scatec will further provide O&M and Asset Management services for the project alongside key technology providers and project partners. Next important milestones for the project are to select the electrolyser supplier and complete the project financing process with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Investment Bank (EIB), Germany's development finance institution and KfW subsidiary DEG, British International Investment (BII), and US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), that are providing competitive financing to support the first green hydrogen and ammonia project in Egypt. The partners expect to reach financial close in the first half of 2025. Ahmed El-Hoshy, Chief Executive Officer of Fertiglobe, said: 'This award marks a significant milestone for Fertiglobe in advancing sustainable ammonia production and a further critical step towards FID of Egypt Green Hydrogen, expected in H1 2025. Our selection as the winning bidder in H2Global's pilot auction underscores our leadership in supplying low-carbon products and our commitment to shaping a more sustainable future, and I appreciate the work of our incredible team to make this award possible. We are leveraging this vital program which makes our investment in sustainable ammonia economically viable, supporting critical decarbonization technology, while maintaining our disciplined growth strategy.' Gelsomina Vigliotti, Vice President of the European Investment Bank, said: 'Green hydrogen has a key role to play in the energy transition and in providing carbon-neutral solutions for industry. The first offtake agreement for hydrogen produced in Egypt, agreed at the Egypt-EU Investment Conference, represents a key step for future large-scale investment in the sector. The European Investment Bank looks forward to strengthening our cooperation with Scatec, Egyptian and international partners to mobilise investment for large-scale renewable hydrogen production in Egypt.' Nandita Parshad, Managing Director of the EBRD's Sustainable Infrastructure Group, said: 'The signing of the offtake agreement is a key milestone for the Egypt Green Hydrogen project with our long standing clients Scatec and Orascom Construction, as well as the Sovereign Fund of Egypt and Fertiglobe. The EBRD is proud to support this pioneering project which will produce 13,000 tons of renewable hydrogen annually and demonstrate the commercial viability of renewable Hydrogen in Egypt.' Monika Beck, Managing Director at DEG, commented: 'It is part of DEG's mission as an impact and climate financier to promote green hydrogen as a driver of green transformation. We are delighted to contribute to mobilizing investment in this milestone project in Egypt together with our esteemed client Scatec and our development finance partner institutions. We are convinced that it is essential to join forces to drive forward the green transformation, and the private sector plays a key role in this.' Iain Macaulay, Director and Head of Project Finance in Africa at BII, said: 'Egypt has the potential to be a global leader in renewable energy generation and green hydrogen production. I am delighted that BII has been able to provide project finance to back this landmark project, that will support a green and sustainable future for the country and showcase the importance of new technologies in supporting a just transition for the whole African continent.' The project is located in Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), which seeks to become a major hub for green hydrogen industries. Waleid Gamal Eldien, Chairman of SCZONE, said: 'The Egypt-EU Investment Conference 2024, marked a vital milestone on Egypt's pathway to become a global green ammonia hub, as we celebrated the signing of a flagship offtake agreement between Fertiglobe and Egypt Green Hydrogen, the first green hydrogen plant in Africa, located at the SCZONE. As first agreement under H2Global auction, the offtake not only demonstrates the EU support to the emerging green hydrogen industry and the realization of Egypt's potential, but additionally emphasizes Egypt's determination to reach its vision, and showcase its comparative advantage stemming from its abundant renewables resources, industrial land, and its unique geographic location with ease of access to the world. The agreement is a testimony of Egypt's leadership and support in mobilizing its resources to attract foreign direct investments in green projects through the facilitation provided by its stakeholders.' The H2Global Foundation was established in 2021 to accelerate the emergence of markets for clean hydrogen and other zero-and low-emission technologies worldwide. It does so through market-based instruments, such as the H2Global mechanism, implemented by its subsidiary Hintco. The German Federal Government has committed EUR 4.43 billion into this initiative. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream
See - Sada Elbalad
5 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Chinese Drilling Technology Contributes in Expanding Egypt's Agricultural Lands
Rana Atef On Monday, Global Times , which is one of TV Brics partners, reported that Egypt's Western Desert barren lands are gradually being transformed into fertile fields by the advanced Chinese well-drilling technology. The well drilling project, implemented by the Egyptian branch of a Chinese oil and gas company, became part of a mega program to expand agricultural land by developing deserts. This project is an example of sustainable development for arid regions and demonstrates the potential of international cooperation in food security and environmental restoration. The project is being implemented as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Egypt has expanded beyond infrastructure projects to now include the agricultural sector, technology, and industry. The company began operations in Egypt in 2016 and has since drilled more than 680 wells nationwide. In the Owainat, 63 deep wells were drilled in less than a year, despite extreme weather and geological conditions. Experts emphasise that such projects are key to Egypt's sustainable development. "Any increase in water resources has a direct impact on agricultural growth," Ahmed Galal, dean of the Higher Institute for Agricultural Cooperation in Cairo said. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan
